The Jinks Aston Guide to buying your dream house
Over the last 40 years we’ve helped thousands of people buy their homes and along the way learnt many lessons to advise you how to make this process as effective go as smoothly as possibly for you.
Here are a few tips from our property experts.
Beginning your search
Before starting to look for a property to buy, it’s advised to get your finances in order and have a clear idea of your budget. If you find your dream property but don’t have proof from a lender that you can secure the necessary mortgage, you could lose out to another buyer in a stronger position, and it could all end in tears. We are closely linked to the Mortgage advice bureau who are conveniently located within our office for ease and faster productivity Lee & his team can help you all the way – why don’t you try their mortgage calculator which will give you a guide to how much you can look up to.
If you have a property to sell that will help finance your purchase we can value your home and put your current house on the market.
It makes it easier to buy a house if you’re already selling your current home. Agents and sellers will know you’re serious, and you’ll be in a better position to make an offer. Known as being a Hot Buyer – a buyer who is ready to move fast.
Search With Local Agents
A good idea is to make a checklist of what you’re looking for, like the following:
- Location
- How many bedrooms do you need
- Is outside space a priority
- Do you need a garage or car parking space
- What transport links do you want to be close to
- Are schools & Amenities important
- It’s also a good idea to consider which of these criteria are set in stone, and which are more flexible.
You can then Stay one step ahead of the crowd by registering with local estate agents. Registering with local experts Jinks Aston means you’ll hear about new properties before they go online, so you’re more likely to secure your ideal home. You can register with us here.
OR come and say hello & pop into one of our offices, give us a call or register and we will give you the details of all available properties that meet your criteria. We will also continuously update you as soon new properties become available.
Make your offer
Once you’ve found the perfect home, you can make an offer which we will put forward to the vendor for consideration. Before putting an offer forward we will need to qualify your financial position and are always happy via Lee and team at the Mortgage advice bureau to help see if we can save you some money. After any negotiations have taken place, hopefully your offer will be accepted. At this point, we will ask you for your solicitor’s details in order for your purchase to proceed. We are happy to recommend local solicitors at competitive fees to aid with a smooth sale.
We will also prepare a memorandum of sale and send it to all parties involved, to confirm what has been agreed.
Begin the conveyancing process
Once you have chosen your solicitor they will now deal with all the paperwork for your purchase known as Conveyancing. This includes speaking with the seller’s solicitor about the contract, conducting local searches and agreeing the dates for exchanging contracts and completing the purchase. If you’re selling your old home at the same time, they’ll also coordinate the transactions for you. It sounds complex, but our helpful Sales Negotiators will guide you through the process.
Have a survey and get your mortgage offer
Your mortgage lender will arrange a survey of the property you’re buying, checking for structural problems and making sure the value is set correctly. They’ll send you a mortgage offer. If you need our help, we can help you find the right local surveyor to assist you.
The exchange of contracts
When your solicitor and the seller’s solicitor are both happy to proceed, you can exchange contracts. Once the contracts are signed, you’ll normally be expected to pay a deposit of 10% of the purchase price. This is paid through your solicitor, who sends the money to the seller’s solicitor. You’re now legally contracted to buy your new home, and a completion date can be agreed.
Completion
The phrase you are waiting to hear!
On completion day, the remainder of the payment for the house will be transferred to the seller’s solicitor. Once it’s been deposited into the seller’s account, the agent will hand over the keys to your new home. Congratulations and enjoy your new home.
