Before you go ahead and buy a house, you should do a lot of planning – both to reduce the stress of it (moving house is said to be one of the most stressful life events) and also to ensure that you are making the best decision for you and that you end up with a home that you are happy in. After all a house is probably the most expensive thing that you will buy, so certainly not something to rush into.
One of the first things to research is the area. Different people look for different things so consider what it is that you want from an area and also where you will be prepared to make compromises if necessary. Things like facilities, public transport and access to the countryside are all good things to think about when choosing an area to live in.
You also need to think about the legal side of moving house. Find someone who can help you with this, such as this conveyancing Cheltenham based company www.montpellier.legal/
Speak to local estate agents too, as you may need to sell your property. They will also have a good knowledge of the area that you are looking to buy in and the properties that are available there so a good local estate agent is a good resource.
Financially you also want to make sure that you are ready to move. Have a mortgage offer ready to go, and also factor in the other costs, such as the removal company for example.