The buying process
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
The process of buying a home can be long and complicated. There are six main steps in the process. It helps if you understand what's involved at each stage, and know about some of the common problems buyers face.
Overview of the process
The basic steps involved in buying your home and issues to consider at each stage.
Making an offer
Information about things you should consider before you make an offer to buy a home.
Getting a valuation
Outlines what happens when your lender sends a valuer to assess how much the property is worth.
Surveys and homebuyer's reports
Covers structural surveys and homebuyer's reports, which provide information about the condition of a property and should detect any structural problems.
Buyers' legal preparation
Explains what's involved in the legal work to transfer ownership of the property from the seller to the buyer.
Exchanging contracts
Information about exchanging contracts and paying a deposit, after which there is no more room for negotiation and neither side can pull out of the deal.
The completion date
This is when the buyer pays for any outstanding costs involved in the purchase and becomes the owner of a property.
