Timeline

From Home And Money

These are the steps and the decisions you need to take, in the order in which you need to take them.

Contents 1 Thinking about buying - what to consider 2 Planning to buy - narrrow down your choices 3 Finding a property - find the one you want to buy 4 Agreeing a deal - get your offer accepted 5 Buying the property - from handshake to moving in 5.1 Up to exchange of contracts - when all the decisions are made 5.2 Exchange to completion - when practical arrangements are made

Thinking about buying - what to consider

• Should you buy your own home?
• Should you buy a house?
• Should you buy a flat?

Planning to buy - narrrow down your choices

• What precisely to look for
• Where to buy
• What mortgage to choose

Finding a property - find the one you want to buy

• Find properties to view
• Get the most from viewings

Agreeing a deal - get your offer accepted

• Deciding what to offer
• How to negotiate

Buying the property - from handshake to moving in

Up to exchange of contracts - when all the decisions are made

• Deal agreed: what next? – These are the things you need to get started
• Instruct solicitors
• Arrange your mortgage
• Have a survey
• Arrange the deposit
• Read the reports – You need to find out what the surveyors and solicitors have found out about the property
• Problems & solutions – These are some typical problems which can come up, and what to do about them.
• Check everything – You need to make sure it’s safe to buy, and the problems have been solved.

Exchange to completion - when practical arrangements are made

• Exchange of contracts
• Insurance – Buildings, contents and life or health insurance you may need to set up.
• Services – Make sure you will get the public services for the property
• Money for completion – Arrange the money.
• Removal arrangements
• Moving day
• After completion