Buying Home Tips

The process of buying a house

• Make an offer & appoint a Solicitor
  When your offer has been accepted, the seller will need your solicitor’s details. Your solicitor handles the conveyancing, which covers all legal aspects of purchasing a property.
• Finalise Mortgage Arrangements
  You now need to finalise your mortgage. Most lenders will also carry out a valuation on the property - not a survey, just a basic valuation.
• Organise a property survey
  Now you can arrange a property survey, which is a detailed check of the property. This is optional but highly recommended.
• Exchange contracts
  Your solicitor will have carried out all the necessary searches between the offer and exchange of contracts. Once the contract terms have been agreed, the contracts can be exchanged and the deposit paid.
• Complete
  When your solicitor has completed the purchase on your behalf and the property is vacant for possession.

Safety Tips for Buyers

1. All communication between sellers and buyers is done through the HWD website, which means that all communication is anonymous unless and until either party wishes to disclose more detail.
2. If you arrange a viewing, always tell someone else where you are going and approximately what time you will be home.
3. If you can, take someone with you when viewing a property.
4. Finally - use your common sense. If you’re not sure about going in to someone’s house, then don’t; your instincts are often right.