The home is much more than just a place to live – it’s a safe space where you can focus on what matters most to you, from spending quality time with friends and family to nurturing your hobbies and passions. The team at Barclays really understands this, which is why it wants to make sure you’re always getting the most from your home.
And because your perfect home should be both practical and personal, Barclays believes that the moving process should be too. Whether you’re about to make your first move on the property ladder, ready to move into a bigger place or you’re considering renovating an existing space, it has a range of tools, advice and friendly experts to help you every step of the way.
It may sound obvious, but when you’re thinking about moving, the best place to start is by working out what’s driving your decision.
For example, if the reason you want to move is because you need more space to start a family, it could help to start prioritising areas that have plenty of good schools in the neighbourhood.
Or, if you’d like more living space, it would be useful to consider whether you’re willing to move to an area from which your commute to work is longer.
The home moving team at Barclays offers a range of useful resources on its website that could help to steer you in the right direction.
Accounting for hidden costs in the moving process will help you to build a full picture of your budget and get one step closer towards finding your dream home. Use this checklist to help you avoid any unwelcome financial surprises:
• Stamp duty
• Valuations and surveys
• Legal fees
• Insurance
• Estate agents (if you’re selling)
• Deposit, mortgage and broker fees
• Removal company
• Temporary storage
• Redirecting your post
• Move-out clean
• Settling in costs
Cost is always going to play a crucial role in your decision-making process, so it pays to be prepared. Once you work out how much you can spend, you’ll be able to pinpoint the areas in which you can afford your ideal property.
When you’re applying for a mortgage, it’s important to find out how much you can borrow. There are different deals and types of mortgages available with a range of providers, but to get you started, Barclays has an online mortgage calculator which will give you an insight into the amount you could borrow.
The Barclays team can help to work out what's best for you
If you’re unsure what’s best for you, or you need some help with where to start, you can always book a free 45-minute video or phone call with a Barclays Money Mentor, who will be more than happy to talk you through your financial position and discuss the home buying process. And you don’t even have to be a Barclays customer to benefit from this service.
After careful research, you may discover that renovating your existing home is more cost-efficient than moving. Barclays has a handy guide with plenty of useful information to help you navigate your choice, from deciding what’s right for you to taking the first steps in planning your home improvements.