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Buying your next home? Looking for some help? AHomeBuyersGuide provides a clear step-by-step overview, from Search, to Purchase and Exchange. Making your purchase more transparent, easier to navigate and less stressful.

Buying within England or Wales? Then the steps are already populated below. Buying elsewhere? Then you may need to customise slightly for your purchase.

Property Search

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Property Seach
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Mortgage broker

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Estate agent

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Solicitor

01

Understand how much you can borrow by meeting with a mortgage broker or a Bank/Building Society (obtain a Mortgage in Principle)

01 - Additional Information

  • For all mortgage applicants, you may need to bring:

  1. Proof of earnings (e.g. last 3 months payslips)

  2. Recent bank statement (e.g. last 3 months where earnings are paid into)

  3. Proof of deposit (e.g. bank statement)

  4. Proof of identity (e.g. passport / driving license)

 

  • Confirm if any fees are charged on the mortgage product/ broker services and whether these can be added onto the mortgage 

 

  • Receive a copy of the Mortgage Key Facts Illustration/European Standard Information Sheet (ESIS). This details key information, such as: the interest rate (APR and APRC), loan amount, total amount repayable, fees/charges, early redemption charges, overpayment limits etc.

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Note: HM Government has not endorsed this website or our services and this website is in no way affiliated with HM Government

02

Find your perfect property 

02 - Additional Information

 

 

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Note: Neither Zoopla Limited or HM Government has endorsed this website or our services and this website is in no way affiliated with Zoopla Limited or HM Government

03

Make a formal offer on the property through the estate agent 

03 - Additional Information

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  • You may need to provide the estate agent with evidence of your deposit (bank statement) and mortgage in principle​

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Note: HM Government has not endorsed this website or our services and this website is in no way affiliated with HM Government

04

Identify potential solicitors and compare their associated charges 

04 - Additional Information

  • Receive and read ‘Terms and Conditions of service’ 

 

  • Receive breakdown of initial costs to be incurred

05

After negotiations, the estate agent will notify you if and when your offer is accepted

05 - Additional Information

  • Receive ‘Confirmation of Sale – subject to contract’ documents

    • Includes ‘Sales Memorandum’, which provides a summary of the vendor, purchaser and their respective solicitors’ details

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  • You can request for the property to be removed from any websites (e.g. Zoopla or Rightmove) to reduce the chance of being gazumped (vendor accepting a higher offer after accepting your offer), but this is up to the vendor 

 

  • Consider getting ‘Home Buyers Protection Insurance’ – This may repay all or some of the legal, survey and mortgage application costs, should the purchase fall through

Property Purchase 

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Property Purchase
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Mortgage broker

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Estate agent

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Solicitor

06

Proceed with your Mortgage by instructing a survey

06 - Additional Information

  • Select the level of survey to be undertaken:

    • Mortgage Valuation – Provides the mortgage provider with a valuation of the property. This is for their use in making a decision on your mortgage application and doesn’t provide details of the condition of the property

      • Note: You may have the option to pay an increased survey fee to upgrade to a Homebuyer Report, a Building Survey or you may choose to undertake an additional, more detailed survey

    • Homebuyer Report - Provides an overview of the property’s condition, highlighting significant issues (which may require further investigation) and any ‘surface-level’ problems

    • Building Survey – Most thorough survey, providing a comprehensive analysis of the structure and condition of the property  

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  • Payment to be made to the mortgage provider for surveys undertaken and the corresponding admin fee (if applicable) 

 

  • You can also commission your own independent survey, for an additional professional opinion on the property. A chartered surveyor to undertake this can be found at: https://www.ricsfirms.com/

 

Note: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has not endorsed this website or our services and this website is in no way affiliated with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

07

Proceed with your solicitor by providing required documentation

07 - Additional Information

  • Instruct solicitor by signing ‘Terms and Conditions of service’

 

  • Provide hard copy proof of your ID (e.g. driving license/passport)  

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  • Provide hard copy of proof of your residence (e.g. bank statement, utility bill)   

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  • Provide evidence of your deposit - bank statement, and if necessary, proof of origin of funds 

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  • Make initial payment to the solicitor to cover fees for mandatory searches, such as: Local Authority, Water, Environmental & Chancel repairs.

