So you’ve decided to move. Great! You’re in the right place.

The next step is to get yourself in the best possible position. This will vary depending on your circumstances:

If you’re already a homeowner you need to decide what to do first – should you look for that ideal property before selling your own or vice versa?

It’s a chicken and egg scenario. Selling your home without having another property in mind is a daunting prospect but falling in love with a property only to have it swept away; sold to another buyer can be heartbreaking. When considering the sell first/find first debate there is a lot to consider. We thought it deserved its own page. For more information on what to think about when making this important decision, click here.

If you don’t already own a home, you’re in a great position

You’re classed as having nothing to sell; or ‘chain free’. If you’re renting, we would advise you hold off giving your landlord notice until you are further down the line.

The next thing for all buyers to consider is finance

How much do you want to spend and how are you going to pay for it? These questions require a lot of thought and planning. You will need to know how much deposit you have (or equity if it is money tied up in your existing home). You will need to know what costs you will incur.

You will also need to know how much you can borrow. We can help you with all of this. Call us on 01622 291491 and we can arrange a free consultation with one of our expert mortgage advisors who will walk you through step-by-step.

Decide where you want to live

Choosing a location is never simple. Normally, the best locations are also the most expensive. This leaves many buyers having to weigh between a bigger and better home, or a more sought after and desirable location. For more information about what to consider when choosing an area have a read of this article.

Choose a specific property

Searching for a home is often the fun part. It’s a happy and exciting time. But don’t let the excitement cloud your judgement. Keep your eyes peeled and keep a list of things to look for. Knight Edmonds have put together a handy list of questions to ask when out viewing a property.

If you’re viewing through us, then chances are we will already have the answers to those questions in our property information packs. However, we will always do our best to answer any other questions you may have.

Don’t forget to check if it’s freehold or leasehold. If it's a leasehold then look here for more things to consider.

Making an offer and getting it accepted

The first and most important part of any negotiation is to get yourself in the strongest possible position and to make it known to the seller as well as Knight Edmonds. That way you can ensure you will always be right at the front of the queue.

A lot of buyers keep their position closely guarded when negotiating but this can, inadvertently, arouse suspicion at a time when both parties need to inspire trust. Talk to the agent about your plans; why you love the property and exactly how you intend to buy it. Talk to them about solicitors. Most importantly let them know you’re serious. You should always offer via the agent and never talk finance directly with the sellers.

Reservation agreements

When making an offer on a property through Knight Edmonds you may be advised to use a reservation agreement. There is a lot to consider when choosing to enter a reservation agreement. More information and frequently asked questions are contained in this article.

Arrange a mortgage

By now you should have a detailed finance plan and be ready to move forwards. If not, Knight Edmonds have you covered. Note that offers can unravel very quickly if they are based on loose financial planning. Call us on 01622 291491 and we will connect you with the experts.

Hire a solicitor or conveyancer

Once you have agreed an offer on your house, you need to get a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the legal work to transfer ownership of the property to you.

Choosing the right solicitor/conveyancer is the first decision in the legal process. Should you choose a solicitor that operates on a no-sale no fee basis? Do they offer fixed fees or pay as you go? Solicitors may be local or online and physically located miles away. To find out more about solicitors have a look at our blog page on the subject. Or, if you’d rather simply trust us to put you in safe hands, give us a call 01622 291491.

Choose your survey. There are typically three survey tiers; A basic mortgage valuation, a home buyers report or a full structural survey. If you’re getting a mortgage your lender will generally carry out a basic survey but you may be able to upgrade it. For more information on the types of surveys available; click here.

Leave the rest to the professionals.

Reviews

Sam and Alex helped me buy my first home and were simply incredible! They were always on hand with advice and went the extra mile to make..."

I couldn't recommend them enough!

Alex and Sam were always on hand when I needed to speak to them and were extremely efficient. Both polite, kind and helpful at all times. If..."

Kind and helpful at all times

Sam helped me purchase my first property. Very good communication from start to finish. Highly recommend....

Highly recommend

Anyone thinking of selling their property, these guys are the only people to go with. Their passion, professionalism, experience and..."

These guys are the only people to go with

Both Alex and Sam have been and are still being great with their support during letting/selling my flat. After a painful experience of a..."

Anonymous Landlord

Sam helped me purchase my first property. Very good communication from start to finish. Highly recommend....

Very good communication from start to finish.

Very happy with my service. Great communication, quick, responsive....

Great communication, quick, responsive.

Anyone thinking of selling their property, these guys are the only people to go with.. Their passion, professionalism, experience and..."

With Alex and Sam, you're in safe hands.

Over many years I have had dealings with many estate agents. Knight Edmonds I rate as one of the best. Great job, very professional. Thanks..."

Knight Edmonds I rate as one of the best.

My father is purchasing a property through Knight Edmonds. The service we have received has been exceptional, especially as our viewing took..."

I would certainly recommend this company to family & friends

AMAZING!!!! All round professional and efficient service, having previously used a number of Estate agents locally, Sam and Alex have by far..."

AMAZING!!!! All round professional and efficient service

Knight Edmonds were recommended to me by friends who were very pleased with the service they had received. I met with Sam and decided..."

After the first viewing an offer was made

Knight Edmonds were a saving grace for me in salvaging a disastrous experience with the sale of my property. I had been with another well..."

Thank you very much Knight Edmonds!

Knight Edmonds have been great throughout the whole process of buying our first house. Sam was very friendly and helpful and always kept us..."

Friendly and helpful

We have just sold our house through Knight Edmonds. The service received from everyone there was exceptional making the process pain free...."

The service received from everyone there was exceptional

I would like to express the thanks for excellent service. Very communicative and speedy to respond to all queries. Very driven and..."

Very driven and professional

We were lucky enough to be buying a house that was listed by Knight Edmonds and I cannot recommend them enough! Their service is second to..."

client for life should we ever decide to sell.

Placed an offer in on a property at the start of lockdown, although with the stresses of COVID-19 found Knight Edmonds to be professional,..."

Helped massively with getting us in before our baby is due.

Having previously unsuccessfully marketed our fully refurbished property for 12 weeks with another agent who managed to generate a total of..."

Exchange happened 8 weeks after the offer was accepted

We have just purchased our first home through Knight Edmonds and have absolutely nothing negative to say! From putting our offer in all the..."

Professional service with that personal touch.

As a buyer I am aware that the company only just started trading before the first C-19 lockdown of 2020 which makes them even more..."

They are clearly keen to provide a refreshingly new approach

Over the last few months I have had the pleasure of dealing with the team at Knight Edmonds, specifically Alex. Having purchased a house..."

Excellent service and a breath of knowledge.

Sam and Alex are both absolutely fantastic. They genuinely care and have your best interests at heart. I would highly recommend Knight..."

They genuinely care and have your best interests at heart.

Sam came round with in days of us ringing to ask him for some advice with selling our property. From the moment we met him I new this was..."

Sam and Alex you really are a brilliant team.

What can I say? Nothing negative that’s for sure. I first had my house on the market for 9 months with a local agent who not only didn’t..."

They oozed enthusiasm.

Sam and Alex are both absolutely fantastic. They genuinely care and have your best interests at heart. I would highly recommend Knight..."

Sam and Alex are both absolutely fantastic

Sam came round with in days of us ringing to ask him for some advice with selling our property. From the moment we met him I knew this was..."

100% recommend

Being a new agency we found that Knight Edmond staffs were very professional and competent.There response to call was very immediate.We..."

Professional and competent
Read More...