The 6 Stages of Buying a Home

The homebuying process is made up of six stages, here we take you through them. We will guide you through the process of buying your first home, and you’ll be opening the front door sooner than you thought. Here’s an overview of the steps you’ll need to take to become a homeowner.

Stage 1 - Your Finances

In Stage 1, you’ll need to conduct a financial health check, review and improve your credit score and save for your deposit.

• Conduct a financial health check
• View and improve your credit score
• Save for a deposit

Stage 2 - The Mortgage

During Stage 2, you’ll review the different types of mortgages, decide which one is best for you, and apply for a Mortgage in Principle, otherwise known as an Agreement in Principle.

• Decide how you’re going to buy your home:
  • Deposit and mortgage: e.g. a 10% deposit and 90% mortgage
  • Shared Ownership
  • Using the bank of Mum & Dad
• Decide which type of mortgage you want
• Apply for a Mortgage in Principle

Stage 3 - Find Your Home

When you move into Stage 3, you’ll start looking for your perfect home. You should research the market, book viewings and when you find the right one for you, make an offer.

• Research the market
• Register and add your favourites to your account
• Enquire about your shortlist, and arrange viewings
• Consider what’s important to you in a home before you visit the show home
• Make an offer on a home

Stage 4 - The Buying Process

Once your offer has been accepted, you’ll move onto stage four - the buying process. Here you’ll instruct your solicitor, secure your mortgage, conduct searches and possibly surveys, then finally, exchange of contracts and completion.

• Instruct a conveyancing solicitor
• Conduct enquiries and conveyancing searches
• Secure your mortgage
• Conduct house surveys
• Sign the contract
• Exchange contracts
• Completion

Stage 5 - Moving

In addition to arranging your moving day and whether to use a removal company there’s a lot of people you will need to inform, more on this later.

• Decide if you're going to use a removal company
• Inform all relevant companies of your new address
• Consider if you'll need to change doctor practices, dental surgeries etc

Stage 6 - Post-Sale Considerations

Now you are a homeowner - what else could possibly be left to think about? Make sure you evaluate the safety and security of your home - as well as making it energy efficient.

• Home safety and security
• Smart homes: Technology to help run your home
• Make your home energy efficient and more sustainable