Buying property - the process
We’ve got hundreds of flats and houses for sale across London, all looking for buyers right now. Whether you’re after your first home, a new build or a buy to let investment, let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll take it from there.
On the web
Search our current houses for sale in London by using the quick search to the right. To save your searches and get automatic email updates, visit My Place.
At your local estate agent
Drop into your nearest office or give us a call, and talk to someone who really knows your area. We have estate agents London wide; put our local knowledge to the test. Find your nearest office.
We don’t just bring buyers and sellers together: we have mortgage advisors to help with your finance and Haywards Surveyors and Valuers to carry out any surveys you may need. Find out more about every stage of your move with our step by step guide to buying a property.
Step 1: Decide on the basics
Step 2: Get your finances in order
Step 3: Find the right property
Step 4: Make an offer
Step 5: Sale agreed
Step 6: Finalise your mortgage
Step 7: Exchange contracts
Step 8: Move in!
Step 1: Decide on the basics
We’ve got a mix of flats and houses for sale across London right now, so before you start your search, it helps to put some thought into exactly what you’re looking for.
Make a list of what’s important to you, including the essentials and the things that are just nice to have, and go from there.
If you’re buying to let, think about what your tenants would like. For example, students might want somewhere central with easy access to local nightlife, while for a young family open space and good schools might be more important.
Area
If you’re buying a property, it’s likely you’ll own the place for a while, so location is doubly important. Do you want to be near work? In a leafy neighbourhood or in central London? Do you want local shops and restaurants? Are good schools important to you?
Make a list of the postcodes or even streets that appeal to you and take time at a weekend to have a good look round the areas with flats and houses for sale.
Contact your local KFH estate agent online or by phone to find out about what’s going on in your area.
Transport links
Getting around in your chosen area can be just as important as the area itself. Are you happy to travel some distance to work or do you want to walk? Do you need easy access to a tube or mainline station? If you travel out of London, do you need to be near a main road?
Size and type
A few things to consider
- Flat or house in London ?
- New home or an older property?
- How many bedrooms? Do you need a spare room?
- Do you want outside space like a balcony or garden?
- How important is a garage or off street parking?
- Do you need room to grow as a family?
Return to the top of the page
Step 2: Get your finances in order
When the right property comes along, you’ll want to be able to act immediately, so get your finances sorted out as soon as possible.
Our mortgage advisors can help you work out how much you can afford and go through your options for managing your money, including choosing a mortgage and sorting out protection plans.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
We don't charge for our advice. Instead, we simply charge a fee for arranging your mortgage. A typical fee is £399. We will never charge more than 1.5% of the value of the mortgage.
When you find the right place, you’ll need a solicitor on hand, and we can help you find one. Londonwide Conveyancing is part of the Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward Group, and puts you in touch with London solicitors we know and trust.
We’ll also help you plan your budget, which will need to cover
- Agent’s fees
- Solicitor’s fees
- Valuation
- Stamp duty
- Land registry
- Local authority searches
- Bank transfers
- Mortgage fees
- Insurance
- Removal fees
- Disconnection and reconnection of services
- Essential rebuilding or redecorating
A contingency fund to cover any unexpected costs is a good idea too.
Return to the top of the page
Step 3: Find the right property
Once you’ve sorted out your mortgage and you know the kind of flat or house in London you’re looking for, it’s time to get out there and find it. We’ve got 50 estate agent offices across London and a property database that’s updated every two hours to help you do just that.
Use our online search at the top on the right to set up your own search by area, street, transport links, and by KFH branch. Once we know what you’re after, we’ll keep you updated by email. You can change your search criteria at any time in My Place.
If you’d rather talk to one of our local experts, contact one of our estate agents online, by phone or by dropping into the local branch. We’ll get you registered and start looking for your place straight away.
When we've found you a suitable flat or house in London, we’ll set up a viewing appointment as soon as possible. A quick tip: make two visits, one during the day and one at night.
Return to the top of the page
Step 4: Make an offer
Once you’ve found a place that ticks all the boxes, you're ready to make an offer. Let the estate agent know as soon as possible so the seller can be contacted with details of your offer.
When you make your offer, the seller will consider your position, for example
- Have you found a buyer for your home?
- Can you prove that you can afford to buy the property? It's a good idea to have a written agreement in principle from your mortgage lender. Speak to one of our mortgage advisors to get yourself started.
- Can you move in time to suit the seller's own plans?
Once you’ve had an offer accepted, we’ll confirm it to you in writing, it is then subject to certain terms and conditions.
Return to the top of the page
Step 5: Sale agreed
So, you’ve made your offer and it’s been accepted. This stage is known as sale agreed. This is where your solicitor gets involved to check out all the legal aspects of the sale.
If you don’t have a solicitor, we can help you find one. Londonwide Conveyancing is part of the Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward Group, and puts you in touch with London solicitors we know and trust.
This is also when you (or your mortgage advisor) will go ahead with your formal mortgage application, to check that your lender’s willing to lend on that specific property.
Conveyancing
The property needs to be legally transferred from its current owners to you. This process is known as conveyancing. Here are just some of the steps involved. For more information visit Londonwide Conveyancing.
The seller’s solicitor will
- Get copies of the property’s title deeds and other relevant documentation e.g. lease
- Prepare a draft contract of sale
Your solicitor will
- Check the title documentation and lease for any problems or inconsistencies
- Check the contracts
Assuming there are no problems and your solicitor has your mortgage offer, deposit and a signed contract, they can exchange contracts and set a completion date.
Return to the top of the page
Step 6: Finalise your mortgage
Before your mortage lender makes you an offer, they’ll need a mortgage valuation to check that you’re not borrowing more money than the property is actually worth.
Buying a home is a massive investment, so you might also want a homebuyer survey or building survey. This provides a far more detailed assessment of the condition of the property. To organise a homebuyers report or full building survey contact Haywards Surveyors and Valuers.
Once your mortgage lender is happy, they’ll send your mortgage offer, including details of the terms, to you and to your solicitor.
Return to the top of the page
Step 7: Exchange contracts
You’re on the home straight now. The formal exchange of contracts agrees the terms of the sale and makes them legally binding on both you and the seller.
Before the formal exchange, you’ll need to
- Finalise and sign your mortgage documents
- Send your deposit to the seller’s solicitor
- Sign your contract
This is also the time to sort out the practicalities of your move. Have you organised a removals company and storage? Do you need to sort out buildings and contents insurance? Utilities? Will your pets need looking after during the move?
Once the exchange has happened, you can look forward to the completion date when the money gets transferred, and the property legally changes hands. This is normally four weeks later, but you can choose to exchange and complete on the same day if you need to.
The terms of the sale are now legally binding, which means that your deposit is non refundable if you change your mind. Equally, the seller is obliged to sell to you at the price you’ve agreed.
Return to the top of the page
Step 8: Move in!
This is the point when you know it was all worth it. On or just before the day of completion, your solicitor will pay what you owe to the seller’s solicitor.
Once you’ve had the call to confirm that the money has been transferred, the transfer document and title deeds will be yours. You can pick up the keys.
Welcome to your new home!
If you want more advice on any aspect of the buying process, just ask.
Return to the top of the page