The Riverside Journals - Festivals Issue 38 - FULL | Page 37

The Seven Most Expensive Mistakes
that London Property Buyers Make
Step Five: Arguably the biggest mistake you can make

Step One: Preparation
Most buyers do not treat the purchase of their home as a business
transaction and are consequently ill prepared. It’s vitally important that you
do not make the same mistake and are in a position to act swiftly to secure
the most advantageous terms. To achieve this, make sure that you have your
finances in place prior to making an offer, instruct a solicitor and surveyor
– but most importantly, make sure you are available before you embark on
your home search, to ensure that you can keep firmly on top of the market.

Negotiation is a skill which can be learnt, so don’t worry if it doesn’t come
naturally to you. Although I’d strongly advise reading up on the topic, there
are a few simple tactics which you can employ to give you an edge over
most buyers. A good place to sta 'B