Purchasing a property is one of the biggest decisions you can make. Whether you are looking to trade up to a larger home, buy your first property, downsize or buy-to-let, Hellards will be with you every step of the way with help, advice and support.
Before you start
Before you start searching for your perfect property, it is important to have your finances in order so that you know your budget. Having the necessary proof of finance in place puts in you in a much stronger buying position. We can recommend a mortgage broker to you should you need. If you need to sell your property in order to buy, then we would be only too delighted to assist you with a sensible market appraisal of your
home. Please click here.
It is also a good idea to come up with a list of requirements. Which area would you like to live in? How many bedrooms do you need? Do you need a parking space or garage? More often than not, you may need to compromise on some aspects. Which of your requirements are 'must haves' and which are 'nice to haves'?
To start your search, please give us a call on 01962 736333 or pop in and speak to one of our friendly team. Alternatively you can register your requirements here.
Viewings
Once you have found a property that you like the look of, you can arrange a viewing through us. We like to accompany you so that we are on hand to answer any questions you might have. Our office hours are 8:45am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm on a Saturday. However we may be able to arrange appointments outside of these hours.
Making an offer
You've had a look around your perfect home, so now it's time to put an offer forward, stating any particular conditions. We will put this to the property owner and relay their response back to you. Once a deal has been confirmed, we will need to know your solicitor's details. We will then issue a memorandum of sale to all parties. If you need a solicitor, we can make recommendations to you.
Conveyancing
From here, the conveyancing begins. This is the legal process of transferring the ownership from one person to another. This is completed by your Solicitor, who will look over the legal documents, deal with the Land Registry and Stamp Duty Land Tax. The Solicitor will also commission environmental and Local Authority searches. You may also wish to carry out a survey on the property to check for structural defects.
Exchange
Once your mortgage offer (if required) is in place and you have insurance for the property, you are ready to exchange contracts and pay a the deposit. On exchange of contracts, you are legally obliged to buy the property.
Completion
On the day of completion, funds are transferred and the property is legally yours. The vendors solicitor will contact us to tell us we can hand over the keys. You will need to notify the utility providers of the meter readings and local Council so that you can be billed accordingly. Congratulations, you now own your new home!