Where to begin?

Each search is individual, so there’s no ‘secret formula’ we can give you to make a success of moving back to the UK.

Here we describe how we approach a search for our clients living abroad, which should give you an idea of the time and budget you will have to commit to and the areas you will need to consider.

How long it take to buy my UK house from abroad?

It may be difficult to be leaving your current lifestyle, or you may be desperate to get ‘back home’, but the last thing you want is for you to be under pressure to buy a property with work and family commitments looming. We would encourage you to start thinking and talking and acting as early as you can. We suggest that you start the process two years before your planned move – two years is ‘tomorrow’ in property terms.

How to start the process of moving back to the UK

Dig into ALL the factors that will make a move successful for you – work, school, family, friends, budget. Working out what you need to make your move back to the UK a success for you and your family takes a lot of discussions!

This is a key area in which Stacks has proven invaluable to our clients, as we know the questions to ask to get right to the heart of the matter. Ideally, we meet our clients face-to-face on their next visit to the UK, but time taken – even in the airport, at a motorway service station or at your in-law’s kitchen table – is invaluable at this point. If a visit proves impossible due to your timescale, we suggest having ‘virtual meetings’ by Skype, Facetime or just old-fashioned phone.

How we find and acquire your home while you are abroad

We then get to work, using our agency contacts, looking at and short-listing the best houses for you to see on your next visit here. We deal with all of the ‘organisational admin’ for your visit. We can collect you from the airport, book accommodation, provide sustenance, etc – we do whatever is necessary to allow you to focus on your choices.

NB Some people can – and do – buy ‘sight unseen’ and, whilst we wouldn’t recommend it, the shortest route to a happy purchase is building the trust and understanding with your Stacks professional. We are problem-solvers at heart, and whatever you need to be able to make the right decision, we make it happen.

The due diligence Stacks provides when acquiring your home

Once a good house has been found, we start the due diligence to make sure that we are in the best position to negotiate the best price for you. We will know about the neighbourhood, we can try the commute at rush-hour and compare the competition in the local property market.

Negotiating and progressing the sale

Having secured your property at the right price for you, being local and on the ground, we are the next best thing to being here yourself. We will oversee the survey and conveyancing process, making sure that matters are dealt with, involving you as required, so that you know that you are buying the right property at the right price.

Our client testimonials say that they have found our service absolutely invaluable, as we have saved them time, money and a lot of stress. We have local offices on the ground who know the local properties, the local market and give you the very best advice. Understanding the trials ahead, why would you try and do it yourself?

You may like to read a case study of someone in a similar position to you here, or get in touch with your local Regional Director today for a free no-obligation chat regarding your plans.