When most people first decide to buy a house, they probably have no idea of all the ins and outs of the entire process. It's hard to know exactly where to turn to for good sound advice.
Many people choose their parents, which is all well and good.
But if your parents aren't that clued up and you don't trust the advice of experts who have a vested interest in helping you through your first deal, it can be hard to know where to look for helpful and thorough advice. This is one of the principal reasons that the idea for this site first came about. Bear in mind that if you are trying to sell your house at the same time, it can be a whole different ballgame, as a hair-pullingly large number of additional obstacles will be present to encourage you to pull your hair out in exasperation. It's going to take a lot of time and effort and be more than a little bit stressful. Only start down the road if you know you want to get to your destination.