With interest rates low and prices still favourable, many people are intending to make 2010 the year they get into the property market by buying their first home.

However, after they select an area they would like to live in and start looking at individual properties, first-time buyers often find themselves "freezing up" at the prospect of the huge commitment they are about to make. What if they pick a property that turns out to need expensive repairs? What if the new neighbours turn out to be ghastly? What if something better comes up just after they've signed a sale agreement?

Well, the first thing they need to remember is that there is no such thing as a "perfect" property - for one thing, almost everyone's home is something of a compromise between what they dream of and what they can afford.

But having said that, every buyer also has certain non-negotiables - needs, rather than wants - and you should take the time to think about these and make a checklist so that you can easily establish which of the homes you view has the most boxes ticked for the best price.

This strategy will prevent you from becoming distracted by nice-to-have but unnecessary features or unduly influenced by "bargain" pricing, and help you to resist any high-pressure selling of unsuitable properties.

And most importantly, it will give you peace of mind, knowing that you have picked a home that is right for you and is thus your plum property, whatever else may come on to the market later.