The buying process
- 1
Budgeting and getting the right mortgage
Before you begin your property search, you need to establish how much you can spend on a property, and if you are not buying it outright, you will require a mortgage.
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- 2
Finding the right location
Choosing your next property usually involves finding a balance between what you want, what you can afford, and what is available. Every individual’s requirements vary, but most buyers’ decisions will be influenced to some degree by budget, location and size.
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- 3
Instructing a property solicitor
There are a number of legal documents and procedures that must be completed when buying a property. For the transaction to move as quickly as possible, you will need a reliable property solicitor or conveyancer to take care of the legal and administrative details.
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Finding and shortlisting properties
There are several online aggregators, or portals, that make comparing properties easy. Estate agents’ websites also provide the ability to search properties by various criteria.
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- 5
Optimising viewings
To get the most out of your property viewings there are a number of checks you can do yourself, as well as questions to ask your estate agent.
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Negotiating and making an offer
There are many elements to consider when negotiating and making an offer on a property.
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- 7
Arranging a survey
Once your offer is accepted, you will need to arrange a survey to learn about the property’s condition and value.
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Agreeing the sale, exchanging and completing contracts
Once your offer has been accepted, the final paperwork will be prepared ready for exchange and completion.
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Preparing for moving day
The day you move house is likely to be a busy one, but you can make the process less stressful with good preparation.
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- 10
Possible problems and pitfalls
As there are a number of different parties involved in the buying process, planning ahead and preparing for any challenges will keep the process running smoothly.
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