Buyer's guide

Creating a budget for your search parameters is a great place to start.  There are plenty of online tools available to help you understand what you may be able to afford.  You will need to undertake this exercise in order to obtain an 'Agreement in principle' from a lender.  This is confirmation of how much you may be able to borrow, and once obtained, will give you a much clearer idea of the price range of properties you might consider.  Just remember that solicitors fees and stamp duty need to be paid upfront (they cannot be added to your mortgage) so you will need this money set aside on top of your deposit.

This is a really important exercise and helps you narrow down and filter out properties that can become a distraction when house-hunting.  We advise you to make a list of the things you absolutely 'must-have' and then a list of the 'nice-to-have'.  Going through this process will help you work out the things that really matter versus the things that you'd simply like to have.  We'd also advise you to think about the list in terms of whether any of these 'must-haves' vs 'nice-to-have' are possible in the future. (i.e. a new kitchen can be added at a later stage, but you can't live beside a river if there is not one nearby).

Purchasing a home is frequently the most significant financial choice individuals will make, yet it's surprising how often this decision is influenced by a brief 10-minute house tour. While you might not always have the flexibility to extend your viewing time, there are steps you can take to maximize the effectiveness of your visit. We've curated a checklist of proactive measures to be taken in advance, ensuring that you are optimally positioned to make the most of your time at the property. This preparation will not only empower you to confidently navigate the viewing but also enable you to consider making an offer, secure in the knowledge that you have thoroughly conducted your research

Having found your dream home, you want to be able to make and conclude an offer.  The last thing you want to do is find that you are not able to proceed with the offer due to a factor that could previously have been resolved.  The most common example of this where someone is not able to obtain the financial arrangements they previously thought possible.  Once you have an offer accepted a seller will expect you to move fast and make progress instructing your solicitors and surveyors who will undertake a survey on behalf of your mortgage company.  Make sure you ask your solicitors to explain the buying process to you, so you know what they expect from you in advance so you can be ready to complete anything required.

Having the right conveyancer can make the difference between a successful sale and a fall-through.  It is important therefore you research carefully and take advice on who to select.  The average UK homeowner will move house every 23 years, so the chances are things will have changed since you last went through the process of buying.  A good conveyancer will explain the buying process and provide you with a quote for their work (often a fixed fee) along with details of some of the costs you may incur during the purchase (often called disbursements) such as the survey, searches and electronic transfer fees.  Anyone calling themselves a solicitor should be registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).