Guide to Buying Property

E & M Property Solutions are here to help you!

Whether we’re looking for your dream home or the optimal investment property this guide gives you a brief oversight of the steps involved.

Determine Your Budget

  • The first step towards buying a property is to determine your budget. It is essential to work out your finances before beginning your property search.
  • If you are planning to seek financial assistance through a mortgage, we advise consulting with a bank or an independent mortgage broker to ascertain your affordability.
  • An agreement in principle from a lender is preferable over online calculators, as it reassures you that a financial institution has examined your finances and is ready to lend.
  • We also recommend researching additional expenses associated with purchasing a property, like stamp duty and legal fees, and to check for any fees related to mortgage arrangements, that way there aren’t any unexpected surprises

The Perfect Property For You

  • Now that your budget is established, it's time to start hunting for your dream home or ideal investment property.
  • Register your details with our office so that you are regularly informed of potential properties that fit your criteria.
  • Next, focus on finding areas that appeal to your priorities and where you envision yourself residing. It’s important to consider the type of property you're interested in, and ask yourself some questions.
  • Do you want a leasehold apartment or a freehold house?
  • Would you like a garden or driveway?
  • Would a detached or semi-detached property be more appropriate for you?
  • The choice of homes is diverse, and consulting with an experienced local agent, such as ourselves, can be helpful in determining what options are suitable for your needs.

Arrange Your Viewings

  • Now it's time for the exciting part - viewing properties!
  • Once you've narrowed down your preferred area and type of home, reach out to our office, and one of our team members will be thrilled to arrange a suitable appointment for you.
  • As you look at different properties, it's essential to keep an open mind as your requirements may change slightly through the viewing process.
  • We will keep you informed and updated on any new properties that hit the market so that you never miss out on any potential options.
  • The more homes you view, the better understanding you'll have of what's most important to you, and it can aid with comparing properties when it comes to placing an offer. Our team attends all viewings to ensure that your questions are promptly answered. If we can't provide an immediate response, we'll work quickly to get the answers to you as soon as possible.

Make Your Offer

  • When you find a home that you're interested in, we'll ask you to present your offer to our office, along with evidence of your financial situation, which may include proof of cash, deposit or a mortgage agreement in principle.
  • We'll guide you through the offer process, working to negotiate a price and terms that meet both your requirements and the seller's expectations, ensuring that all parties are satisfied.

Instruct Your Solicitor

  • Upon acceptance of your offer, the next step would be for you to instruct a conveyancer to act for you and deal with all the legal paperwork that is required to complete the purchase.
  • Our top tip is to ask your conveyancer what their current caseload is and what their current average completion time is, that way you have a clear understanding of the time frame you’re looking at.

Arrange Your Survey

  • We recommend that you purchase a homebuyers report, in order to obtain a detailed condition report on the property and its state of repair. We would be happy to recommend local surveyors to you if you wish.

Exchange of Contracts

  • Once all of the above steps have been completed, you will be required to transfer the deposit money before exchanging contracts with the seller, and agree a completion date (move date) to conclude the exchange.

Completion

  • Congratulations on your new home!
  • On the day of completion, your solicitor will complete the contracts with the seller's solicitor and from this point the sale will be completed, your dream becomes a reality and you will receive the keys to your brand new home!