We understand that when you are buying a property through George Edwards, that you could be building a future for your family, finding a place to call home, starting a new exciting chapter, or securing your future financially. We also know it can be daunting and sometimes overwhelming if you have never done it before. That is why we are here to help you through the journey. We know that making sure you have the support you need leads to better outcomes for those whose homes we are selling. We have laid out some key steps you may wish to consider when looking at buying. Please reach out to us as we would be happy to help.
It is important to work out what your costs are going to be as this can affect how much you can afford to spend on a deposit and how much you can afford to pay for a property. Although these costs may vary slightly depending on the property, it is always a good idea to get an idea of the costs you need to consider,
1) Solicitors – Different solicitors can charge in different ways but we recommend going with a solicitor that will only charge you for their legal fess if your purchase completes. Some solicitors will charge you even if the sale collapses. Contact us to get a quote today. It is useful to contact your solicitor in advance as there is some paperwork they can arrange before you even find a property. This will speed up the time it takes to buy the property you find
2) Stamp Duty Land Tax or Land Transaction Tax – This will vary depending on the price you pay for the property. There are some handy calculators, click here for England or here for Wales.
3) Moving – If you have friends and family this may cost you only a couple of pizzas and the hiring of a van. It’s worth looking at your circumstances and contacting moving companies to get an idea of cost.
4) Initial Works – Not every house is perfect, and it can be worth setting aside some money for any immediate work that needs done. Depending on the level of work you need to do this can vary, but we would recommend putting aside at least a £1,000.
Once you know how much it is going to cost you to move, you will now have an idea of how much of a deposit you can afford. It is a good idea to work out what you can afford. Unless you are in the position to buy with cash, a good mortgage broker is essential. They will take account of your income and your expenditures and will be able to give you an idea of what you can afford. Unlike a bank who will only look at their own mortgages a broker looks in lots of places. So even if your bank has said no, or told you an amount they will lend, it may be that a broker will be able to arrange a better option for you. Brokers can also deal with situations outside the norm, where you have multiple incomes, or are self-employed. Their advice is free, and they will also arrange what is called a ‘Mortgage in Principle’ which you will need when it comes to putting an offer forward on a property. If you are having to sell your property, it is a good time to make sure you are on the market. Remember you can call us for free advice.
Once you know what your budget is, it is now time to look at what is on the market. George Edwards lists the properties we sell on all major portals but that is not the case with every agent so be sure to check on multiple sites. When you find a property you like all you have to do is call us and we will arrange a convenient time to show you around the property. It is a good idea to have a list of what you are looking for in a property. You may not find everything you want but at least with a list you will be prepared so wont forget anything.
Once you find that dream property the next step is to make an offer. This is where being prepared helps as if you already have your ‘Mortgage in Principle’ your offer will be taken much more seriously. If you are selling a property, or buying with cash, making sure you have access to proof that you are in a position to proceed always helps, especially if multiple people are interested in the same property. Once your offer has been accepted checks will be carried out to make sure you have access to the funds to complete the purchase. Only when we have all this in place, will we instruct solicitors to carry out the sale.
At George Edwards, we have partnered with Mio to make sure we can keep you fully informed from the point you have an offer accepted, to when we hand over the keys to the new owner. Mio allows you to track how every property in your chain is progressing. This means we can spot any delays early and it has been shown to speed up completion by up to four weeks!
Upon the completion of the sale, we will be sure to meet you and hand over the keys to your new property. You will also be happy to know that George Edwards has partnered with Treedom to plant a tree every time we sell a property. This helps us to care for the environment now to protect your family’s future.
Due to the excellent sales particulars produced by Paul and the advice he provided we were in a position to accept an offer after the house had been on the market for only four days.
Rob
Paul Halliday really knows and understands the local market and is a pleasure to deal with from the initial market appraisal to the full marketing. He has been absolutely first rate at communicating and answering all...
Stephen
Selling a home can be emotionally trying but Paul Halliday did everything possible to relieve us of that and accommodate our sticking points and specifics. We have bought and sold many times on different continents...
Robert