08

Your mortgage provider conducts survey on the property

08 - Additional Information

  • You may be contacted directly by a third party who may undertake the survey

    • You need to ensure access is available to the property through the vendor/estate agent and let the third party conducting the survey know of any special access arrangements to the property or specific areas to examine

    • The third party conducting the survey may write to you, requiring a signature to acknowledge confirmation of service and agreement to release the completed survey

 

  • The completed survey may be sent to you and/or the mortgage provider – see step 10 for details

09

Your solicitor conducts searches

09 - Additional Information

  • These may include: 

    • ​Land Registry search 

    • Drainage and Water enquiry

    • Local Authority    

    • Environmental search 

    • Chancel repairs search    

  • Note: Searches are valid for 6 months, therefore if you have not exchanged in this time, you may need to conduct the searches again ​

 

  • Your solicitor requests from the vendor’s solicitor: 

    • ‘Law Society Property information form’ (TA6)  

    • ‘Law Society Leasehold Information form' (TA7) (if applicable)

    • 'Law Society Fittings and Contents form’ (TA10) 

 

  • Once searches completed, your solicitor will send copies of the search results to you – see step 12 for details

10

Your mortgage provider receives survey results

10 - Additional Information

  • Your mortgage provider will let you know when the survey has been completed and if applicable, send through a copy. Alternatively, if independent survey undertaken, this will be sent directly to you and a copy should be shared with your solicitor   

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  • Check the survey details – the findings are summarised in priority order. Decide if you require your solicitor to make further enquiries with the vendor’s solicitor on any of the points raised and perhaps re-negotiate the offer price depending on the cost of works required, if any

    • Worth getting quotes for any potential works required

    • Check with your solicitor and agree on areas requiring clarification/further information which they will discuss with the vendor’s solicitor

11

Following a satisfactory survey and valuation, your mortgage provider will send a mortgage offer to you

11 - Additional Information

  • A copy of the mortgage offer should also be sent directly to your solicitor 

 

  • The mortgage offer is to be signed and returned to your mortgage provider

12

Your solicitor sends you the results of the searches conducted and may include a summary of the searches, identifying any areas for your consideration 

12 - Additional Information

  • Title Report

 

  • Official copy of Register of Title

 

  • Energy Performance Certificate

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  • Land Registration Act Questionnaire

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  • Requisition for enquiries of Local Authority

 

  • Drainage and Water enquiry

 

  • Environmental search results

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  • Chancel repairs search results

 

  • Law Society Property Information form (TA6) - Check for any missing information/supporting documents and progress any queries via your solicitor

 

  • (If applicable) Law Society Leasehold Information form (TA7) - Check for any missing information/supporting documents and progress any queries via your solicitor

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  • Law Society Fittings and Contents form (TA10) - Check for any missing information/supporting documents and progress any queries via your solicitor

 

  • Specific warranties and guarantees for work e.g. FENSA window/door certificate, gas safety certificate, electrical safety, building regulation compliance for any changes

13

Once any outstanding queries are addressed and all parties are ready to proceed, your solicitor will send you the contract and other documents 

13 - Additional Information

  • The Contract 

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  • HM Land Registry - Transfer of whole registered title(s) - TR1  

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  • Mortgage Deed (if applicable)    

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  • Land Transaction Return (SDLT) for the payment of Stamp Duty (if applicable) 

 

  • Details for transferring your deposit across

14

You will need to transfer your deposit and any other costs to your solicitor and identify proposed exchange and completion dates (which are usually between 1 and 2 weeks apart)

