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10 things to do between Exchange and Completion
As you approach your Completion date, there are a number of things to do to get over this final hurdle and move into your new home
Should you buy a new-build home?
You’ve visited show homes at various new build developments and have fallen in love with a particular property, but is it a good idea?
Fixtures and Fittings
In the process of buying a property, at some point you will be wondering what the seller will leave behind and what they’ll take with them
Who Does What in the House Buying Process?
Who are all the professionals who can help us buy a house?
How can I Speed up the House Buying Process?
House buying can be a long, drawn out and sometimes frustrating process, but there are things we can do to help to speed it up.
Take the Devil from the Detail in your Removals Quote
What details do you need to look at when looking at quotes from removals firms?
Buying a property at auction
When the gavel falls there is a binding exchange of contracts – you are committed to buy. Whilst the auction process can be a faster and sometimes cheaper way to buy a property there are risks. So how can you minimise them?
How do I choose a Removals Company?
What do you need to consider when choosing a removals firm?
How to negotiate home-buying and home-selling
Your house is usually the largest item you will buy or sell, but how should you negotiate the price?
What are the key differences between buying and selling property in England and Scotland?
The common perception is that the process involved in buying and selling a property in Scotland is vastly different from that in England
How does furlough affect your mortgage options?
During the pandemic, 11.6million jobs were placed on furlough, the Government’s employment scheme to protect jobs in industries hit hard by the pandemic. How does this affect mortgages?
Properties are selling after just one viewing: what are the key questions frantic homebuyers should ask?
Buying a property is the biggest investment most people will ever make and yet some home buyers will spend longer test driving a car or choosing a computer.
Buying a home: the professional fees
From solicitor to surveyor fees – learn about the true cost of buying a home.
How long does it take to buy a home?
Buying a new home can seem a drawn-out affair and one of the worst aspects is not knowing how long it will take.
Moving house is happening so fast – what if I’m not ready?
We are so used to things being slow when it comes to purchasing a property, that it can be a little unnerving when things start to move quickly. If that is the case, then there are a few things you can do to bide yourself some extra time
How can I speed up the chain?
The chain will only move at the speed of the slowest link. Ringing your agent for daily updates quickly gets tedious, but there are some steps you can take to help things along.
Top tips for negotiation
Whether you are buying your first home, upscaling or downsizing, you should always bear in mind that most house prices have built-in wriggle room
Things to consider if you are moving to an area of special interest
Approach any purchase in an area of special interest with your eyes open, beware of possible restrictions and make sure your budget is adequate. Most of all, though, make sure the home you are buying really is what you’re after.
Buying a house with a large tree in the garden
Have you found your perfect home? What about the garden? Did you notice if there are any large trees in it? Well-established, mature trees add beauty to a garden but living alongside these gentle, green giants isn’t always easy.
Buying a Listed Property
The search is over! You have located a beautiful historic house, full of quirky character and charm, only to be informed by your agent that the property is listed.
Move beyond RightMove
RightMove is the first place many of us turn when buying a house… but what if you are not buying a house?
Is moving stress really a thing?
What is it about moving that is so stressful and how can it be managed to reduce those stress levels?
How much should I know about 'the people in the chain' when moving?
According to Which? magazine, 1 in 5 house sales will fall through because of property chain problems.
Can I complete and move at a weekend?
When it comes to moving house, there is much debate about whether there is a better day. You can complete and move on the same day but if you want to do it all on a Saturday or Sunday, it is a very different ball game.
Two-thirds of buyers fail to check electrics before purchasing a property
Many homebuyers mistakenly think a home survey will check for electrical safety. Faulty and old wiring can leave them at risk of high repair bills, electric shock or fire
Unique homes
For many house hunters, the words ‘special find’ or ‘unique home’ in a property description can send tingles down the back of their spine.
Looking beyond the décor
Don’t let a fancy new Farrow & Ball colour or beautiful interiors distract you from your house viewing.
Why do I need a property survey?
Before you buy a home, the standard advice is to get a property survey. But do you really need one or is it an unnecessary extra expense?
New Year, new house syndrome
Sweeping out the remnants of Christmas is often a good time to take stock of the past and create fresh aspirations for the year ahead. For many people, that means buying or moving to a new home.
Pros & cons of fixer-uppers
Are you looking for a fixer-upper – a major renovation project? Properties in need of refurbishment can be an affordable choice but challenging for DIY novices. Here are some pros and cons to consider before you buy.
Buying a property at auction
It can be very exciting buying at home at auction. You can bag yourself a bargain but it requires careful preparation.
Top 5 things to do on completion day
Congratulations! You’ve completed on your new home. But, before you pop open the champagne and start unpacking, here are five things you must do once you have collected your keys
What should I keep out on moving day?
