Secure a Mortgage in Principle so you can move fast on the right place. Confirm deposit source, income, and any gifted funds early. Use the calculator to model rates, terms and stress-tests. Save the MIP PDF and expiry date; landlords will ask for it. Update it if your budget or job changes.
Pick a search area and sense-check schools, commute and amenities. Browse properties nearby and save a few to track price drops. Set a realistic radius and focus on streets you’d actually live on. Note red flags (flood risk, busy roads, lease quirks) to filter quicker. Shortlist 6–10 ‘probables’ before booking viewings.
Use the Viewing Checklist and take photos of every room and meter (ask landlord permission first). Ask the same core questions each time (lease, service charges, recent works, offers on table). Record pros/cons and likely spend for immediate/12-month works. Narrow to your top 1–3 with a clear pecking order.
Set an offer strategy using recent comps and your risk appetite. Decide opener, best-and-final, and any conditions (inclusions, timelines). Prepare proof of funds/MIP and chain position in one message. Use our Offer Email tool to generate and send a strong, tidy summary. Be responsive; speed often beats tiny price gaps.
Instruct a conveyancer/solicitor as soon as an offer is agreed. Complete client-care forms, ID/KYC and provide funds promptly. Make them aware of any deadlines or mortgage offer expiry. Ask for weekly updates and a single named contact. Save all docs to one place for easy reference.
Book the right survey (RICS L2/L3) and agree access quickly. Read findings with a cool head: separate must-fix from nice-to-fix. Arrange specialist follow-ups (damp, roof, structural) when needed. Use outcomes to renegotiate, request works, or set conditions. Share decisions with both your solicitor and landlord.
Track legal searches and enquiries as they progress. Tick off your actions (KYC, search pack paid, survey booked). Read the Report on Title and the survey carefully; list concerns. Decide your position (proceed, renegotiate, conditions, indemnities). Send clear written instructions to your conveyancer.
A formal Mortgage Offer means the lender is happy in principle. Save the PDF, note the expiry, and read any conditions/retentions. Share the offer with your solicitor; keep broker/landlord aligned on dates. Flag changes immediately (price, term, employment). Plan your exchange window around the offer expiry.
Before exchange: contracts signed, deposit ready and buildings insurance arranged. Confirm the completion date with all parties and check mortgage validity. Read your solicitor’s final report and resolve any last conditions. Once exchanged, dates are binding — start booking removals. Keep a shared checklist of ‘day-one’ essentials.
Completion day: funds transfer, keys released — congrats! Take meter reads with time-stamped photos and set up utilities. Use the change-of-address pack (Royal Mail, council tax, DVLA, GP, banks). Walk the property, test keys/fobs and note any snags within 14 days. File manuals/warranties; store insurance policy details safely.
You’re making great progress.
This journey is a general guide only. Every property and transaction is different and information may change. We don’t provide legal, financial or professional advice. Always verify details with qualified professionals. We are not responsible for any errors or for losses arising from reliance on this guide.
The Tenant Fees Act caps the holding deposit at one week’s rent. Enter the agreed rent and we’ll work it out.
