Top Tips for a Smooth House Purchase

The process of buying a house – and the legal conveyancing that comes with it – can be complicated and stressful. It can often feel like you’re in over your head.

But making sure you do the right research, take the right steps and have the right team behind you can help to make everything less confusing.

We’ve put together some of our top tips to help give you the best chance of a straightforward house-buying and conveyancing process.

• Consider a mortgage broker

A good mortgage broker will make the process of finding the right deal much simpler. Working with a broker who checks the whole of the market will mean there are no deals left undiscovered. You’ll be able to find the best rate, saving you money in the long run.

• Get your agreement in principle early

Before you start looking for homes, you should get your mortgage agreement in principle. It will show sellers that you’re serious about buying and can put you ahead of other buyers who haven’t arranged their agreements.

• Be realistic about what you can afford

Knowing your maximum budget is useful, but you should also know what you can comfortably afford. This will help you avoid overstretching. Do your sums carefully and plan for the different financial scenarios you may end up in. Remember that the future can be unpredictable.

• Know what the fees are

There will be additional fees on top of the actual cost of the home. These include legal fees, the cost of various searches and surveys, and potentially Stamp Duty. Work everything out at the start of the process and when looking for quotes, make sure they’re comprehensive.

• Think about the chain

Getting involved in a house sale chain can be complicated. If you can, consider prioritising homes that don’t have a chain. This will ensure you don’t have to wait to complete on anyone else’s schedule and reduces the chance of snags cropping up.

• Do your house price research

You want the best deal for your new home. But your seller also wants to get the most they can. Make sure you’re checking what nearby and similar properties sold for recently so you know what a reasonable amount is. You don’t want to pay more than you should.

You’ll also want to make sure you’re getting a competitive conveyancing quote.

• Request it off the market

You can tell the estate agent you’re dealing with that you’d like to make an offer on the condition that the property is taken off the market if it is accepted. This reduces the chances that someone else will see it and make a higher offer before you exchange contracts.

• Choose the right conveyancer

One of the biggest reasons for a smooth conveyancing process is the team doing the work. That’s why it’s so important to choose a conveyancer you can trust. When they’re on top of everything, you have a far simpler experience.

• Act promptly

The best thing you can do once the conveyancing process has started is to provide everything your solicitor needs quickly. If you have to fill out a form, provide your ID or answer a question, try to do it as quickly as you can. Anything you can do promptly reduces the chances of delays.

• There are no silly questions

When it comes to conveyancing, the professionals are the experts. You won’t be expected to know everything, so don’t feel like you should. If you aren’t clear on something, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. There’s no such thing as a silly question when making the biggest purchase of your life.

• Get a survey

A full survey is different to a lender valuation. It provides more information on the condition of the house and lets you make a more informed decision about buying the home. A survey is optional but it’s a good idea, especially if you think there might be any problems with the property.

• Check your fees

Some solicitors may make mistakes or try to charge you more than stated. This is why it’s important to check the fees after the completion of your purchase. Choosing the right conveyancing team will also help to prevent errors like these.

If you need legal help buying a home, just get in touch. We work with expert conveyancers who can make the process less stressful than you might expect.

For a quick quote, try our conveyancing calculator.