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When you decide that you're going to move house, there's a lot to arrange. It's certainly not the kind of thing you decide to do on a whim!

But before you can start to arrange the move and the hundreds of details that need to be sorted, you must first sell your existing property and find a new house to buy.

Many people don't start looking for their new place until they have sold their existing house. That can then put pressure on you to get somewhere new quickly.

To help turn you into the ultimate property finder, here's a handy guide you can use to plan your next search.

The first thing to do seems obvious, but it's a step that many of us skip when looking for somewhere new to live. And that's to work out exactly what you're looking for.

Not only do you need to look at your current lifestyle, but try to look ahead a few years at the kind of life you think you will be living.

For example, do you do a lot of traveling so need good transport links? Or do you have young children? Their needs will change hugely as they grow up. Being a good property finder is about determining now that they will need a bigger garden in the years to come.

Work out what you actually need and what would just be nice. Are you looking for somewhere to buy or rental property? Do you absolutely need three bedrooms, or would you be OK in a property with fewer bedrooms but more space overall?

Having all of these things clear in your mind before the hunt starts will make you an excellent property finder.

Next you must draw up a shortlist of the areas where you'd like to live. And then armed with this information, register with as many estate agents as you can.

Most agents maintain lists of people who are looking for properties. This makes their job of matching buyers and sellers much easier. So when you walk in with very specific requirements already worked out, you make it easier for them to determine if they can help you, and find relevant houses to show you.

But in your mission to be a property finder, you can't stop there. You need to do a little work yourself.

And that starts with the internet. Use property portals to do searches for houses. Many sites have clever features such as mapping that show you the exact location of a property in relation to local amenities. These are very helpful when you are trying to decide which ones to view, and which to ignore.

The next step in your property finder campaign is to get out there and do some work on the streets. Visit your preferred areas and drive around looking for 'For Sale' signs. When you see them note down the agents' details so you can contact them later and see if the property fits your requirements.

Pop into shops to buy your local newspaper (always good for property listings), and while you are there ask if anyone knows of houses that will soon be coming on the market. This can be a great way to find houses before they go on sale.

Repeat this exercise in the local pub. If you are really organized, you could get some cards printed up with details of the kind of property you are looking for, plus your name and mobile number. Just remember to always take someone with you when you view properties.

Follow this guide and you should soon find the house of your dreams.