Selling your most valuable asset can seem really daunting and you need to be sure that the agent you choose will do their best to achieve you the best possible sale price for your property and be on hand to give you advice and guide you through the process from start to finish. We hope the guides below will assist you, but if not please feel free to contact us.
Be it your first studio flat or a step up the ladder to a four bedroom detached house, buying a home can be an exciting but often stressful time. This guide has been put together by Rice Chamberlains to give you the information to help reduce the stress and make moving home a more enjoyable process.
The first thing to look at is how much you can afford to borrow. This will give you an indication of what type of property and price range you can look at. For help and information with mortgages an Independent Mortgage Advisor is the best option. They have a wider range of products which they can look at, with a variance in fees and fixed rate % schemes. If you have an existing mortgage it’s always advisable to get a quote from an Independent Mortgage Advisor as they may be able to offer you a better rate or an option to take the mortgage with you to your new home. Take care to find out any upfront costs for arranging the mortgage. Once you have found the best deal that suits you, ensure that you receive a copy of your agreement in principle (or AIP) which confirms you have been approved to borrow a certain amount of money. This is important as it will be required when you make an offer on a property. There are several other costs to consider: Survey costs, Stamp Duty, Land Registry fees, Environmental searches, Removal fees etc. Many of these costs will be paid through your Solicitors or Conveyancing Company. Get a few direct quotes with a breakdown of all the costs from a number of Solicitors or Conveyancing Companies at the point of purchasing your new home.
This is the exciting part, now you have your budget you can go and find a new home! Have a look on websites such as Rightmove and see what sort of property is available in your price range. Think about location, what are your main requirements for the property and discuss areas you could compromise on. Register your details along with your search requirements with the Local Agents in the area. This will prompt new property details to be sent directly to you for viewing. It is important to do this as many of the best properties will sell before you even see them advertised.
Once you have found the house you like, contact the Estate Agent and make an offer. Have your agreement in principle ready as they will need to see this before they put the offer forward to the Seller. Equally if you are a cash buyer, they would require proof of funds in the form of a statement. Make the Agent aware of your circumstances so the offer is put forward in the best light. For example, if you are in rented accommodation your offer would be chain free and also tell them how fast you can move. Don’t forget to find out what is included in the sale and use this as part of your negotiations e.g. curtains, carpets, appliances, fixtures and fittings.
Once your offer has been accepted you must advise your Mortgage Company or Lender of the deal and arrange for a survey to be carried out. There are 3 types of surveys: The first is the cheapest option and the most basic which is a Mortgage Valuation survey. It just confirms that the price you’ve paid for the property is consistent with the current market value in the area. This then enables the Mortgage Lender to agree to the funding of the money against your property.
The second is a Homebuyer’s survey, it will check the property for anything that may be at fault or look suspicious and jeopardise the value or integrity of the house. This is fairly thorough and is probably the most popular. The third and most expensive is a full Structural survey; this covers the entire property and checks the structural integrity in depth, as well as the recommended fixes for any problems or faults which have come to light. If you are buying a property that is particularly old or in need of repair or restoration this may be necessary.
But for most houses that are built from the 1900’s onwards a Homebuyer’s survey should cover everything you need.
Check that your Mortgage Lender doesn’t require you to use their panel of Solicitors. If not then your Mortgage Broker or Estate Agent will be able to advise or offer help with this, but equally speak to family and friends in order to find out who they have used or can recommend. Don’t always go for the cheapest and speak to them first, pick someone you consider to be trustworthy and finally give their contact details to the Estate Agent when you are ready.
There will be a number of legalities to go through before exchange of contracts takes place, the process usually takes about 6 weeks. At the point of exchange a date for completion or moving day needs to be arranged, this has to be agreed throughout the chain. The deposit funds will be transferred when you exchange which means you are now in a much more secure position for buying your home. Until this point try not to get too committed about your purchase as any number of things can affect the purchase or sale of a house.
Make sure you have arranged to have everything connected in the new home like the TV, internet, etc and your home insurance should now be in place. The rest of the funds for the purchase of the property will be transferred on this day. The money needs to be received by the party you’re purchasing from before the keys can be released to you. It can take a few hours so be prepared to wait around. When it has completed call your Estate Agent to check where to pick up the keys.
Congratulations! You have now bought your home. Ensure you’ve got your Removal Company or friends ready in order to help you make the move. Check the meter readings when you arrive and have your essentials packed in a box so they’re to hand, like kettles, coffee and tea bags to sustain your army of movers.
Top 5 questions you should ask yourself when choosing your Estate Agent.
Ensure the house is ready for viewings: think of what your potential buyer will see when they walk through the door and remind yourself why you bought it. Here are some pointers:
Choose a Solicitor who can work with you and your Estate Agent. Make sure your buyer’s circumstances and financial status are thoroughly checked out. If you have no one to help you at this stage it can become very frustrating and stressful so make sure you can communicate with your Agent, Mortgage Broker and Solicitor. Once you have appointed a Solicitor you will need to give them the following information:
Your Agent will update you during the progression of the sale, normally every 2 weeks, keep in touch with your Solicitor as well to see if there is anything else they need from you.
A completion date would have been set for your move, now it’s time to pack! Here are a few pointers of things to remember:
Today you will receive a call from your Agent to let you know that funds have been received and where you need to drop the keys off. If you are buying on, you will also receive a call as to where to collect your new keys from.
We have a close working relationship with Moneywatch Finance, an independant mortgage advisor.
Moneywatch Finance was formed in 2006 by the partners who all shared a common vision of providing clients with a level of personal service that was lacking in the corporate world. They bring to Moneywatch Finance a combined experience of 60 years in the financial services industry. With their ethos of "Honesty, integrity & trustworthiness are at the forefront of everything that we do." we feel they compliment us perfectly.
Moneywatch Finance are in a position to guide you through the mortgage maze and aim to find you the mortgage deal that best suits your needs.
Visit moneywatchfinance.com for more information.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage
Moneywatch Finance is an Appointed Representative of Pink Home Loans. Pink Home Loans is a trading name of Advance Mortgage Funding Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FSR No 440789.
The guidance and/or advice contained in this website is subject to UK regulatory regime and is therefore restricted to consumers based in the UK.
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EPC’S give information on how to make your home more energy efficient and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. All homes bought, sold or rented require an EPC. These last for ten years. We can arrange these for you and payment for which we require in advance.
Selling and buying a property can be a very stressful experience but getting professional advice and assistance can greatly reduce any concerns. We do everything possible to ensure a swift and efficient conveyancing service at a fixed and affordable price, with no ‘hidden extras’.
Whether you are getting your first step on the property ladder, moving to a larger property or perhaps downsizing after the children have left home –we can help you through the process in a professional manner.
We are able to refer you to our carefully selected conveyancing partners who we work closely with to ensure that your sale and/or purchase goes through as smoothly as possible.
For quick and easy quote comparison, visit: https://moveit.co.uk/rice-chamberlains-llp
