Your Dream Home Depends on Getting Your Ducks in a Row

1. A Week of Heartbreak and Hard Lessons

This week at Ivybridge, we could have sold the same home many times over. Several families fell for it the moment they stepped inside. By the time they reached the viewing, they were not just admiring architecture, they were deciding who would take which bedroom and picturing where the sofa and dining table might sit.

That is what powerful marketing does. Our photography, film and brochures allow people to see not only a house, but a lifestyle. And when buyers see themselves inside it, emotion takes over.

Yet, despite that passion, we had to make some of the saddest calls an agent ever makes: telling wonderful people they had lost out. Not because their offers were not generous, but because they were not ready to proceed.

We would still encourage an offer, to register interest and put your stake in the soil so to speak, but if you are not in a position to proceed, you must recognise that a seller is far more likely to favour a prepared buyer.

2. Why Sellers Value Stability Over Price

In the luxury market, the winning bid is not always the highest. At the £1m+ level, sellers are less focused on squeezing out the last pound and more on certainty. They value stable buyers, secure offers, and above all, the ability to move forward.

An enthusiastic family offering above asking is exciting. But if they have no mortgage agreement in place, no solicitor briefed, and no clear path to selling their current home, that offer becomes fragile. Sellers lean instead toward the buyer who has prepared.

This is the reality: readiness is what gets you chosen.

3. The Four Steps That Make You Ready

1. Mortgage Agreement in Principle
For those buying with finance, an agreement in principle is essential. It signals to sellers that your budget is confirmed. It is one of the simplest ways to move from interested to credible.

2. Your Current Home Marketed
If you need to sell in order to buy, your property should already be on the market and having viewings. Even if not yet under offer, this demonstrates intent and provides valuable insight into demand and likely timescales. Agents cannot withdraw a property for a buyer who is not proceedable, but evidence of progress makes your offer stronger.

3. Appointing a Solicitor
Too often, the legal process adds unnecessary delay. By instructing a solicitor early, you are weeks ahead when the right home appears. Sellers recognise and reward this foresight.

4. Proof of Funds
For deposits or cash purchases, clear documentation matters. Having proof of funds statements pre-prepared shows both capacity and seriousness. It reassures sellers that your offer is more than words.

4. Why Buyers Lose Without Preparation

Last week, several families reached their trigger moment. Their motivation was overwhelming. But without ability, a mortgage agreed, a solicitor lined up, a house on the market, their offers fell away. And we had to break hearts.

5. Why Preparation Protects Your Chances

Most agents focus solely on securing an offer for their seller. At Ivybridge, our role is exactly that: to achieve the best outcome for the homeowner. Yet in doing so, we see time and again how vital buyer preparation is. When a buyer has not arranged their finances, chosen a solicitor, or marketed their own property, even the strongest intentions can collapse.

The reality is simple: preparation makes the entire process more secure, and it protects your chances when competing for a home you love.

6. Why Having Your Own Home on the Market Helps

If you are selling to buy, marketing your current home brings two advantages. First, it signals to sellers that you are committed. Second, it gives you data. You will know what buyers think of your property, what level of interest exists, and how quickly it may progress.

That knowledge makes you stronger. It means you are not just a dreamer, you are a buyer with a plan.

7. Preparing Today for the Home You Have Not Yet Seen

The luxury market in Norfolk and Suffolk moves quickly. Homes with land, sea views, or period character often attract multiple suitors in days. If you wait until you see the one before arranging your mortgage or finding a solicitor, you are already behind.

The lesson is clear: prepare before the opportunity comes. By getting your ducks in a row now, you ensure that when you find the home you love, your offer is not just attractive, it is accepted.

If you are considering a move in Norfolk or Suffolk, our team would be delighted to discreetly review your buying position. Ivybridge buyers are prepared buyers, and prepared buyers secure the homes they want.