In the press… The Daily Telegraph

Test driving a location by renting first is a popular tactic used by buyers who are moving to a new area, and we were delighted to share our views with The Daily Telegraph on this topic.

Relocating is such a big decision and if you’re not very familiar with the area you want to move to, jumping in at the deep end by buying a house before you’ve come to know the intricacies of the local housing market and what it’s actually like to live there, can feel like too big a risk.

Downsizers especially are less likely to be plugged straight into a new community through work and schools, so for them, joining local groups or the church and making new friends and connections is really important. They can take their time finding the right property, do viewings at the drop of a hat and are in a chain-free position with cash in the bank.

We always advise our buyers to insist on a 6-month break clause in their rental contract, so even if they find a property to buy quite quickly, they can get out without incurring major costs.

It’s not just downsizers taking this scenic route to moving home though. We’re also seeing younger buyers opting to sell and rent in the short term, giving them time to put all the jigsaw pieces together with new school and working arrangements, before committing long-term.

You can read the full article here if you’re a Telegraph subscriber.