Buying a house: well, I didn't expect that!

Buying a house is one of the most exciting things you will ever do. However, the reality of owning your home isn’t always as straightforward as expected.

From unforeseen outgoings to pleasant surprises, there are plenty of things (both good and bad) that will keep you on your toes throughout the buying process. So, how exactly does the expectation compare to the reality?

Getting creative

Pinterest obsessives and home magazine devotees will have a vision of what their dream home will look like, whether full of '70s-inspired furniture or minimalist style.

If this sounds familiar, you probably can't wait to move into your new home and let your creative juices run wild, giving the whole place a makeover.

But you also have to consider your budget and space restrictions, which usually mean renovations end up taking longer. Before you start a marathon online shopping session, think about whether it's actually viable right now.

Deposit-tinted glasses

Don’t be fooled into thinking that a deposit is the only thing you need to budget for in the saving-up process.

When you buy a home, you will also have to pay out various legal fees, as well as for a valuation and survey – all of which add up to quite a subtotal.

Take all of this into account when searching for your dream home to avoid any nasty surprises.

Noisy neighbours

In an ideal world, you’ll move into your dream home and get to know your dream neighbours. You’ll all get on like a house on fire, in a quiet neck of the woods and enjoy cosy nights in your respective homes.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. You could move in to discover noisy neighbours who argue or watch the TV at full volume, or dirty neighbours who never seem to clear the rubbish or overgrown weeds from their garden. You may even find out that your peaceful street turns into a local hangout or amateur race track at night.

To try and stop this from happening, pay attention to everything around you during a viewing and arrange your visits at different times of the day.

Hidden surprises

We all have certain expectations on moving day, one of which is arriving at a property sparkling with cleanliness.

While your new home may appear spotless, you may get a little surprise when you come to replace that hallway mirror with one of your own – a pristine square of clean wallpaper in an expanse you didn’t realise was discoloured. If we were you, we’d pack a few strategically shaped cover-ups!

There’s no denying that buying a house comes with ups and downs, but if you go about the process in the right way, you can make the good times outweigh the bad.