House buying in SE - advice please!

[RhubarbandCust]

Hi,

DH and I have outgrown our small 1-bed apartment and want to buy a bigger place for us to expand into. Buying our first home together was a very smooth process, as both neither party was involved in a chain.

But I now realise that our experience was the exception as I've heard many stories where chains have broken & people have been left homeless!

So I'm just wondering how do people manage this? Do you sell your home first and then look for somewhere else to buy? Or vice versa (find somewhere first and hope your place sells in time). We are lucky in the sense that our flat is located in good area in London and so will be relatively easy to sell......it's just the other part I'm worried about.

Or is it just basically a stressful experience whatever you do, because of the above?!

Thanks!

I have always put my house on the market then looked, but before having an actual buyer.

Then second viewed once I was in a position to offer.

Some people would advice to go into rented particularly if house prices are falling, thus avoiding being caught up in a chain.

There is no harm in maybe viewing a few to see what's out there the only downside is that a house you fall in love with will have gone by the time you are in a position to proceed.

Good luck :)

I have been trying to sell since 2004, on and off every 2 years.... Renting your property, selling and then making an offer puts you in a good position only on one end of the chain: you have a deposit and you are first time buyer. But still your vendor may pull out because they have missed the place they wanted - they have a chain. If you buy a new home / flat from a developer then you will be able to plan and there is no chain. It will have good specs and soundproofing. Ask yopur vendors why they want to move, they should give you a sound reason. Noise is a most frequent cause of move.