Before you set off with all your worldly possessions packed up in boxes to start the next chapter in your lives, read our Moving Day Checklist to make sure you have got all the important essentials close to hand
Stamp Duty - The Basics
Here’s our guide to stamp duty and special rules for first-time buyers, second homes and buy-to-lets.
How long does completion take?
In most cases, completion on a house sale should just be a formality. The main business of the sale will have been done at the exchange stage when a 10 per cent deposit is paid and contracts are exchanged.
Do you buy or sell first? It’s the classic chicken and egg
Should you sell your home before your buy another one?
The bank of Mum and Dad - a Case Study!
Buying a House: When I was young things were very different. My son is 25 and is in the process of buying a house. He needs my help.
Is there a better day in the week to move house?
The most popular day to move house is a Friday. According to research 1 in every 4 moves in the UK is on a Friday. With the last Friday in August being the most popular day in the year. But is there a better day in the week to move house?
Can I start measuring up before we exchange?
You have found the house of your dreams - but should you risk another visit to measure up before you exchange contracts?
Is it better to pack your own things when you're moving for insurance reasons?
Do you get stuck in with the bubble wrap and pack-it-yourself or will you trust the job to a professional house removal packer?
First time buyers celebrate stamp duty saving
For some couples, the Chancellor’s announcement on stamp duty was perfectly timed and saved thousands of pounds.
Tips to becoming a first-time buyer
Buying a home may seem like an impossible dream for ‘generation rent’, but it can be done.
Help to buy Scheme
Read our Q&A on the Help to Buy Scheme for first-time buyers and home movers
Read our Q&A on the Help to Buy Scheme for first-time buyers and home movers
How much does it really cost to move home
Get a handle on your moving costs here
Most people know they need to save for a deposit to get a mortgage for their first home. But prospective property owners might not realise there are a raft of other fees, charges and taxes they also need to pay – running into thousands of pounds. Prices vary around the country from £20,000 to £30,000 in London but if you are in the north then your costs may only be between £5,000 and £10,000.
Homebuying secrets: How to get ahead
Insider tips from an estate agent
You've got the deposit, the right people behind you, and you're feeling ready enough to take the plunge and snap up your ideal home. In a highly competitive property market, we wish that buying a house was that easy, but it's not. Whether you're stuck in a chain or buying for the first time, we asked Daniel Bourne, Senior Branch Manager at Douglas Allen, Barkingside, to share his secrets on how to give yourself the edge over other buyers.
How to save for a deposit on a home
6 top tips for first-time buyers
The thought of buying a house may make even the savviest of savers go weak at the knees. While saving for a first home for many can be a long and gruelling process, it’s best to start early and save as much as you can possibly stretch to. It’s no secret that the bigger deposit, the lower lending risk you will be and most importantly, a sure-fire candidate for getting a mortgage.
Leasehold or Freehold: the difference
Helping you buy homes smarter
We kid you not, buying a house will introduce you to a whole wave of new terminology that may leave you scratching you head at the best of times – and particularly when it comes to… two words, leasehold and freehold. To help you become a house move pro and to get the most out of buying your home, we’ve summarised the differences in a simple illustration.
Noise and your home: what can you do?
Increase your quality of living
When buying or renting property, people are rightly starting to think harder about noise issues that may affect them once they get to their new home. After all the house-hunting, stress and, at times, breathtaking expense, how must it feel to hear the first bark of the neighbour's dog in the back garden, or to be kept awake until the early hours on the first Friday night by a continuous stream of pedestrians on their way to a nightclub - or worse still, by the distant but persistent sound of the music from the nightclub itself?
Buying or selling a property: who’s involved
It's time to get acquainted
Loosen up your purse strings! Unless you’ve been living under a rock (which we highly doubt as you’re here on our site) you have probably been told by now that buying and selling your home is an expensive pursuit, and one that should be handled with care and attention. If you’re a person who is particularly price conscious, it’s important to remember that cheap doesn’t always mean best, and if due diligence isn’t done right, it can cost you even more money in the long-run.
How to prepare for a stress-free moving day
Just keep calm and carry on
Let’s face it, no one enjoys moving day. Packing up your entire life into boxes can seem daunting but it really doesn’t have to be. We’ve put together some handy tips to make your moving day a relative breeze…
Survey or mortgage valuation
Why do you need a survey?
The differences between a survey and a mortgage valuation are pretty hefty. A survey can help you make a fully informed decision about whether to go ahead with the purchase as well as a reasonable price to pay. Having one will also put a spotlight on any damages and repairs that need doing to your potential home.