The Buying Process

Step 1: Register your interest
If you would like details of suitable properties sent to you now and in the near future, either telephone us on 01823 602985, e-mail us by clicking on the adjoining link "Contact us" or register with us online by clicking on the link "Register with us".

If you are looking for a property to purchase, we do not computerise your requirements. This increases the risk of sending you details of unsuitable properties because it is not possible to pigeonhole individual requirements. We record your details and personally select those properties which we feel might suit you.

If you would like to view online our properties for sale, please click here.

If a property is of interest and there are some particular queries you would like to raise with us before arranging to view, do telephone us – we shall be only too pleased to hear from you.

If you need to sell your own property, please click here to arrange for us to provide you with a free market appraisal.

Step 2: Choosing a property
Consider area, size and age of house, outdoor space, transport links needed and what you can afford.

If a brand new house or barn conversion, it should have a Professional Consultants Certificate or an NHBC or similar guarantee.

If you wish to carry out improvements in the house or outside and the property is listed or in a Conservation Area or in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, check on the need for planning consent from the local planning authority.

Step 3: Finance for purchase
Firmly establish at this early stage how much you can afford to pay. If you intend taking out a mortgage, find out how much you can borrow. Guidance from the Financial Services Authority (the UK’s financial watchdog) can be obtained by clicking on the link on this page "FSA mortgage advice" - this will take you to the website's Home page - go to the menu bar across top of page and click on "Mortgages and homes ".

To work out your possible mortgage repayments, click on the link on this page "FSA mortgage calculator" - this will take you to the website's Home page - go to menu under "Tools and calculators" and click on "mortgage calculator".

Take into account any possible costs:
     • Legal fees – solicitors will give you quotations over the phone.
     • Stamp duty –for current rates, click on the link on this page "Stamp duty".
     • Removal costs

Step 4: Viewings
Contact us by phone or e-mail and we will make the necessary arrangements for you.

Step 5: Agreeing the sale
Submit your offer to us and we will immediately relay it to the seller for their decision.

Negotiations might be necessary before agreement can be reached.

You will be asked for information on:

	*	The source and availability of funds for the purchase.
	*	What size mortgage, if any, is required and if any offer to lend has been made in principle.
	*	The sale of any property upon which your purchase is dependent. We will need to phone your estate agent for details of any chain of sales involved.
	*	Any other matter which your offer might be subject to, such as a survey.

As soon as the sale price has been agreed, you will need to instruct a solicitor, formally apply for your mortgage and instruct a surveyor if you want a building survey.

Step 6: Surveys
A mortgage valuation assesses whether the property provides sufficient security for the mortgage.

A Homebuyer’s Survey and Valuation is a report on the condition of the property and is usually suitable for conventional properties in reasonable condition.

A building survey is suitable for older properties and those in poor condition.

Surveys are usually carried out by RICS members. If you are applying for a mortgage you can ask the lender if their valuer is also able to provide a survey report. Otherwise, you will need to instruct a surveyor and there are several independent surveyors in this area. They will give you in advance an estimate of their fee.

Step 7: The Legal Process
Your solicitor will check the draft contract of sale sent to him by the seller’s solicitor, raise any necessary enquiries and apply for any necessary searches. When he is satisfied with the contract and the information he has received, he will report to you. Once you have received the formal mortgage offer and signed the offer document, you will be ready to exchange contracts. You and the seller will sign the contract.

Step 8: Exchange of Contracts
If there is a chain of sales, exchange of contracts for your purchase will take place at exactly the same time for all the properties in the chain.

A completion date is agreed between you and the seller and this date is put into the contract of sale. The gap between exchange and completion is normally a few weeks, but it can vary from zero to many months. The completion date is when you can take possession of the property.

Upon exchange of contracts, a deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price) is paid by your solicitor to the seller’s solicitor. It is not until contracts have been exchanged that the sale becomes legally binding on both parties.

Step 9: Completion
On completion your solicitor will deal with the necessary transfer paperwork and transfer the balance of the purchase price to the seller’s solicitor.

You can move into your new home as soon as completion has taken place. This will be when your purchase monies have been received by the seller’s solicitor. This usually takes place by late morning, but it can sometimes be later in the day.