Before searching for your property decide on your price bracket. This will depend on your income and the value of your current property.

Don't fear if you are a first time buyer. This can be an advantage due to you not being subject to sale, therefore possibly making you more appealing to vendors. To ascertain how much you can afford for your potential property we recommend that you acquire some financial advice. Our in-house Independent Financial Advice centre can provide this.

Getting a valuation of your property can be a good idea if you are interested in moving home. It will determine how much your current property is worth and along with a financial quote can give you an idea of which price bracket your potential home will be in. Most estate agents will do this free of charge.

Ascertain the type of property that you are looking for in order to narrow down your search. Generally detached houses will be the most expensive followed by semi-detached, apartments, town houses and terraced property.

A new development property can be customised to suit the buyer's needs. This may be in the form of altering the internal layout or including a garage or sunroom for example. All of our new developments are NHBC registered, providing 10-year guarantees.

Another option is to buy a site and build your dwelling on it. This means that you can construct the property to your own specification and tastes meaning you can be assured of your dream home. This is especially popular in more out of town rural locations. Expense is usually high though due to the price of the land as well as building costs. Getting building quotes before your purchase of a site is highly recommended. Planning permission should also be taken into account as well as its drainage, soil type…etc.

It can be of benefit if you make out a list of 'must-haves' before setting out to find your perfect property, considering things like location, size, freehold or leasehold…etc.

If you don't see your perfect property straight away don't worry. New properties are constantly coming on the market. Our mailing list can keep you updated on anything meeting your requirements, which comes onto the market.

If you have an interest in a new development why not join our interested parties list, meaning you will be in a prime position for any new releases.

When you see a property that might suit you, make an appointment to view immediately. You will be at an advantage if you are the first to see the place. It can be a good idea to make notes as you go around in your viewing of a property's good points, bad points and layout.

Remember to pay particular attention to the exterior of the property especially the roof, brickwork and window frames.

Take into consideration how secure the property is, especially if it is detached. If any land is included with the property enquire to whether there are any existing rights of way and the specific boundaries. It is worth enquiring if there are any covenants attached to a property.

Remember that it's the property you are buying not the current owners lifestyle…those minimalist sofas will almost certainly not be included in the sale.

If you are interested in a property after your first viewing go a second time. Bringing a friend can be a good idea. If your first viewing wasn't during daylight ensure your second is…this can give you a chance to view the external aspects of the property. When putting an offer on a property establish what fixtures and fittings are to be included in the sale of your potential property. This can avoid unnecessary problems or disputes.

Keep in mind that offers are always subject to survey and contract, so don't panic if you suddenly find the bathroom wall is falling down. We recommend a survey be carried out on the property you are buying, especially if it is over 5 years old. This gives you a specific idea of what work (usually structural) needs to be carried out on the property. A quote can then be determined for any work, which is required.

Getting your finances in place early can greatly help speed up the process and avoid unnecessary complications or delays. Keeping up to date with the conveyancing process can be a good idea, meaning if any problems, which arise, can be responded to quickly and efficiently.