Ashtons Estate Agency - Warrington's Leading Independent Estate Agency

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Ashtons Buyers Guide. When you start the process of buying a home you will have lots of questions that you need answering. It is an exciting time but it can be daunting as well as it can be hard to know where to start. This guide takes you through the process from your intial research to moving in. Have fun!

We've got you covered: Each office and every negotiator has access to a central database, so no matter which office you're with, your property will receive maximum exposure.


1. What's your budget?	2. Start Looking	3. Be Ready to Offer	4. Choose a Solicitor	5. Make an Offer
Before getting serious with your search, it's a good idea to work out how much you can afford to borrow. At Ashtons, we look at your net monthly income, your outgoings and what disposable income you have. This is to ensure that you are not streched financially and can comfortably afford the monthly repayments. Top tip – We can work out how much you could borrow within minutes. We can also provide you with examples of what your monthly repayments might be on different mortgage aggrements.	Now you know what you can afford, you can begin your search! Think over these questions first... How many reception rooms would you like? How many bedrooms do you need? Are car parking facilities or a garden important? Are you bothered by traffic noise? Do you need a school nearby? Where would you want to live in relation to your workplace? Would you prefer a brand new home or an older one? Do you prefer the town or somewhere more rural? Once you have an idea of your basic requirements, a quick call to a Ashtons estate agent in your desired area will give you a good idea of what type of property your budget will buy you.	When you have found your ideal home, it's important to get your mortgage arranged as quickly as possible. When you apply for a mortgage through Ashtons, we will ensure that things move as smoothly as possible. However, mortgages by their very nature, take a few weeks to sort out, so the sooner you make an appointment with us the better.	Your solicitor carries out the conveyancing which is the legal process of handing over a property from one person to another. They also have a duty to protect your interests so they will investigate the legal aspects of the property such as its boundaries and exactly what is included in the sale. Your solicitor will carry out a ‘search’ to determine, for example, whether someone has gained planning permission to build something close to your home which could reduce the value of your property. They will also advise you on and handle the offer you make to the sellers and then make sure the sale is completed once contracts are exchanged. Most solicitors will charge a fixed fee and it is usually a percentage of the agreed sale price. It is useful to agree the fee in advance and check whether items like Land Registry Fees and local searches are included.	Remember that the price the seller is asking for is not necessarily the price they will finally accept. Your first offers can be lower than the asking price. Although, if there has been a lot of interest in the property it could be wise to make an offer close to the asking price. Your estate agent will be able to tell you how much similar properties have sold for. Once your offer is accepted, it will be confirmed in writing. But do remember, the property is not officially yours until legally binding contracts are exchanged and the monies have been paid over.

6. Get a Survey	7. Exchanging Contracts	8. Moving Day	Top Tip
A survey will give you a good idea of the property's condition and value. There are different types of survey, from a simple valuation indicating how much the property is worth, to a full structural survey. It is always worth spending as much as you can afford on your survey as it will highlight potential problems such as damp and subscidence. If problems do come to light, you are within your rights to try to re-neogiate or withdraw your offer. At this point it might be a good idea to look at our moving checklist.	You are nearly there! As long as there were no problems with the survey, the solicitors from both sides will draw up formal contracts for you and the seller to sign. These contracts are legally binding so make sure that you are totally prepared to go ahead. On the day agreed by both parties the mortgage funds will be released to your solicitor who in turn transfers them to the seller's solicitor.	The day has finally arrived! If you have a lot of possessions it's a good idea to book a professional removal firm to help you. You should also contact the utilities companies in advance to make sure that you have heat and light, and a phone connection ready for when you move into the property. One of the most time consuming jobs is informing the various organisations of your new address, you will also need to ask the Post Office to redirect your mail. Your first mortgage payment should leave your account about a month after you move in.	You may have heard of 'gazumping'. This is where a seller has agreed to sell their property to you but later accepts another (normally higher) offer and rejects yours. This can be frustrating and costly, but is not illegal. You have to just think, it wasn’t meant to be and you are sure to find a better property waiting for you around the corner.