Buyers Guide

Before you do anything else, we say do your research and find how much you can actually afford to spend on a property. Take into account any available cash you have for a deposit and then speak to a mortgage broker, or a selection of providers and find out what they'd be willing to lend you. Make sure they put their "in principle" offers in writing.

Don't forget, you'll need to put money aside for the stamp duty land tax, too.

So, you've scoured the estate agents' websites and windows, poured over the property portals and pounded the streets figuring out where you might like to buy. Time to book in some viewings.

When looking around a property, use the estate agent and ask questions. You might want to think about things like:

• The number of years left on any lease (if it's a leasehold property)
• Does the property have things like gas central heating, modern insulation and double glazing? If not, these are big ticket items to get fitted
• The council tax band the property falls in
• Any service charge
• Local transport links
• Outdoor space
• If you like a property, be sure to get in a couple of viewings at different times of the day and invite friends and family along for a second opinion.

Once you have found a property that you'd like to buy, you can make an offer, stating any particular conditions, which we will put forward to the vendor for consideration. After any negotiations have taken place, hopefully your offer will be accepted. At this point, we will ask you for your solicitor's details in order for your purchase to proceed. We will also prepare a memorandum of sale and send it to all parties involved, to confirm what has been agreed.

To avoid any unnecessary delays, you can check the status of your prospective purchase at any stage in the process using Garrett Whitelock's free online service, My Property File.

You've found a property you're sure you want to buy. Call the estate agent and let them know how much you're willing to offer. Don't be surprised if your first offer is declined - that's the name of the game and buying a property is all about negotiation.
If there are a number of people keen to buy the property, you might be invited to take part in a sealed bid.
Fingers crossed.

Get to know your local estate agents and make sure they understand exactly what you are looking for. Be proactive, too - chase them every now and again. This will make sure you are at the forefront of their mind when a new property comes to the market.

Line up a good solicitor from the outset. Get recommendations from friends, family, colleagues and even local estate agents. Don't necessarily opt for the cheapest either - it could prove to be a false economy. Keep in regular touch with them.

Research what mortgage deals you can get. Price comparison websites can be a great resource if you have the time to keep checking them. Alternatively, find a good mortgage broker - seek recommendations from friends, family and colleagues. Winkworth recommend Trinity Financial - click here to read more about their services.
Make sure you have a written 'in principle' mortgage offer from the start, as this can really speed things up once you have an offer accepted. Likewise, you'll be in a much stronger position if you find yourself in a bidding war with a buyer who doesn't have their financing in order.

Set a budget for the entire process and stick to it. There are many other costs to consider outside of buying the property itself. Think about stamp duty, solicitor's fees, removal costs, any work that may need doing on the property, the first month's council tax and utility bills, possible service charge and ground rent etc.

Fully research the area you are interested in buying in. Think carefully about the things you need and the things you would like, such as good local schools, transport links, green spaces, shops etc. Research the types of properties that are available in your price range and be realistic about your expectations.

Try to be as flexible as possible when it comes to viewing times. Evenings and weekends may be best for you, but possibly not the seller. It might be worth taking a day or two off work and lining up multiple viewings. Be punctual for all your appointments, otherwise you risk missing your slot and annoying the seller, who is likely to have gone to some effort to get the property ready for you.
View the property three or four times and do so at different times of the day, so you get a real feel for what it is like.
After the viewing, be sure to give the estate agent some honest feedback. That way, they get a better idea of what you will and won’t accept. Keep an open mind though; very often, people end up buying something that is very different to the ‘dream’ home they imagined.

When you make an offer, make sure you let the estate agent know your position, like how flexible you can be on moving dates and whether or not you have a mortgage offer.
If you really love the property, try not to make very low offers that will no doubt be refused. You could end up annoying the seller and this might make future negotiations that bit harder.

Book a survey as soon as your offer is accepted. These can take a few days and you want to keep the process moving.
Although it's an additional cost when you're already throwing money about left right and centre, a survey could identify any serious problems with the property and ultimately end up saving you £thousands.

Try to avoid moving on a Friday. The roads tend to be busier and removal firms often charge more because Fridays are the most popular time to move. If you can, take some time off work and move mid-week.
On moving day, make sure you have a box with all the essentials like milk, teabags, coffee and loo roll close to hand.