It is often said that buying a property can be one of the most stressful stages in your life. We have created this helpful guide to ease you through the process of buying a property in London.
In order to start off on the best possible foot, it is wise to arrange your finances before you begin your property search.
This process may involve agreeing a mortgage in principle or making funds available; this is with the view that confirming your financial situation beforehand will ultimately dictate your property search.
It is our job to find you a property and the first step to doing so is to register your interest. There are a number of ways to register an interest; you can call us on 020 7482 1150 or visit one of our offices where one of our estate agents can offer you expert buying advice catered to your requirements.
As a London estate agent, we know that working professionals need flexible viewing hours. Our offices are open 9:00am-6pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm on weekends.
The importance of a good solicitor cannot be underestimated when buying London property; the successful acquisition of a property often relies heavily on the instruction of an experienced solicitor.
Upon acceptance of an offer we begin processes to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible. This begins with the preparation of a memorandum of sale and the confirmation in writing to both parties of the agreed price.
It is vital that a survey is conducted before the exchange of contracts. This needs to be completed on behalf of the buyer’s mortgage lender to explore any potential structural issues and confirm the value of the property.
Once all enquiries have been settled, the exchange of contracts can take place. Contracts are signed by each respective party and the deposit (usually 10%) is transferred from the buyer’s solicitor to the seller’s solicitor. This transfer of funds then enables a mutually agreed completion date to be set.
Completion is official upon the transfer of the remaining money (usually 90%) from the buyer’s solicitor to the seller’s solicitor. Upon clearance of the money keys are released.
