Moving house can be one of the most stressful and trying times of one’s life. There are a million things to do and several issues to take care of. The good news is if you plan ahead carefully, you won’t have to worry so much and things won’t go wrong. And you will come to realise that moving house can pretty exciting and maybe even fun. Here are a list of things that will simplify the entire process for you if done correctly.

1. Tell the right people:
   It is vital to tell certain people that you are moving or that you are buying or selling your house. Most important are banks, credit and store cards, pension and share providers, insurance companies, loan providers, council tax, employers, schools, your cable provider, and your doctor. Remember to organise switching off your phone line, internet connection and all your utilities, as well as arranging them to be connected at the other end. Contact a conveyancer or a solicitor to help you cover all the legal aspects with the move. If you have trouble finding one, contact your real estate agent as they will be able to recommend one. Conveyancers will act on your behalf while conducting the transaction. The best thing about this is that many offer a ‘no-sale no fee’ policy where you won’t have to pay if the sale falls through.
2. Conduct a property search:
   When buying a home, your conveyancer or solicitor will undertake property searches. This is to make sure that you know exactly what kind of home you are moving into. It also ensures that you know all the facts about the property you are purchasing. The role of property searches is to make sure that homebuyers have all the facts about a property before they buy it and do not find out about serious problems afterwards when it is too late. It is the normal routine for the lawyer acting for you in the purchase of a property to order searches on your behalf from a variety of sources. If you have any questions, ask your solicitor as they will happy to answer any queries.
3. Clarify any mortgage issues:
   Your conveyancer will also have to obtain all and any such searches that may be appropriate for the property you are buying and make sure you are aware of any issue(s) that could influence your decision to go ahead.
   In addition there may be restrictions that your mortgage lender will apply in respect of certain issues or risks, and this may cause a problem with the purchase. You will have to prove that you have sufficient finances for a mortgage deposit. Moreover, you will need to get a mortgage valuation. This is carried out on behalf of the mortgage company so they know that the property provides sufficient security for the loan. You normally have to pay for it, but a mortgage company may cover the bill in order to attract more business.
4. Go through all the contracts carefully:
   Your solicitor will examine the draft contract and supporting documents and raise enquiries with the seller’s solicitor. You will be expected to read the forms the seller has completed and let the solicitor know if you have any problems or concerns. It is very important to double check the tenure of your new home: is it leasehold or freehold? If it is a leasehold, don’t rely on your solicitor to check for the length of the lease. Leases below 80 years are a problem, can be costly to extend and you need to have owned the property for 2 years before you are eligible to do so. Make sure you understand the legal jargon as well as any conditions or clauses that seem unclear to you. Ask your conveyancer about anything that you find unclear or confusing.