Not quite right flat or me being indecisive?

[feelingnaive]

Hi! We’re FTB looking to buy in Zone 5 London, we’ve found some areas local to where we live now that we really like and we’ve seen flats that meet our criteria (2 bed, outside space, good size) within in budget so I think we’re looking at the right priced area.

We’ve done lots of viewings over the last two weeks, and I’ve seen a fair few that I love but just don’t quite make me have the urgency to say yes and make an offer.

I know from these threads that the perfect property doesn’t exist, and with our budget we will never have everything (although can realistically afford our criteria). Everyone I know IRL says you will just know when it’s the right one but I fear I’m not quite that sort of person, I like to really think things through. The only way we can afford flats in our budget is from having a large deposit so I’m scared of making a bad choice as it’s taken so long to save.

I’m also aware that things move fast and you need to be decisive, but part of me is reassured that we keep seeing ‘almost’ flats that we like - hopefully ‘the one’ is just round the corner and if not the fact we keep seeing perfectly nice flats means we aren’t missing a rare opportunity with the ones we have seen?

Did anyone else struggle with this and how did it pan out? The flat I saw yesterday was my favourite so far, estate agent just emailed to say they’d received an offer and did we want them to also put forward interest from us… just don’t feel sure enough to put the offer in.

How many have you actually seen so far? Only asking because if you are going to say 30 plus then something has to give!

My first flat was small, but had a roof terrace. My second flat was huge but the garden was long and narrow. My first house was ex local authority but in a good area. My current house is really good but has a smaller garden than I would like and no garage, but a drive instead.

If you see what I mean these are all compromises I have had to make in the past.

Yes there is a big element of gut feeling but working together with the compromises that always come with buying a property.

I'm a logical rather than emotional person too and my decisions are always based on requirements lists, pros and cons and the best we can get for our money. Been happy in the two places we've owned so far (and numerous rentals before that). Could be that your perfect place actually exist in your price bracket?

I would make a list of priorities and list them in order and see if the properties tick all the boxes. I think you've also got to view these properties with an open mind because weather/time of day/decoration inside the house can influence that.

We went in very logical, with stuff like "needs garden", "needs adequate storage", "cannot be end of terrace" etc which narrows down the search considerably! By the end we were checking on Google Earth beforehand to see if there were any dumps/industrial sites/safety issues around the area haha.

The house we picked is nice, but when we show it to friends they don't really see why it's so great! But we were very focused on the garden/area thing and not the colour of quality of walls or kitchens!

I'd say - if there are a couple of definite qualities that could tip an 'almost' flat into your dream flat, keep looking a bit longer. Flat prices are fairly stable in London atm, I think? But if you're waiting for a gut feeling, maybe it just doesn't work that way for you.

The only way we can afford flats in our budget is from having a large deposit so I’m scared of making a bad choice as it’s taken so long to save.
Unless you’re buying a money pit fixer upper or something tower blocky with cladding issues, or something super weird with odd layout/bizarre covenants/next door to a brothel, you’re unlikely to lose money in the long run. Provided you don’t need to sell during a slump, it’ll be fine. What’s the long-term plan – forever flat, 2-3 years, 5-10?

The ones you love that have met your criteria - what's wrong with them that makes them almost and not the one? Can you be specific? Because if it's just not having 'the feeling' that could be you and not the flat. Some people never get it. Some people get it a lot. I tend to decide really quickly and snap places up even if they don't seem that perfect, because if they tick the boxes, I know I'll be happy there. If they tick your boxes but you're holding back, it sounds like it's more down to your fear or some other reason for reticence. A 2-bed flat isn't going to be your dream home but if you can see yourselves being happy there, then I'd commit and get on with it, see how that makes you feel. On the other hand, perhaps there really is no urgency and you'd rather spend longer looking, which is fine as long as you're not wasting people's time - including your own.

Note from my username that I am kind of in the same boat! One thing I would think about is are you viewing flats that you know before you see aren’t going to be right - be strict about what’s vital criteria for you and only go and view if that flat is really likely to work for you and you might improve your viewing / offering ratio!