Most people buying will require a mortgage to fund their purchase so it’s good to get the ball rolling early to find out what you can borrow. A good mortgage adviser will provide proper advice tailored to your needs, work out what you can borrow and provide you with an ‘Agreement in Principle’.

Don’t forget most lenders will require to complete a financial health check so you can get ahead of the game by preparing your documents early. There are many incentives and government backed schemes we will discuss when assessing your circumstances, therefore being prepared with the likes of ID, payslips and bank statements will allow us to make a proper recommendation – Just like our slogan…when it comes to mortgages we also Do a Proper Job!

Now that you have an idea of your budget its time to decide on the style of property that you like. Book some viewings and get to know what style suits you. It can be overwhelming when you step inside a home, especially if it ticks all your boxes and ‘you get that feeling’. This is when it becomes even more important to take a list of questions with you, including the running costs and council tax rates.

Whitehornes suggests that you visit the property twice. Buying a home is likely to be the biggest financial purchase you make and being decisive is imperative.

Once you have an offer in mind, we’ll contact the seller and make your best offer official – by law we are bound to notify the seller of all offers received. There may be a period of negotiation before a price is agreed but we’ll let you know as soon as any offer has been accepted. Whitehornes understands communication at this stage is crucial, so we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.

It’s essential that you know what offer should be proposed in order that you maximize your chances of securing the property. Our Mortgage advisers are skilled in negotiation and will often guide you to the right price.

During the period of your mortgage offer being issued you solicitor will steer the purchase towards the missives being concluded and completion, and coordinate the release of your mortgage funds from the lender.

Both parties will be sent a memorandum of sale confirming the price, any special conditions negotiated and both parties’ solicitors details.

Your solicitor will carry out various searches to ensure that the property you intend on buying is sound for both you and the mortgage lender. These searches will clarify any restrictions, boundaries, right of way and planning applications. They will also be provided documents from the vendors solicitor detailing the tile of land etc.