Are you ready to buy? 7 top tips for a stress-free purchase

27th January 2025

The whole process of buying a house, from when you start looking at properties to completing on a purchase, can take several months. However, if you’re looking to move in 2025, the good news is that there are lots of things you can do to make buying easier!

Here are our top 7 tips for ensuring the whole process goes as smoothly as possible:

Speak to a mortgage broker right at the start

If you need a mortgage, this should be your first step, so that you have an accurate picture of what you can afford to borrow before you look at (and potentially fall in love with!) any properties. Our sister company, Mortgage Scout, have been matching buyers with mortgages for over 20 years. If you’re also selling, check what your property is likely to be worth and therefore how much equity you’ll be able to roll into your new home.

Check your deposit funds

You may know how much you have in savings, equity, etc. for the deposit on your purchase, but you need to be sure those funds will be accessible in time for exchange of contracts. Make sure your legal company knows where they are – e.g. if you have a Help to Buy or Lifetime ISA – as well as the details of your mortgage provider.

Start your property search – and know what to look out for!

Under consumer protection regulations, agents are obliged not to omit any ‘material information’ on property listings. This is information about the property that could affect your decision on whether to move ahead with a purchase, such as lease length, restrictive covenants, right of way over the land, sewerage arrangements, parking and risk of flooding.

So, while you’re looking for a property that meets your wants and needs, be sure to check that there aren’t any factors lurking in the background that might present a challenge or be an unwanted financial commitment in the future. You should also think of any questions you may want to ask an estate agent when viewing properties.

Instruct a legal company before you make an offer

Your legal representative for the purchase (and sale) will need to carry out ID and anti-money laundering checks before moving ahead, so it helps speed up the process if this can be done ahead of an offer being accepted. Having a solicitor or conveyancer in place also shows the selling agent you’re serious about buying and may give you an advantage over another buyer if there’s competition for the property.

It’s also helpful to authorise your legal company to speak directly with both your mortgage broker and buying/selling agent, to avoid any time delays.

Instruct a surveyor as early as possible

If you require a mortgage, the lender will carry out a mortgage valuation on the property, but this is to protect them, not you, and may only require a ‘desktop’ valuation, meaning their surveyor might not even visit the property.

So, instruct a surveyor who’s a member of RICS or RPSA to check the condition of the property and give an estimate of how much any required remediation work might cost – both now and in the future. Do this as soon as your offer has been accepted, so that you can address any issues as early as possible in the process – e.g. renegotiate the price if necessary. Our sister company, Stirling Ackroyd Surveyors, can help – just speak to your agent and they can put you in touch.

Make sure funds are ready for exchange and completion

Moving large sums of money can take time – even when they’re coming from a mortgage lender – and there may be limits on how much you can transfer in one transaction or day. Check whether it will take days or weeks to have your deposit funds in place for exchange and make sure your solicitor or conveyancer has confirmed that any required mortgage loan can be ‘drawn down’ in time for completion.

Check everyone is ready to move by 1pm on completion day

As soon as legal completion of the purchase has taken place, which tends to happen by lunchtime, you own the property. However, it’s worth communicating with your sellers once contracts have been exchanged, to make sure they’re preparing to be moved out by 1pm on completion day so you can get moved in well before bedtime!

Get removals quotes early, ideally from companies that are members of BAR, and book your own move as soon as the completion date has been agreed.

If you’re planning to buy a new home this year, we’re here to help you with every part of the process. Just get in touch with your local branch and have a chat to one of our sales experts.