The process of moving home can be stressful, even if you’ve been through it before. Many of us feel unsure where to begin when searching for a new home and need advice before taking those first steps. Whether you’re an experienced mover or embarking on the journey for the first time, having an understanding of both the property market and your finances is crucial when buying a home.
In this edition of our customer story series, we caught up with one of our clients, Karen, who contacted Gail Reid Mortgage Services for mortgage advice along with partner Gary in the spring of last year, when they were looking to move into their first shared home together.
Karen reveals an insight into the queries her and Gary had before moving home and how important it was to speak with a mortgage adviser at the beginning of their buying journey…
Tell us about the different circumstances Gail Reid Mortgage Services supported you with in your home buying journey?
“Having been together for just over two years, my partner Gary and I had decided to move into our first home together at the beginning of 2023, and were eager to make the process as smooth as possible. I was renting a property in Turriff at the time and Gary was in the process of renovating his home with hopes to sell it in 2024. Since Gary already owned a property, we were unsure of how much we could borrow with him having an existing mortgage. As this was causing some stress and uncertainty, we decided to contact Gail Reid Mortgage Services in the hope that the team would give us peace of mind and help us find out how much we could borrow and whether we could purchase our first home together.”
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 got in touch with Gail at the very beginning of our buying journey. We were still exploring our options and had seen a handful of properties that suited both our budget and needs, but were hesitant to view any houses until speaking with a mortgage adviser, as we didn’t want to fall in love with a property before understanding what was feasible.
“I had an existing relationship with Gail and her team for mortgage advice in the past. Having had an extremely positive experience previously, Gail Reid was the only mortgage broker I had considered reaching out to – I knew we would be in good hands!”
Can you share a summary of what the process looked like for you?
“We reached out to Gail for mortgage advice in May 2023. Gail and the team were extremely helpful and provided us with figures based on Gary’s existing property and helped us secure a mortgage for a house we were interested in. Due to some issues on the home report including a retention and Gary having an existing mortgage, there were a few hurdles.
However, Gail and the team supported us throughout the entire buying journey and always were on hand to answer any questions which was very reassuring. We were so relieved to find out that we could purchase a home together despite Gary’s existing mortgage commitment – and Gail got us a fantastic deal on our property!”
What stood out to you most when working with Gail Reid Mortgage Services?
“The excellent communication. Gail and the team kept us in the loop from start to finish, which made a usually stressful time much easier. From Hannah dealing with the mortgage provider to Seonaid who dealt with our life insurance, Gail Reid has a remarkable team.
“We loved the fact that Gail Reid Mortgage Services covers more than one area of expertise and is able to provide other services which are extremely important when buying a home, such as insurance. Obtaining more than just mortgage advice under one roof made the process even smoother.”
What would be your advice to other people considering reaching out to a mortgage adviser – for moving home and for remortgaging?
“Speaking with a mortgage adviser like Gail Reid is definitely the simpler way to go about buying a new home. They are so knowledgeable and on hand to answer any queries you may have, no matter how big or small. It’s a great way to take some of the stress out of moving home!”
Looking to make your move? Discover more information and resources from Gail Reid Mortgage Services…