Key steps to buying a home
If you are able to raise a full mortgage yourself then your first step should be to visit the local banks and building societies of Dartford.
Try Yell for listings of local establishments who will assess your finances and give you an indication of how much you will be able to borrow. Most prospective buyers will at this stage have at least a minimum deposit of 10% to put towards the house purchase.
Once you have this information you are ready for the fun part of viewing available properties.
To be kept abreast of all available properties, it would be prudent to register with all estate agents based in Dartford. They are all very keen to make a sale and will keep you informed of properties matching your requirements as they arise.
- Their details can be found on the website of The National Association of Estate Agents
- Check the local newspapers property section and websites like Rightmove which have most estate agents properties available to view online
Once you have found a property that you wish to purchase, you will need to instruct a solicitor to proceed with a sale. The solicitor will instruct local land searches, check planning applications, environmental reports and issues with deeds relevant to the property.
Local solicitors can be found on Yell or as recommended by your estate agent.
View more information on local land charges and searches.
The mortgage lender will also instruct a surveyor to carry out an inspection of the property to ensure that the money that is being lent is going towards a good investment.
The surveyors report (depending on the depth) will highlight any areas of concern and make suggestions for improvement. Some suggestions the mortgage lender may insist are carried out before purchase as they may affect the value of the property.
The cost of these improvements are normally negotiated between the seller and the buyer to achieve a satisfactory arrangement.
Unfortunately, not all house purchases proceed as hoped and there are many reasons why a potential purchase may fail. You may be refused a mortgage due to insufficient borrowing capacity, the survey carried out on the house may reveal unsatisfactory defects, a buyer/seller may 'pull out' of the sale, the list is endless...
It pays to be aware of the pitfalls concerning house purchase to avoid potential disappointment further down the line.
Between your lender and your solicitor, the sale will then progress to 'exchange' where all the contracts concerning the sale/s are passed to all parties involved, checked for accuracy and signed for acceptance.
Normally around a week separates the 'exchange' from the 'completion', where you pack up your belongings, pick up your keys and move into your new house.