1. Is there a right time to buy?

Over three quarter of the British population want to own their own home some point in their lives.

Buying a property is for most people the biggest investment you will ever make, and there is no substitute for having a qualified and experienced legal professional by your side to guide you through the process of making sure your new home has all the rights and protections that it needs.

2. Draw up a budget

How to organise finances and arrange a mortgage

Consider taking financial advice before deciding to buy a home. A financial advisor can help you to define your budget, taking different factors, such as on-going hidden costs into account.

Contact mortgage lenders to see with which company you want to work with and if they agree to work with you.

3. Decide where you want to live

Carefully decide where you want to live. Visit an area multiple times at different days and at different times to make sure you feel comfortable there. Make sure it has all the amenities you need and check public transport, if you are dependent on it.

If you are planning to move far away from where you live now, consider staying there for a few days before buying a house to check out different areas.

4. Browse the market

Once you know where you want to live and what your budget is, you can start browsing for houses. Check the listings for ground plans. It can give you a more detailed impression of the space, which you sometimes can't see in pictures.

Contact local estate agents and explain them what you are looking for and what you can offer.

5. Start visiting homes

Visit as many homes as possible. With each property you will get a clearer understanding of what you want and what you don't want. You will start to look more closely at different aspects and learn more about the home of your dreams. Use our house viewing checklist to make sure you don't forget anything.

6. Make an offer

If you like a house, consider making an offer. Think about how much you are prepared to pay for fixtures, fittings and contents.

7. Arrange a mortgage

If you haven't found a mortgage lender yet, you must do so as quickly as possible. The seller is allowed to accept another offer at any point until the exchange of contracts some weeks later so it is important to arrange finance early.

8. Contact a solicitor or conveyancer.

Now is a good time to start working with a conveyancer. A conveyancer can help you to prepare all the legal documents and paperwork for you. A good conveyancer will also guide you through any open questions that you may have and advise you on searches which you may have to conduct. Read our page on buying a property to get a full understanding of our services.

9. Work with your solicitor

It is important that you have found a solicitor you can trust. They will take care of the paperwork for you and inform you of any steps you have to take. If you have any questions during the exciting house selling process, feel free to contact us on freephone 0161 830 9632.