Most people who are looking to buy a new home will go and see more than one property. Some you might like or dislike straight away and others you might not be sure of. But when you see so many places it can be difficult to remember what was right and what was wrong.

That’s why it makes sense to take along a digital camera and a checklist. By taking pictures, you will be reminded of certain features that you liked, the type of area the property was in and so on. A checklist can help to remind you of what the property included as well as areas for repair.

The website www.rightmove.co.uk has a great checklist available to download (http://www.rightmove.co.uk/pdf/p/guides/ViewingChecklist.pdf), which lets you comment on each room in the house and what they have to offer, exterior considerations, proximity to public transport, schools and so on, plus other factors such as the property age.

Being cautious about buying a property makes perfect sense, just as it does when people are cautious about the type of mortgage they choose. Opting for a fixed rate mortgage is perfect for people who want to know exactly what their payments are going to be from the start. But how do you find the best UK fixed rate mortgage for you?

You might want to begin with Direct Line. We understand that some people are cautious – that’s why we offer three fixed rate mortgages – a two-year fixed rate mortgage, a three-year fixed rate mortgage and a five-year fixed rate mortgage. All three offer similar features but different interest rates depending on the term. You can find full details and the latest interest rates online.

What’s more, if you take out a Direct Line mortgage, we’ll give you a discount off our best home insurance price.