Buyers Guide

Your guide to purchasing your new home…

For first time buyers and those moving, buying a new home is a huge decision and can be very daunting. However, making the right choices could not only make the process less stressful but help you secure your dream home faster. Please see below our brief guide to helping you secure your new home.

Step 1: Establishing a budget

The first thing to consider is what properties are affordable to you. If you are buying for the first time then your first step should be to contact a mortgage advisor. However, if you are an existing homeowner, in order for a mortgage advisor to calculate what you can spend on your new home, you will need to know the value of your existing property. We can provide you with a free no obligation valuation which you can give to your mortgage advisor. Click here to request a valuation. We work hand in hand with Sterling Mortgage Advice who offer a completely fee free service and will be able to confirm your budget for you.

Once you have spoken to a mortgage advisor and they have calculated your budget, it would be advisable to obtain a mortgage agreement in principle. Your mortgage agreement in principle will be required to provide proof a property is affordable to you and will be requested by the estate agent when making an offer.

Use the UK Stamp Duty Calculator here.

Step 2: Viewing properties

Once you have your budget confirmed and a mortgage agreed in principle, you are ready to start booking viewings. We advertise all our properties on all four major property portals (Rightmove, Zoopla, PrimeLocation and OnTheMarket) to help buyers find our properties but bear in mind that not all agents do this. Therefore, you may need to register with all of these websites to make sure you do not miss your dream home coming onto the market.

Here are some key points to consider while viewing:

  • Is the property chain free and if not, has the seller found a property to purchase?
  • Are there any furnishings or white goods being left as part of the sale?
  • What is the Energy Performance Certificate rating?
  • When was the boiler last serviced?
  • Is the loft boarded?
  • Are there any transferable guarantees?
  • If the property is Leasehold or shared ownership, how long is remaining on the current lease?
  • If the property is Leasehold, how much is the ground rent and service charge?
  • If the property is shared ownership, how much is the rent?
  • If the property is shared ownership, can the property be staircased to 100% ownership?

Step 3: Making an offer

Now you have viewed a property you would like to purchase it’s the exiting stage of making an offer. If you have still not organised a mortgage agreement in principle, at this point you will definitely need to obtain this as it will be required to secure the property. Even if you have a mortgage agreed in principle, it may have been some time since you spoke to your mortgage advisor and prior making an offer, we advise you contact them. This is to make sure they are aware of any changes to your circumstances and to check for any changes in the mortgage market.

We work hand in hand with Sterling Mortgage Advice who offer a completely fee free service and will be able to quickly arrange a mortgage agreement in principle for you.

The estate agent will require the following documents to meet the anti-money laundering regulations. These will normally be required before they will remove the property from the market:

  • A valid mortgage agreement in principle
  • Proof of your deposit if not coming from equity
  • Proof of Identification and proof of address

Step 4: Once your offer has been accepted

Once you have made a successful offer and the property has been removed from the market, the estate agent will need to know the details of your solicitor. We work with solicitors and can provide a quotation for you to consider. Once you have appointed a solicitor you will also need to apply for your mortgage.

CONVEYANCING PROCESS

1. OFFER ACCEPTED

Provide proof of funds and identification to your estate agent.

2. APPOINT SOLICITORS

Buyer and seller appoint solicitor/conveyancer to act on their behalf.

3. CLIENT CARE PACK

Solicitors need proof of ID and the completion of forms.

4. DRAFT CONTRACT PACK

Seller’s solicitors responsbility to create draft contract and send to buyer’s solicitors.

5. SEARCHES

Buyer’s solicitors will apply for searches.

6. ENQUIRIES

Enquiries rasied by buyer’s solicitors with the seller’s solicitors directly.

7. MORTGAGE OFFER

Sent by lender to buyer, solicitor and financial advisor. Mortgage deed must be signed by buyers before completion.

8. CONTRACTS SIGNED

Solicitors send contracts and, if relevant, transfer deed out with report for signing.

9. COMPLETION DATE DISCUSSED

Completion date agreed between buyer and seller prior to exchange of contracts.

10. EXCHANGE

Solicitors sign contracts to make them legally binding. Seller will receive a completion statement from solicitor and buyer’s solicitors will order funds from the lender for completion.

11. COMPLETION

Buyer’s solicitors transfer money and once seller’s solicitors confirm receipt, keys can be released to the buyer.