Buying your first home is such an exciting milestone! It’s a chance to put down roots, create your own space, and start a brand-new chapter in your life. But let’s be honest; it can also feel a bit overwhelming. From figuring out your budget to getting to grips with all the paperwork and moving logistics, it’s easy to feel like there’s so much to think about all at once.
That’s exactly why we’ve created this checklist for buying a house, designed especially for first-time buyers. It breaks down everything you need to know, from saving for your deposit to moving day tips, to help you feel confident and in control every step of the way. By ticking off the tasks on our buying a house checklist, you can be sure you won’t miss a thing!
Get Your Finances in Place
- Save for a deposit (usually around 5-20% of the property’s value). A larger deposit will mean you can secure better mortgage rates, borrow less overall, and reduce your monthly repayments, making your mortgage more affordable in the long term.
- Think about cutting back on non-essential spending (think unused gym memberships or subscriptions) to save as much as possible before buying.
- Review your credit score and take steps to improve it if necessary. Many credit reporting tools like Experian or Clearscore offer soft searches that won’t impact your rating and give you tailored advice on boosting it.
- Work out what you can afford by evaluating your income, expenses, and debts.
- Factor in saving for additional costs like solicitor fees, estate agent fees, and removal costs.
Research the Property Market & Prepare for Buying a Home
- Familiarise yourself with the local market by looking at sold house prices in the area you’re looking to buy.
- Research the local area, including proximity to schools, your commute and transport links, job opportunities, hospitals, supermarkets, hobbies, and sports facilities.
- See if you qualify for government help like Lifetime ISAs, as well as affordable home ownership schemes like Help-to-Buy or Shared Ownership.
- Speak to a mortgage broker or research mortgage lenders to get a sense of what lenders would be willing to lend you. Getting a Mortgage in Principle (MIP) will help your property search and show sellers you are serious.
Begin Your Dream Home Property Search
- Define your search by creating a list of things you need from the property (e.g. minimum number of bedrooms, maximum commute time to work, property type) and a list of negotiable things (a garage, a south-facing garden, a pub within walking distance).
- Register with a few local estate agents and set up alerts matching your needs on online property sales platforms like Rightmove or Zoopla.
View Properties & Make an Offer
- Shortlist the properties you love and schedule some viewings.
- When you have found a property you are seriously considering, do an EPC check to give you an idea of energy efficiency.
- Ask the estate agent if the property has had any recent planning applications or restrictions like being in a conservation area or having easements, as they can impact how you use or develop the property.
- Visit the property at different times to get an idea of the noise and light levels at various times and days of the week. For example, a house beside a school will have heavy traffic outside between 8–9 am and 3-4 pm on weekdays, but it could be quiet on the weekends.
- Google the area to check for any known planned developments that may impact your decision to offer. For example, you may have found a bungalow with a garden overlooking fields, but this may be less appealing if you find a developer is due to start building a new estate on the land next door.
- Find out about broadband, gas and electricity availability. Some rural areas have slower internet speeds, which may be a problem for remote working, and some countryside properties may have oil heating (rather than mains gas) or may not be connected to mains sewers and will have a septic tank.
- If you are buying a new build, check the expected completion date of the property as new builds are often delayed. Research the developer’s reputation and find out what the developer’s initial warranty covers.
- Ask your developer for a detailed list of what’s included in the purchase price (hard flooring, carpets and landscaping), as you can often negotiate extras and upgrades.
- Put in an offer on the house through the estate agent. Ask about including a term in the offer that the seller removes the property from the market by accepting it.
Start the Legal Work
- Once your offer is accepted, it’s time to decide between a conveyancer vs a solicitor, and instruct them to start on the residential conveyancing process.
- Pay your solicitor or conveyancer’s initial instruction fee to cover upfront costs like ID checks and preliminary work. This also acts as a deposit for them to carry out the rest of the work.
- Check the payment schedule for your solicitor or conveyancer is clear about what is due and when. Throughout the conveyancing process, you may be billed for services like Local Authority Searches.
- Chat with your solicitor or conveyancer about the common legal checks they’ll do, like title searches, local council searches, and environmental checks, to spot any potential issues with the property.
- Go over the findings of the legal checks with your solicitor and conveyancer. If anything worrying comes up, ask what your options are, whether that’s looking into it further, getting indemnity insurance, or even pulling out of the purchase if needed.
