House hunting is a minefield. It may seem all fun and games when Kirstie and Phil are frolicking in a Suffolk hamlet, but down in the trenches of useless property email alerts and abysmal listing photos, your ideal property can seem like a million miles (and pounds) away. But there is hope. On these pages you will find your three-pronged attack for finding the best properties on the market, starting with how to handle estate agents and finishing with a few outside-of-the-box tricks which could just tip you over the edge into home ownership. There are also five handy online tools (four of which are free) to help whittle down your choices and search area. Wishlists at the ready, HomeStylers – into battle we go!
Qs for the vendors