Keep on looking until you find a house that meets all your priorities. Once you find a place that comes close, go and view it at least three times, on different days and at different times. What looks like a quiet residential street may be a busy short cut during rush hour. As well as visiting the house on different days and different times, try to make sure you see it under different weather conditions. Many houses look lovely in the sunshine, but an area can look a real dump in bad weather.

Going to see a house three times is all very well, but in some areas, where property is scarce, houses don't stay on the market for very long, so you may have to get going quickly.

I went to see a place the second day it was back on the market, and really, really liked it. I was going to make an offer there and then, but caution prevailed and I asked to come and see it again two days later (and in the evening) but they had already accepted an offer by then. The place I bought is probably less nice, but slightly better located and a lot cheaper, so I have no complaints.

One of your first things you'll notice about a property is the interior decor. Don't let vile wallpaper put you off. Try and imagine all the rooms you look at as being empty and nicely decorated. It only takes an hour or so to slap some new paint on the walls. Remember that you can probably live with polestyrine tiles on the ceiling for a few months, but can you really put up with a tiny kitchen, no matter how new and trendy the units may be?

Second opinions are invaluable, so take as many people with you as possible. Including your children (they'll feel more at home when you do move in). The more eyes looking for problems the better. If the sellers object, they obviously have something to hide. In fact, if you get a chance, talk to the vendors. Be nosey and find out why they are selling. Ask what the neighbours are like. Quiz them about aspects of the house they don't like. You'll be surprised how honest most people are. If you're a rather shy sort, take along a cheeky friend who's prepared to ask questions on your behalf and brief them with a list of questions beforehand.

When you're in the process of looking for a house people are bound by the laws of property ownership to give you a knowing look and say, 'You just know, don't you?' When you're a first time buyer, just how do you know? It's sometimes a temptation to buy one that is just okay. Use the force and don't buy anywhere you're not really enthusiastic about. Can you picture it feeling like home, or is it just non-dreadful with no obvious flaws?