Home Buying Checklist

18 items · Home · Hard difficulty · 1 week

Step-by-step tasks to take you from mortgage pre-approval to completion day.

• Get mortgage pre-approval

  Obtain a decision in principle to confirm your borrowing limit.

• Confirm budget and additional buying costs

  Include stamp duty, solicitor fees, survey, removals and contingency.

• Prepare a property wish list

  List must-haves, nice-to-haves, commute and school needs.

• Arrange and attend property viewings

  Book multiple viewings at different times where possible.

• Inspect key features during viewings

  Focus on structure, services and obvious defects.

• Check structure, damp, heating and electrics

  Look for cracks, stains, boiler age and tested sockets.

• Check insulation, windows, drainage and noise levels

  Assess glazing, loft access, gutters and local disturbance.

• Compare properties and create a short list

  Score options by budget, condition and location.

• Make an offer and negotiate price

  Offer within your budget and allow room for negotiation.

• Instruct a solicitor or conveyancer

  Hire a licensed conveyancer as soon as your offer is accepted.

• Order a full property survey

  Choose RICS Homebuyer or full structural survey based on age/condition.

• Carry out searches and check title documents

  Solicitor to run local authority, environmental and drainage searches.

• Review survey report and negotiate repairs or price

  Use report to request repairs, a price reduction, or walk away.

• Agree exchange date, prepare deposit and finalise mortgage

  Confirm exchange timetable, have deposit cleared and satisfy lender conditions.

• Arrange buildings insurance from exchange date

  Insure the property from the day contracts are exchanged.

• Prepare for completion day

  Plan movers, access, and final checks for handover.

• Notify utilities, take meter readings and arrange key collection

  Call suppliers, photograph meter readings and confirm where keys will be collected.

• Confirm funds transfer and do a final walkthrough at handover

  Ensure solicitor confirms cleared funds and check property condition before accepting keys.

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