The journey of a property for sale

Sometimes it can be a little confusing what to do next. This infographic should help you understand what is next.

Infographic showing the stages of buying a property: offer accepted, mortgage application, conveyancer, survey, searches, mortgage offer, exchange and completion

TLDR;

The property buying journey, step by step

  • Offer accepted. Ask the agent to mark the property sold subject to contract.
  • Apply for your mortgage. Turn your agreement in principle into a full application. The lender will arrange a valuation.
  • Appoint a conveyancer. They handle the legal work, searches and enquiries.
  • Find a surveyor. A mortgage valuation isn’t a survey.
  • Choose the level of survey that suits the property.
  • Legal checks and searches. Your conveyancer reviews the contract pack and raises questions with the seller.
  • Review the results. Go through the survey and searches, and renegotiate if serious issues come up.
  • Mortgage offer. Check the terms before you go any further.
  • Exchange contracts. You pay the deposit and the sale becomes legally binding. Completion. The money is transferred, you collect the keys and you move in.

Not sure which survey you need? Read our guide to RICS home surveys or find a surveyor near you.