Guide to Buying

If you are already a home owner you may need to know how much your current home is worth before you start looking to buy. We can assist with a free sales valuation of your home if you are considering trading up or trading down. Click here to arrange your sales valuation today.

Compromises will always be part of a property search. While location has always been considered the most important factor in the buying decision, other criteria have also grown in importance such as proximity to bus routes, amenities and childcare options. Supply will also be a major factor in any buying decision. Our experienced agents are happy to talk through these factors with you to help you identify your priorities and recommend properties that match these criteria.

You may find your ideal home on your first viewing or you may visit several properties before you stumble on the perfect one. Virtual viewings (3D tours, agent videos or Google Street view) will give you an idea of the features and layout of a property or road and can be particularly helpful in narrowing your search and ruling out properties that don’t meet your criteria. This can help safe time and energy but there is nothing like a physical in person viewing. In person viewings will also enable you to get to know your local DNG agent so if a particular property wasn’t for you then they may who can advise of new listings within the local area.

While you are viewing and you have the time it’s worthwhile arranging a solicitor to handle the conveyancing on your behalf. A successful purchase relies on an efficient and experienced solicitor. Always ask friends and family for a recommendation and it is important to factor your solicitors’ costs into your purchase.

Once you find your perfect property you can make an offer with your DNG agent. It is at this point you may need to demonstrate that you can proceed by providing evidence of your mortgage approval. If there are any special conditions on the offer, we can communicate this to the vendor. There are no legal obligations on either side until contracts are signed.

Once your offer has been accepted, we will request a booking deposit. The booking deposit is fully refundable at this stage. We will then do the following:

• Prepare a memorandum of sale
• Confirm the agreed price with all parties
• Confirm your solicitor and mortgage details
  You will now need to instruct your solicitor to proceed with the conveyancing
  process, notify your bank or mortgage broker to proceed with your application and (if
  required) arrange a surveyor to look at the property.

As part of the conveyancing process your solicitor will do the following:

• Raise any enquiries on receipt of the draft contract from the vendor’s solicitor
• Request their own local searches
• Agree on a date for exchange of contracts

At this stage you will need to arrange your bank valuer and surveyor. We will give access for your bank valuer and surveyor to assess the property.

Exchange of contracts occurs when all enquiries have been confirmed and agreed. Once the contract has been signed by both parties the deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price) will be transferred online or paid from your solicitor to the vendor’s solicitor. The completion date is then set by mutual agreement.

Completion is when your mortgage provider (if applicable) transfers your mortgage money to your solicitor who in turn transfers the balance of the sale price monies (usually up to 90%) to the vendor’s solicitor’s bank account. Once the money has been cleared in the vendors solicitors account and upon notification from the vendor’s solicitor, we will release the keys to your new property.