- Read over the paperwork from the seller about the fixtures and fittings that come with the property. Check if any extra items, like kitchen appliances or garden sheds, are available to buy separately and decide if you want to negotiate for them.
- If someone is contributing to your deposit as a gift, ask them to provide a letter confirming it’s a gift and not a loan. Share this letter with your solicitor or mortgage lender as part of the paperwork.
Arrange a House Survey
- Book a property survey, even if you’re not taking out a mortgage. If you are, lenders will usually need one to check the property’s condition and value. You can choose from different types of surveys depending on how much detail you need. For older homes, add specialist surveys to check for issues like asbestos or damp.
- Go over the survey results with your solicitor or conveyancer, and decide whether to negotiate with the seller if any problems are found.
- Before you settle in, budget some extra cash for any urgent repairs flagged in the survey, like fixing woodworm, so you’re prepared to handle them before moving in.
- If you’re buying from a developer or builder, get a professional snagging survey as part of the new build buying process, so any problems with the property, such as poor finishes or plumbing issues, can be fixed before you move in.
Apply for a Mortgage
- Turn your mortgage in principle into a mortgage by completing the application process. You can do this online or in person with your lender.
- Prepare all the required documents for your lender, including proof of your identity, address, income, and savings. Have recent bank statements and details of any debts or financial commitments ready. If needed, ask your employer for a letter confirming your job and salary.
- Share key property information with your lender, such as the seller’s offer letter, the sale agreement (if it’s available), the survey report, and the property valuation.
- If you’re not a UK citizen, provide proof of your residency as part of the application.
- Be ready to provide evidence of financial arrangements, like maintenance payments if you’re divorced or separated.
- If you receive child benefits or any other income, gather proof to share with your lender, as it affects how much you can afford to borrow.
Exchange Contracts
- Once your solicitor or conveyancer has reviewed the contracts to make sure they are fair and clear, be prepared to pay part of their legal fees at this stage.
- Coordinate with your solicitor as they finalise the completion date with the seller’s solicitor and others in the chain.
- Send your deposit to your solicitor so they are ready to exchange contracts and secure the sale.
- Sign and return the contract to your solicitor ASAP.
- Once contracts are signed and exchanged, set up home insurance now, as you’re committed to purchasing the property.
- Confirm when you will be moving out with your landlord if you are renting.
- If you have a child or children who are moving schools, send a copy of the exchange of contracts to the school admissions officer so they can confirm your child's/children’s places.
- Start planning for the move itself. Use the Moving House Checklist to make sure you’re prepared. It’ll prompt you on decisions like whether to hire a removal company or handle it yourself.
- Begin packing as soon as possible, and use the opportunity to declutter by donating, selling, or recycling items you no longer need.
- Make an essentials box with items like toiletries, basic kitchen tools, and a toolkit to make the first days in your new home easier.
- If you’re buying a new build, you will need to set up utility accounts from scratch. This can take time, so contact providers in plenty of time before moving.
Completion
- Settle up for most of your solicitor or conveyancer’s legal fees. They’ll transfer the remaining funds to the seller’s solicitor, who will then complete the transaction.
- Before leaving your old home, take final meter readings for gas, electricity, and water.
- Keep your phone off silent and regularly check your emails, so you don’t miss the call or message letting you know the funds have been received and you can collect your keys.
- On arrival, check that all the agreed fixtures and fittings have been left.
- Take gas, electricity, and water meter readings at your new property to avoid any disputes with future bills.
Post Completion
- Agree with your conveyancer or solicitor who will do the paperwork to register you as the new owner with the Land Registry. This is your responsibility, but often, they will do it on your behalf.
- Get confirmation that your conveyancer or solicitor has paid the Stamp Duty Land Tax for you.
- Settle any outstanding charges or final costs with your solicitor or conveyancer.
- Contact your local council to set up an account to pay council tax. If the property is a new build, it may not have an assigned council tax band yet, so you may get an estimated bill until this is sorted out.
- Make sure you give your new address to important organisations like banks, the DVLA, your employer, and healthcare providers like your doctors or dentists.
- Set up a redirect for your post via Royal Mail so you don’t miss any post while you update your details.
- You might want to get a locksmith to change the locks so you have peace of mind that no one else has access to the property.
- If you buy a new build and there are any issues, report them to the developer as soon as possible.
- Start saving for ongoing maintenance (e.g. boiler servicing) and unexpected repairs to keep your home in good shape.