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Buying a home for your family can be very difficult. There are so many things to take into consideration, but here are some of the key things to think about.

Is Head Better than Heart?

The head vs. heart dilemma is one that every homebuyer has to contend with. So, which is better? Well, there’s no easy way to answer that question. I’d say that a careful balance between the two options is always the best way to go. Both the head and the heart are important when choosing a home, but neither one should be too dominant!

Your head is important because you need to think carefully about the suitability and the functionality of the home. But you also need to think about how you feel about the property in your heart. Sometimes, the most suitable properties are the ones that you have a positive gut reaction to.

Who Can Help with Decisions?

When you’re buying a home, it can be pretty stressful and sometimes a little confusing. It’s a huge task to undertake, especially if you’ve never been through the process of buying a home in the past. But that doesn’t mean that you’re on your own. There are people out there who will be able to help and guide you.

The first thing to do is find a good estate agent that will be able to point you in the right direction and help you every step of the way. An estate agency with a good reputation, like Dixons, is a good option. You should also make sure that your family are involved in the process. This will help you reach the right decision when buying a home, and take some of the burden away from you.


Should You Get a Pre-Approved Mortgage?

Getting a pre-approved mortgage is when you get a mortgage agreed in principle with a lender before you actually find a property that you want to move into. The main benefit of doing this is that it gives you an idea of how much cash you're going to be able to afford to splash on your new home.

You can start by using an online service that shows the affordability of certain types of homes in certain areas. Once you think you understand the pricing in a particular area, you can approach a mortgage lender and get an agreement signed in principle. This is subject to change though, so keep this in mind.

How Well Do You Know the Neighborhood?

Before you buy a home, you should always make sure that you know the neighborhood well. This is the place that you and your family are going to be living in for the foreseeable future. That means that you want to know absolutely everything about it before you actually commit to buying a home there.

We all know how important it is to find the right location. But that doesn’t mean reading articles online or looking at maps. It means spending time in a place, talking to people and find out what the pros and cons of actually living there are. It’s only when you’ve found out this valuable information that you’ll know whether you want to live there.
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I remember the day we put our house on the market.  We decided to move to be closer to family, better schools and for more space.  What we didn't realise at the time was that I was pregnant with my youngest daughter.  

Our house sold when I was 33 weeks pregnant, I was still working full time and I had an 18 month old to look after.  Stress didn't cover it.  What made things more stressful is the house we wanted had sold!  We were really disappointed but continued our house search with me heavily pregnant.  We fell in love with another house which went to auction.  Although we were the highest bidder the owners decided to sell to someone else as they felt they would move quicker.

As luck would have it the original house we wanted came back onto the market and we made an offer straight away, which was accepted.  Then the fun started.  We had to decide which survey to carry out, which solicitor package we wanted, factor in the different costs of moving and then wait for all the survey results to come back and act accordingly.  Some of the results that came back brought back unexpected results and we had to factor in these costs, costs of repairs, bills and other things we originally had not thought of.  

I was getting closer to my due date and we still had not got a moving date, stress levels were high.  Whilst in labour we got a phone call to give us a completion date, which was then brought forwards and we ended up with 3 days to pack up the house and find a removal van.  I was tired, had a newborn baby, a 21 month old and really could have done with out the stress of moving.


I would have loved to have had a fairy godmother to explain exactly what was going on and when.  What would happen on moving day, if I had known the movers could have moved the cupboard with items still in them I would not have spent all the time packing things up.  Things such as the bills in the new home how to move them across to your name or even to think about ordering your furniture before you move so it is ready for your new home.  Yes we spent a month sitting on the floor until our sofa arrived.

Money Supermarket have devised the fairy godmother I needed.  An online tool that takes the stress out of moving and even has features built in to save you money.


Money Supermarket have thought about everything to do with moving home.  Even what to do with your pets.  Something that had not occurred to me until after we moved.  Remember to update the pet microchip details, vet and pet insurance details.  Money supermarket can also help you discover the cost of your happily every after.  This interactive tool is really simple to use and requires answers to a few short questions.  At the end it gives you an idea of the cost of moving.  I personally loved that the calculator stays with the fairy tale theme.

Whilst we have no plans to move again in the near future, at least I know that if we did I would have a fairy godmother on hand this time with Money Supermarket

I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Network Research Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity. I was given a voucher to thank me for blogging about MoneySuperMarket


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One day in your children’s life, they may have to move house. This upheaval can be a big issue in families, especially when your kids don’t understand. It’s even more difficult if you’ve lived in the family home for some time. Getting them to accept you’re moving house (without tantrums) is tricky. However, it’s not altogether impossible. Here’s how to help your little one accept a house move. 

hiding in a box

Start Early
Before you even start looking for a home, it’s a good idea to let them know that you will be moving house in the future. Explain to them that this means you’ll no longer be living in this house, but you’ll be in a brand new home! By getting the ball rolling early, you’re less likely to have tantrums later on. It will also help when you get them involved - see the next point. If your children are really little, then they may not understand. However, there’s no harm in trying to explain what will be happening.

Get Them Involved
Let your little one feel as though they play a big part in the house move. Let them have a look through the rental homes listed with Hamptons and on other estate agents websites. Ask them which houses they like the look of and which they don’t. Of course, your children can’t dictate where you’re going to move to but, it will get them excited at the prospect of moving somewhere new. You’ll want to keep them involved every step of the way, where possible.

Viewings
It’s not worth taking your child to every single house viewing, seeing as there are going to be many you don’t like the look of. You should, however, take them to see the properties you are interested in. This is another way of keeping them involved in the whole process. You will also be able to see any anti-child flaws in a potential house. Things such as counter heights and stairs are a good indicator of how child-friendly a house is. Your estate agent shouldn’t mind arranging second viewings for your whole family to have a look around. Treat it like a fun family day out!

Packing Up
When it comes to packing things up, some children may worry that they won’t see their toys again. You need to turn this into a game and keep referring back to the house move. Another good reason to start explaining early! Ask for them to put everything in boxes, as if this is the most fun in the world. You may also want to colour coordinate the boxes or get them to draw pictures on the side. This will help them feel more at ease about packing up their stuff.

The Move
Finally, it’s time to move house. Ideally, you should ask for a friend or family member to look after your little ones when moving. It’s stressful enough without children under your feet! You will also be able to get some things in order before they see their new home. This will enable them to feel more comfortable in their surroundings. Especially if you take some of their toys out to play with.

By the time the move comes, your children should have accepted what is going to happen. That’s why it’s important to start early and keep them involved. You’ll find that they’re a lot more keen on the idea if they feel as though they had an input! 
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Welcome to This Day I love.

My name is Leyla, also known as Mum to my 3 humans and dog Mum to J. I have a passion for the outdoors and love to run. I can often be found off road exploring the trails and fells and covering distances all the way up to 50 miles. As a family we love travelling and discovering new adventures, as I try and run around the world!

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