Buying a home can be a daunting process, but if you do the preparation work and follow some of the guidance, it can be a life-changing and fulfilling process. That's the advice of the various experts and recent buyers who took part in the six-part How to Buy a Home podcast.
Taking listeners through the entire process, the episodes offer guides to securing a mortgage, identifying which Government grants and supports you may be able to access, and how to weave your way through the legal and estate agent arenas without getting deterred.
Experts who featured on the series, hosted by journalist Siobhan Maguire, include Home of the Year's Hugh Wallace, mortgage expert Karl Deeter, Irish Times financial journalist Fiona Reddan, CEO of the First Home Scheme Michael Broderick, grants expert with Fingal County Council Aoife Lawler and a host of recent buyers who tell their own tales of what the process was like for them - and the lessons they learnt along the way.
The final episode of the series - How to Buy a Home podcast - is now live, focusing on the top tips for buyers looking to find enjoyment in their moving process, not just stress.
For those just embarking on the home-ownership journey, the advice is to pause, look at your current circumstances and plan for the future.
When it comes to securing a mortgage, buyers are urged to set out clearly the steps they need to do to get their desired home by developing a plan of action.
Buyers need to be aware that a home is not going to "fall in your lap" and they must sit down and make a plan.
This includes educating themselves on grants and finance, setting up alerts, and organising and attending viewings.
Other advice for expectant home buyers includes being prepared, keeping an open mind, asking questions, and engaging a solicitor early.
Hugh Wallace said that buying a home and moving is a huge decision, but one that "has to be a fabulous journey".
Moving in - First steps
In the final Episode, Hugh Wallace and Personal Organiser Hazel Burton talk through the essential steps of packing up, moving out and preparing to move in.
Both Wallace and Burton said the first thing to do when settling in to a new home is to "pop the champagne" and celebrate the exciting transition.
Outside of celebrations, the real first step is to de-clutter, Burton said.
"Sometimes people are downsizing, sometimes people are going to bigger spaces, but it doesn't necessarily mean if you're upsizing that you need to bring everything, absolutely no. Declutter is step one and planning for that de-clutter is so important as well," she said.
Wallace urged those buying a second-hand home to ensure they have done their research.
"What's very important if you're buying a second-hand home is that you've done due diligence on the home in terms of structure and issues that there may be with the wiring that may be out of date or the plumbing," he said.
"(This is) so that you don't go in and have that big surprise with an old house.
"And equally, in a new house, what's very important is to prepare a snagging list before the builder hands over the keys and, in my opinion, that's best done by somebody professional, rather than you going in yourself."
