A first-time buyer's checklist, in the order you will need it
From the mortgage in principle to the day you collect the keys: eight steps, what each costs, and where people usually get stuck.
Callum Reid · · 7 min read
Buying a first home is mostly a sequence of small administrative tasks, and the problem is that nobody tells you the order.
1. Know your budget, then subtract
Start with a mortgage in principle, then subtract the costs people forget: legal fees, a survey, removals, and stamp duty if it applies to you. Our mortgage calculator on every listing gives a monthly figure to start the conversation, not a quote.
2. Register with agents and set alerts
Good homes in the right streets are often sold before they reach the portals. Tell us what you want and we will call you first.
3. View with a list
Take a torch, open the cupboards under the sink, check the water pressure, and look at the ceilings. Photograph the meter and the boiler. Walk the street at 8 am and 8 pm.
4. Make an offer you can defend
Know the comparable sales. Tell us your position: chain free, mortgage agreed, cash deposit. A clean offer from a prepared buyer often beats a higher one with complications.
5. Instruct a solicitor the same day
Delays in conveyancing usually start with a late instruction. Ask for fixed fees in writing.
6. Order the right survey
A Level 2 survey is enough for most homes built after 1900 in good condition. Older or altered properties deserve a Level 3.
7. Exchange, then complete
Exchange makes the deal binding. Completion, usually a week or two later, is the day you get the keys. Do not book removals before exchange.
8. Collect the keys
We will meet you at the door with the keys, the manuals, and the number of the plumber we trust.
This article is demo content for the Keystone template.