The trouble with house hunting

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by: MarkeD
Total views: 12
Word Count: 513
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 Time: 12:17 AM
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They say buying a house is one of the most stressful things you can do and I'm beginning to understand why after only four weeks into my search.

Having lived in London for the best part of my twenties, getting on the property ladder was always on my to-do list but it never quite made it to the top, largely because I couldn't afford it. I mean, a studio flat above a kebab shop was a pipe dream.

But, after a regional move to Cardiff, I've finally embarked on the home buying process, and already it is proving harder than I envisioned. In this four-week period, I've managed to view upwards of thirty properties, and there aren't any of them I'd yet consider giving a second viewing.

Maybe I don't know what I want, maybe the properties look better in the pictures on Rightmove than in real life or maybe I just haven't been hit with that "feeling" estate agents say you get when you walk into the property you will eventually buy.

Getting played by the property market

Whatever it is, I'm not yet getting it right, and it isn't for the lack of trying. I mean, I've dedicated my weekends to the house hunting process, eagerly standing outside the property at 9.30am on a Saturday morning, so I'm not sure what else I can do.

Still, it's too early to lose hope that my "perfect house" is out there, and I'm being reassured that it is. But maybe my case isn't being helped much by the state of the property market.

I really believed I'd have the pick of houses and I could make a ridiculously cheeky offer, given that I have no chain and can move quickly. But so far this hasn't been the case. In fact, after such a short space of time I'm now finding that I've viewed a lot of houses that are advertised on Rightmove, something I hadn't anticipated at all. There definitely seems to be a lack of houses on the Cardiff market that fits my criteria and I think I have cast my net far and wide.

The perfect house

Still, estate agents assure me that more properties will soon be put up for sale, as home-owners become more motivated to sell. On the up-side, it does seem some people are open to offers, but as to how willing they are to flex I'm still unsure.

This week, I'm viewing another ten properties and am hoping at least one will prove to be a highlight, though I'm not sure anything can top the estate agent who brought the wrong keys but insisted it was the right key for 20 minutes. Or the girl that opened the door, sporting very dirty pyjamas, a swarm of kids and a mother who told us to go away….but in less polite language.

Does any of this ring true with you? Are you also finding it difficult to find to find a property because there seems to be a shortage in your area? Tell us about your experiences here.

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