1. Decide where you want to live and what type of property you want to buy.
   
   
2. Choose a mortgage and get an agreement in principle.
   
   
3. Register with several Estate Agents (local & internet) based in the area where you want to buy.
   
   
4. Find a solicitor and have them ready to act once you’ve made an offer. To find a solicitor who specialises in conveyancing in your area, please click here.
   
   
5. When you’ve found the property you want, you need to make an offer via the Estate Agent. Remember that the Estate Agent represents the seller (vendor) and will try to get the highest offer from you.
   
   
6. If your offer is accepted instruct your solicitor.
   
   
7. Your solicitor contacts the seller’s solicitor requesting title deeds for the property and initiates contract negotiations.
   
   
8. The Mortgage Lender will require you to carry out at least a basic valuation of the property – usually through their panel valuer. A full structural survey or home buyers report should be considered as it could give you a better indication on the make-up of the property. You can do this either via the lender or privately.
   
   
9. Mortgage Lender accepts the mortgage valuation and agrees to lend you the money.
   
   
10. Discuss the valuation report / survey with your advisers, including your solicitor and if you are happy, instruct your solicitor to proceed.
    
    
11. Your solicitor carries out various searches (e.g. a local authority search to find out if any alterations have been made). This is the time to negotiate on fixtures and fittings.
    
    
12. Your solicitor finalises the contract for you to buy the property with the seller’s solicitor, drawing up contracts for the sale.
    
    
13. Pay a deposit (usually 5% to 10%) to your solicitor which is held until the date of exchange.
    
    
14. Your solicitor exchanges contracts with seller’s solicitor and sends over the deposit. A date for completion is agreed.
    
    
15. Your solicitor makes sure your mortgage funds are available for the completion date.
    
    
16. Your solicitor prepares the transfer deed which is signed by you and the seller and lodged with the seller’s solicitor until the completion date.
    
    
17. Mortgage Lender transfers funds to your solicitor’s account in time for completion.
    
    
18. Your solicitor transfers the money to the seller’s solicitor on the completion date in return for the transfer deed, Land registry certificate and keys. The sale is completed.
    
    
19. Your solicitor arranges for the transfer deed to be stamped, pays the stamp duty, and sends the transfer deed to the Land registry to record you as the new owner.
    
    
20. Your solicitor passes your title deed to your mortgage lender as security for the loan and sends you the bill.
    
    
21. MOVE IN.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

You can choose how we are paid for mortgage services; pay a fee (usually 0.5% of the loan amount) or we can accept commission from the lender; or a combination of research fee and commission from the lender. This will be discussed initially with you.