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Step 1.
If you plan on borrowing to fund your purchase, arrange to meet with your chosen lending institution to find out how much you can afford to borrow and follow the necessary steps to get approval in principle, then shop around for better rates.
Banks are very much open for business. If you do not need to borrow, you will need to provide evidence of funds when you wish to submit an offer on a property.
Step 2.
This should be a list of criteria you would hope to satisfy when you find a property. This list should include ‘deal breakers’ and other features that you may be willing to compromise on.
Step 3.
Get in touch with Michael Roberts Estate Agents. We will advise you what to expect when buying a property and go through your wish list for your new property to give us a good idea of what you are looking for.
We will be in touch regularly, keeping you informed of properties that are new to the market and local market changes.
Step 4.
Using your wish list, arrange viewings of properties that you think might tick some boxes for you. It is important to view enough properties so that you get a feel of what’s out there. Don’t waste your time looking for the “perfect property” because there’s no such thing!
It is likely you will have to compromise on something, hopefully not one of your deal-breakers. Try not to limit yourself too much, a property that you may not love the look of may surprise you after viewing.
Step 5.
Once you are satisfied that you wish to make an offer on a property, you will submit your offer to us, along with proof of funds, and we will present it to the vendor.
When presenting your offer, we will ensure that it is presented in the strongest way by including as much information as possible which will include confirmation that we are satisfied with your ability to put forward the offer, conditions attached, timeframes etc.
The aim is to demonstrate to the vendor how serious you are about purchasing the property. It is important to note that there are no legal obligations at this stage.
Step 6.
Once your offer is accepted, you will be required to put down a booking deposit to secure the property. Once the deposit is received, the property will be marked ‘Sale Agreed’ and will be taken off the market (this deposit is completely refundable until Contracts for Sale are signed by both parties).
A Memorandum of Sale will be drawn up by our office and furnished to your solicitor and the solicitor acting on behalf of the vendor setting out all the relevant details so as to begin the conveyancing process. You will then instruct your lending institution to proceed with your application and provide them with details of the property.
Step 7.
We always recommend instructing a suitably qualified engineer to carry out a structural survey on the property. The structural survey is a comprehensive inspection of the property in question, carried out by a qualified surveyor, registered architect or chartered engineer at the request of the potential purchaser.
The purpose of the structural survey is to give the purchaser an unbiased evaluation of the overall condition of a property, and to highlight any aspects that may need upgrading, repair, replacement or ongoing maintenance.
Step 8.
You will deal with your solicitor throughout the conveyancing process. We will also be in constant contact with your solicitor and the solicitor acting for the vendor to ensure the process runs efficiently.
The solicitor acting for the vendor will draw up Contracts for Sale which will be furnished to your solicitor. They will begin their investigation of Title. Once your solicitor is satisfied with all documentation, you will attend with them to sign the Contracts (and loan documents if you are obtaining a mortgage).
The Contracts will then need to be signed by the vendor, once this occurs a binding contract is in place and your deposit is no longer refundable. Your solicitor will requisition your funds from your lending institution.
Step 9.
Once your solicitor transfers the balance of funds to the vendor’s solicitor, the sale will officially close, and keys will be released to you.
Step 10.
Congratulations, you are now a homeowner!