Buying a home
Making an offer
Before you make an offer, check:
- what the property is worth聽
- the number of years on the lease (if relevant)
- what鈥檚 included in the sale
- what will be fixed or inspected before completion (boiler service for example)
Make an offer on a property
Once you鈥檝e decided on a property, you can make an offer, usually through an estate agent.聽
An offer is not legally binding in England and Wales until you exchange contracts.
If you make an offer 鈥榮ubject to contract鈥�, this means the price can still be negotiated (for example, if a survey finds a problem with the property).
Get a legal professional
You鈥檒l need to find a legal professional to handle the legal work involved in buying a home.聽
This could be a:
- solicitor
- licensed conveyancer
- chartered legal executive
- Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) practitioner
Read more about .
Searches and valuation
Once your offer has been accepted, your solicitor or conveyancer will organise local authority searches on the property.聽
This usually includes a:
- local authority search
- water and drainage search
- environmental search
You usually have to pay for the searches up front.
Your mortgage provider will carry out a valuation of the property before they approve your mortgage.
Surveys
You can get a homebuyer survey to check the condition of the property. Read more about .
Recommendations from estate agents or mortgage lenders聽
Some estate agents and mortgage lenders might recommend legal professionals, mortgage brokers or surveyors to you.
You must be told if the estate agent or mortgage lender gets a payment (a 鈥榬eferral fee鈥�) from the company they鈥檙e recommending.
You do not have to use the company that鈥檚 been recommended to you.