Fill this in separately from your partner — that's the whole point. Where your answers align, we can move quickly. Where they differ, that's exactly what I need to understand before we speak.
Don't overthink the words you choose. Gut instinct is fine — we'll work out what they mean together. If you're being unrealistic for your budget in the area you have in mind, I'll tell you. The search reveals what needs to be compromised on. There are always compromises. Let's be straight about that from the start.
There'll be a lot more to talk about. Your responses here help guide the direction we take.
The logistical anchors that shape the geography. You can both complete this section, one of you can cover it, or you can split the factors between your forms — all of those work fine as a starter conversation.
Geographic Anchors
Work
What do you do?
Where do you work?
Primarily from home
Office-based
Hybrid
Where do you need to travel for work, and how often?
Office, client sites, regular destinations — days per week or month. Both partners if applicable.
Children and schools
Ages, target schools or school types, faith preferences, state or independent — anything about the school situation that will shape the search. Leave blank if not relevant.
Other
Family, regular commitments, places you need to be close to. Postcode where you can, and how often.
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Postcode |
Frequency |
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Budget and Finance
You don't need to put specifics down here — but do make a note to mention anything that affects your plans, position or proceedability when we talk. A rough sense of budget is all I need for now. You can rely on my absolute discretion.
Approximate total budget
How are you planning to buy?
Mortgage
Cash
Part cash, part mortgage
Other
Do you need to sell a property to proceed?
No — categorically chain-free
Undecided
Yes — chain is proceeding
Yes — not yet on market
If chain is proceeding — anticipated exchange date:
Any other financial factors to consider?
Bonus, pension lump sum, inheritance, business sale, rental income from current property, SDLT liability — anything affecting timing or available funds.
Other Major Factors
Access and mobility needs
Anything that should shape what we look at.
Need to know
Anything else I should know before we speak — things that don't fit neatly elsewhere.
Your answers, not your partner's. Be honest with yourself about which headspace you're in: "if money is no object" or "what I think is actually feasible in the target area." Either is fine — just be clear which one you're working from. It makes a difference to how I read it.
Bedrooms needed (minimum)
Bedrooms ideally
Approximate size sqft / sqm
Three words for the house you're looking for
First instinct. Don't overthink.
Three dealbreakers
Things that would rule a property out regardless of everything else.
Anything else on the house?
Outside space, outbuildings, WFH requirements, hobbies that need space or a particular setup, how much work or renovation you'd be prepared to take on — anything not covered above.
This covers two things: the immediate environs of the house — what it sits in, what's directly around it — and the wider area it belongs to. Both will shape what we search for, so cover both layers here if you can.
Three words for the area or setting you're looking for
Village? Market town? Rural? Quiet? Connected? Characterful?
Three area dealbreakers
What would make the right house feel like the wrong place?
Areas actively on your list
Towns, villages, postcodes.
Areas already ruled out
And briefly why, if useful.
Anything else on the area?
Most searches that stall do so because of something that hasn't been said out loud. Answer honestly. Ideally you won't see each other's responses until we're in the room together.
A priority of mine that I'm not sure my partner fully appreciates:
Something my partner seems to value that I feel less strongly about:
The question we keep coming back to but haven't resolved:
Have you seen anything that felt close — even partly? What happened?
Anything else I should know before we speak?
Timeline, budget context, something this form hasn't asked.
What happens next. Return this to me — by email, photo, or post — before your call. I'll review both responses and come to the conversation with a clear picture of where you're aligned and where we need to do some work together.
Rachel Johnston
racheljohnston@stacks.co.uk
stacks.co.uk
Stacks Property Search · Est. 1984
