A. First of all you need to find out exactly how much mortgage you can obtain, which will set the bar on what kind of property you can afford and also the deposit value. You can use the calculators on our site to get a clear idea of these costs, or better yet get in touch with us directly for free mortgage advice – it’s no obligation and is totally free.

A. You should begin your mortgage application and make an offer via a solicitor. As we search the market for the best mortgages, you can trust us to offer you the best independent advice on which mortgage is right for you. When you choose a solicitor we’ve recommended, we can make the whole process easier for you, chasing them when needed so you don’t have to.

A. We understand that every property and situation is different, so we can’t provide a solid answer to this question, however there are a number of indicators we can provide. On average it takes around 10 weeks. If you have already got your mortgage exchange in place and the property is vacant, then final completion is able to take place much quicker. If the seller is still living in the property and you haven’t got your mortgage ironed out yet you can expect around 4-6 weeks for the contract exchange and then a further 2-4 for completion to happen.

A. We partner with a number of reputable firms in this sector, and when you get in touch with us we can direct you to the best 3 quotes available from trusted solicitors who we partner with.

A. All purchased properties are liable for SDLT, Stamp Duty Land Tax if it’s over the £125,000 current threshold. This differs for properties in Wales or Scotland, and there are also varying regulations if it’s your first property or if you’re buying to let. You can use our calculator on this site to give you a decent idea of how much you’ll be liable to pay. Every property purchased requires you to send the HMRC a return which needs to be paid within 14 days, and the solicitor you’ve hired will usually deal with this for you.

A. The short answer is no, however we strongly recommend that a survey is carried out on every property before you purchase it, just to avoid any unwanted future surprises. You can choose from three surveys but the main one for residential properties is a Condition Report. You will also have to do a mortgage valuation to be sure that the property is worth what you’re actually paying for it.

A. Once the contracts have been exchanged, your solicitor will make the deposit payment to the seller’s solicitor in around five days. They will instruct you when you should do this.

A. Your solicitor will request the monies directly from the lender, and it usually takes around four or five days for the monies to be released. This is all taken care of by your solicitor and they will contact you as soon as it’s done so you have an expected completion date.

A. We recommend that both of these types of insurance are purchased just before the contract is finally signed, as every policy needs to be initiated from the very start of the time contracts were exchanged. We also advise that protection for your mortgage is also taken out so that should the worst happen, your family don’t fall foul of expected payments. We have mortgage advisors in our office who are more than happy to guide you through this process.

A. Two searches will be performed by your solicitor, local authority and land registry, and should take around four weeks to complete. Combined, these check for everything from the history of planning applications, developments around the area such as road works, any drainage issues or even mining taking place nearby.

A. A contract is usually created by the solicitor of the seller once a sale has been agreed. Your own solicitor confirms this and begins the searches, and your mortgage provider will also make sure that everything is sound with their mortgage valuation. When all of this has been done you are ready to sign off on the completion date within the contract.

A. The purchase of a property only goes through once the solicitors of both parties receive their respective signed contracts, so at any time before this happens you can cancel the purchase.

A. This is agreed upon by the solicitors of both parties, and usually is determined when the mortgage provider has released the funds. A completion date has to be agreed by both the selling and the buying parties.

A. This is laid out in the contract between the parties and the seller has to have vacated the building first. Usually the property is vacated by midday, then a few hours later around 2pm the keys will be ready to pick up.

A. Once you’ve moved into the property, there is still a considerable portion of work to be undertaken by the solicitor in relation to the title deeds. These deeds stay with your solicitor and are then forwarded on to your mortgage provider, who holds the deeds to the property until you have repaid the mortgage in full.

A. In the contract any fixtures and fittings to be left will be clearly stated. Sometimes larger items of furniture are left in the property which has been agreed in the sale price.