14 - Additional Information

  • May need to factor in any time it takes to access any funds required for the deposit, potentially in an account that requires notice, in addition to any daily transfer limits in place   

 

  • Check that your solicitor’s bank details have not changed since paying for the mandatory searches, such as: Local Authority, Water, Environmental & Chancel repairs (step 7)

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  • Confirm with your solicitor how much is outstanding after the deposit and costs are paid to them 

 

  • You need to have Buildings Insurance in place from the date of exchange of contracts (usually a condition placed by the mortgage provider)

    • Need to have re-building cost estimate for insurance (detailed in survey)

    • Can ascertain estimate prior to exchange and then confirm once date confirmed  

    • Some mortgage providers require their interest to be noted in the policy

 

  • You might also want to get a quote for contents insurance as it can be cheaper overall to have a combined building and contents policy. Other insurance to consider:

    • Life insurance

    • Accident, sickness and redundancy

    • Critical illness

    • Income protection 

    • Payment Protection Insurance

    • Items covered in storage

    • Items covered in transit

    • Cover if the property is to undergo work

    • Cover if the property is not standard or not standard occupation (e.g. non main home)

    • Personal cyber cover 

 

  • Consider looking at moving costs, such as removal van hire

15

Your solicitor arranges exchange of contracts (Note: Once the contracts are exchanged, both you and the vendor are legally bound to the property purchase/sale)

15 - Additional Information

  • Once all queries are cleared your solicitor will agree the exchange and completion dates as suggested by you with the vendor’s solicitor

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  • Exchange of contracts takes place and the completion date is confirmed (Note: need to have Buildings Insurance in place from date of exchange)

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  • Consider contacting internet service providers to arrange installation/transfer as this could take 2-3 weeks

Property Exchange

Key
Property Exchange
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Mortgage broker

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Estate agent

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Solicitor

16

Once confirmation of exchange is received from your solicitor, you will need to transfer any remaining funds, including any Stamp Duty payable, which will be detailed in a “completion statement”

16 - Additional Information

  • Completion statement will include the solicitor fee and recoverable charges

 

  • Your solicitor will send through a copy of the ‘Mortgage Deed’ which needs to be signed, witnessed and returned to them in time for completion

 

  • Mortgage funds will be released directly to your solicitor from the mortgage provider (Note: mortgage providers typically require 3-5 days to release funds)

 

  • Confirm with insurer or broker the date to start the building insurance policy and confirm back to the solicitor

 

  • Confirm date for any van hire or removals company

17

Your mortgage provider will send your mortgage information to your supplied correspondence address

17 - Additional Information

  • What your mortgage payments will be

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  • Date of first payment 

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  • Date of each month your payments will go out   

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  • Date of when initial mortgage agreement interest rate ends (if applicable)

18

On the completion day, the estate agent will notify you once the vendor’s solicitor has received the funds from your solicitor and the keys to the property can be released to you

18 - Additional Information

  • Usually collect the keys to the property from the estate agent

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  • You will need to take utility readings and notify relevant utility providers and the local council of the date from which you are the new property owner

 

 

 

 

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Note: Neither HM Government, The Energy Networks Association, Xoserve, Water UK or Royal Mail has endorsed this website or our services and this website is in no way affiliated with HM Government, The Energy Networks Association, Xoserve, Water UK or Royal Mail

19

Upon completion, your solicitor will register the purchase with HM Land Registry and send through a copy of the Title Deeds to you

19 - Additional Information

  • Receive completion of registration 

 

 

Note: HM Land Registry has not endorsed this website or our services and this website is in no way affiliated with HM Land Registry

Disclaimer
 

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by AHomeBuyersGuide Ltd and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

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In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

 

Through this website you may be able to link to other websites which are not under the control of AHomeBuyersGuide Ltd. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites and they are used at your own risk. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

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Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, AHomeBuyersGuide Ltd takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

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Please note, the initial steps populated within this website may only be suitable for the homebuying process within England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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