A Brief Guide to Buying Your Home

Step 1 - Decide what you want, and what you can afford.
We will advise you on likely costs, and help plan your budget.

Step 2 - Once you have found a suitable property.
The sellers' estate agent will advise us on the terms of purchase and provide details of the sellers and their legal representatives.

The seller's solicitors will send us details of their client's deeds, and contract. They normally provide standard forms giving details about the property, eg:
Disputes
Notices
Recent alterations
Fixtures and fittings

We will prepare a report for you, along with copies of relevant papers, explaining all the important points and matters of which you should be aware.

Step 3 - A Local authority search.
A local authority search will be carried out. This ensures, for example, that there are no road or other proposals affecting the property, or breaches of planning or building laws.

Step 4 - Survey of the property.
Whether or not you have a mortgage, you should have a survey of the property.

We will advise you on what sort of survey you require and, where appropriate, will act on your Surveyor's advice to ensure that any relevant matters (such as building works to be carried out) are covered in the contract.

You should also make sure that your buildings insurance is ready to go on risk - normally with effect from the completion date.

Step 5 - Signing the contract
Once the paperwork is ready, and you are happy with it, you will be ready to sign the contract, and provide a cheque for the deposit.

After you have signed, then it is the seller's turn to sign. Once this has taken place, both buyer and seller are bound, and cannot withdraw without severe penalties (if at all).

At the same time, a completion date is agreed - usually between two and four weeks after signing.

Step 6 - After the contract
We will carry out any final searches at the Land Registry and elsewhere. A financial statement is prepared and sent to you, showing any balance required for you to complete.

A transfer deed is also prepared, agreed and signed. If you have not already done so, you will now sign the mortgage deed.

Step 7 - Completion
On the day of completion
The balance of the price is paid by transfer
The deeds are sent to the buyer's solicitors
The keys are released

After Completion
Even after completing there are still matters which need to be dealt with - such as repaying mortgages, paying stamp duty, registering the transfer and so on.

We will deal with these matters on your behalf - giving you more time to settle into your new home!

Click here for your free conveyancing quote

For more help and advice on conveyancing, contact James Burnside at our property department:

Home - About Us - Accident Claims - Conveyancing - Employment - Matrimonial - Wills/Probate - Full Index - Contact