Before you begin your property search, you must establish how much you can spend on a property. If you are not buying outright, you will require a mortgage. Legal, lender, removals, and broker fees soon add up. Work out how much this move will cost now so there are no nasty surprises down the line. Once you know how much you can borrow, you can start thinking about the area you would like to live in and the kind of property you can afford.

It’s time to instruct your solicitor and get the ball rolling on all the complicated legal stuff. Several legal documents and procedures must be followed when buying a property. For the transaction to move seamlessly, you need a property solicitor who can handle all legal and administrative details.

Once you have found a property you want to buy, the next step is to make an offer. You will need to contact the seller’s estate agent, and they will manage the process for you and the seller. It’s then up to the seller to decide whether to accept the offer you’ve submitted through the estate agent. Don’t be perturbed if your first offer isn’t accepted—remember, you and the seller are negotiating for the best price. Once your offer is accepted, you must officially apply for a mortgage. Once you’ve officially agreed on your mortgage, you must consider commissioning a survey.

When the seller’s estate agent has the details of both parties’ solicitors, they will confirm that the sale is agreed upon, subject to contract. You will receive a Memorandum of Sale to confirm this. The seller’s solicitor will receive the title deeds from the seller and draw up a contract. Your solicitor will contact the seller’s solicitor to confirm precisely what is included in the sale. Your solicitor will enquire about the boundaries, any disputes, and any alterations made. They will also perform searches of the Land Registry and Local Authority information, check for planning history, and investigate any potential developments around roads, drainage, and mining near the property.

Your deposit and signed contract will be sent to the seller’s solicitor. The formal exchange of contracts agrees on the terms of the sale and makes them legally binding to both you and the seller. All relevant insurance contracts should now be put into force. Once the exchange has occurred, you can look forward to the completion date, which is decided and confirmed at the exchange of contracts.

Your solicitor will pay the purchase price balance to the seller’s solicitor. Once the money is received, the seller’s solicitor will inform the estate agent, and the keys will be released. The property is now yours.

As several different parties are often involved, planning at every stage will help you. The day you move house is likely to be busy, but with preparation, you can make sure it is not stressful. You will need to inform all your utility companies, who will need to take meter readings. If necessary, the Royal Mail can organise a mail redirection. It’s time to contact your chosen removal company to confirm your move.