For many, living in London is a lifelong dream. The English capital is chic, cosmopolitan, and captivating. It is a place that breeds ambition, opportunity, and excitement, and there are few cities on earth that can match its allure for the young and the hungry.
Yet finding property in London can be a real challenge. With so many people wanting to live in this sprawling metropolis, property purchase and rental prices are competitive, and stumbling on something that suits your needs and still comes within budget can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
This doesn’t mean that you should set your dream aside. London life is an incomparable experience, and one that’s worth a little bit of stress and effort to attain. Provided that you have a few golden tips under your belt, you will find somewhere for you. On that note, here are three to get you started…
Tip #1: Choose a Good Estate Agent
One of the best resources for any aspiring London dweller is a good estate agent. Firms like Morgan Randall will have an in-depth knowledge of the local area, and they’re guaranteed to know of some suitable properties for you. Provided that you can give them some key criteria to work with, they’re ideally situated to point you in the right direction. What’s more, most agents will have a website full of suitable properties for you to browse if you’d prefer to do some of the research yourself.
Tip #2: Narrow Down Two or Three Suitable Areas
London is a big city, and that means that its various districts possess a number of individual features that make them suited to some people more than others. Although some will appeal to young professionals, families, and so on to differing degrees based purely on their location to the centre, they also vary in terms of their character and vibe. Research suggests that in order to be happy, you need to match your own personality to that of the area you live in. If you’re artistic or creative, for example, you’ll be happiest in London’s most diverse and densely populated regions, where you’ll find lots of stimulation to feed your curiosity and sense of adventure.
Tip #3: Be Realistic About Your Budget
Of course, it also pays to be realistic about your budget. If you’re on the lower end of the scale income wise, you’re not going to be able to find a spacious four-bedroom house in a nice part of London. No matter how long you look for, your search will be frustrated. Instead, be realistic. Sit down and look at rental prices in different parts of the capital, working out how much your budget could buy you in various areas.
Start looking today: London life and the house of your dreams are waiting for you.