Embarking on the journey of purchasing your first home is undeniably exciting, from the prospect of owning your own space to looking ahead at the memories yet to be made. However, there are often a host of uncertainties that come before these positive experiences, which is where a specialist mortgage adviser can step in and help.
In this edition of our customer story series, we caught up with one of our clients, Kayleigh, who was looking to upsize with her family of four at the end of 2023. With a lack of space in their rental property, Kayleigh and partner Josh decided to take the next step and purchase their first home together as a family.
Kayleigh discusses her and Josh’s circumstances prior to searching for their first home, and what stood out to her most when working with Gail Reid Mortgage Services…
What were your circumstances when you were looking to move home?
“When we first reached out to Gail and the team, Josh and I were renting a three bedroom property in Bridge of Don with our two young daughters and two dogs. Being a family of four (or six if you count the pooches) in a three bedroom home with limited storage space was proving to be a challenge and we were eager to upsize as soon as possible.
“Ideally, we were looking to stay in the Bridge of Don area and move into a home with a big garden for the dogs – but with so many options and a budget in mind, we were in need of advice on where to go next.”
What stage were you at in the process when you decided to get in touch with Gail? Had you made a lot of decisions already or were you still exploring your options?
“We started properly looking into our options in November 2023, and since Josh and I were both first-time buyers, we initially researched the LIFT scheme to help us with affordability. We had viewed a handful of properties but needed some guidance around which route to take. This led us to contacting several mortgage advisers in the hope that we’d find out more about the LIFT scheme and which properties we would be eligible for.
“Following a period of unresponsiveness from various mortgage advisers, a solicitor we had been in touch with recommended Gail Reid Mortgage Services as their preferred mortgage broker. Laura was the adviser who handled our enquiry and was fantastic from the get go. She provided all the information we needed around the LIFT scheme, as well as valuable financial advice. As first-time buyers, we were so pleased to have found a responsive and knowledgeable mortgage adviser and Laura made everything easier for us going forward.”
Can you share a summary of what the process looked like for you?
“Navigating the process of purchasing our first home with a young family was a lot to take on board, but luckily the team at Gail Reid Mortgage Services were extremely accommodating and understood the challenges of attending meetings with young children. After our initial in-person meeting to discuss our requirements and budget, Laura was brilliant at keeping in touch via email and was prompt with her responses throughout the entire process. When Josh and I found properties that piqued our interest, Laura clearly explained our options for homes that suited our requirements but weren’t on the LIFT scheme.
“After weeks of house hunting, it just so happened that our dream home wasn’t on the LIFT scheme, so Laura expertly navigated us through the intricacies of this and provided us with all of the information we needed. We were still able to place an offer on the house in mid-December 2023, and, despite a minor delay due to remedial work being carried out at the property, we were delighted to receive the keys to our new home in early February!”
What stood out to you most when working with Gail Reid Mortgage Services?
“Firstly, the team’s expert mortgage advice and knowledge of the local property market was outstanding. As first-time buyers, it was so reassuring to work with a friendly team that had a thorough understanding of properties on the market and the best options available to us.
“Secondly, the consistent communication and unwavering support provided by the team made the entire process much more manageable – we were well looked after from start to finish!
“We also acquired home insurance through Gail Reid Mortgage Services which eliminated the need to look for this elsewhere. Our Mortgage Protection Adviser, Seonaid, completely understood that attending meetings in person would be a struggle, and stayed in regular contact with us through phone calls and emails before collating a range of home insurance options best suited to our needs.”
What would be your advice to other people considering reaching out to a mortgage adviser?
“Going to a mortgage adviser was essential for Josh and I. Even if we had done all the necessary research by ourselves, we needed a mortgage adviser on hand to make sure we were making all the right decisions. Buying a house is a huge commitment, so it’s important to have a helping hand to steer you in the right direction.
“It sounds cliché, but I couldn’t recommend visiting a mortgage adviser enough – particularly the team at Gail Reid Mortgage Services. Going by how positive our experience was, I wouldn’t ever consider going anywhere else in the future!”