Don’t Move Until You Know This!
Selling your home and buying your next one? It’s exciting. It’s emotional. And it can be seriously overwhelming, especially when it comes to money. I have had so many conversations with sellers who set their hearts on a new home, only to realise too late that the numbers just do not add up.
Here is the truth. Your next move is not about what you want to spend. It is about what you can spend, and more importantly, what you can comfortably afford.
Let’s talk honestly about expectations
One of the biggest challenges we see with sellers is mismatched expectations. It is no one’s fault. When you fall in love with a new property, it is easy to think, “Right, let’s sell ours and go for it.”
But here is the thing. Just because you want that next house does not mean your current one will fund it.
We often hear people say, “But I need to get X for my house to afford the next one.” And we have to say, gently but firmly, that is not how it works. Your current property is worth what it is worth, not what you need it to be worth. The market decides the value, not your plans.
So where do you start?
Start with reality. Not hopes or dreams, but reality. And that means three simple steps.
Get a proper understanding of your home’s value
Not just from one agent. Speak to three. Get a range of market appraisals and do not just focus on the highest number. Take the average, and then knock off ten percent.
That is your realistic starting point. Because if your move still works at that figure, brilliant. If it does not, you have saved yourself a lot of time, stress, and heartache.
Speak to a proper mortgage advisor
And I do not mean someone who will just tell you the maximum you can borrow. Speak to someone who will help you understand what is comfortable to borrow. What is affordable long-term, not just what is possible on paper.
Your next move should not come with sleepless nights worrying about monthly payments.
We work closely with whole-of-market advisors who will take a proper look at your finances and give you honest, real advice. Not a dream figure. A real one.
Look at the whole cost of moving, not just the house
Solicitor fees, stamp duty, removals, surveys, marketing fees. It all adds up. And it all comes out of your budget.
Make sure you factor these costs in from the very beginning, so you are working with the full picture, not just a slice of it.
What if the numbers do not work?
Sometimes they will not. And that is okay.
It might not be the right time. Or it might mean adjusting your expectations. Maybe it is not the four-bedroom home with a paddock just yet. Maybe it is a smart three-bed with potential. Or maybe the best move right now is to stay put, build more equity, and revisit your plans in a year or two.
That is not failure. That is smart decision-making.
Knowledge is power. Confidence is freedom.
Once you have done this groundwork, you are in control. You know your numbers. You know your limits. You can move forward with confidence, whether that means finding your next home or deciding to stay where you are and making it even better.
At Eastaway, we are not here to sell you a dream we cannot deliver. We are here to help you make the right move for you, whatever that looks like.
If you are thinking about selling, let’s have a chat. No pressure. No sales nonsense. Just honest advice from people who genuinely care.
Eastaway Property
☎️ 01780 672030