Home Insurance Quotes: Buildings vs Contents Cover
Buildings insurance covers the structure and permanent fixtures of a home, while contents insurance covers…
Save 5–20% deposit and budget for extra buying costs.
Get an Agreement in Principle before serious house hunting.
Search, shortlist and view suitable properties.
Make an offer and negotiate the right price.
Start conveyancing, legal checks and property searches.
Check the property condition and understand any risks
Pay the exchange deposit and legally commit to the purchase.
Pay the final balance, collect the keys and move in.
FTB Savings
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Yes. In England and Wales, put these conditions in your written offer. The seller can accept or reject them, and the transaction normally remains non-binding until exchange. In Scotland, offers and conditions are handled through solicitors.
No. It records the agreed price and transaction details but is not a contract. In England and Wales, the seller may accept another offer before exchange. In Scotland, the agreement becomes binding when missives are concluded.
No. A mortgage valuation is mainly for the lender and may be brief or automated. A buyer’s survey provides more information about visible defects, maintenance and possible further investigations.
Surveyors generally do not open walls, lift fitted floors or test electrical, gas and plumbing systems. Inaccessible roof spaces, concealed drainage and hidden defects may also be excluded. Read the inspection limitations carefully.
Conveyancers must complete anti-money-laundering checks. Savings, gifts, inheritance, overseas funds and property-sale proceeds may require bank statements and supporting evidence. Prepare a clear paper trail early.
Yes. Your mortgage deposit is your contribution towards the purchase price. The exchange deposit is the amount transferred when contracts are exchanged, often 10%. Buyers using a 5% deposit should ask their conveyancer to agree a reduced exchange deposit before exchange.
Yes. Planned roof, lift, cladding or external works can produce substantial bills. Check the LPE1 replies, Section 20 notices, meeting minutes, reserve fund and recent accounts before exchange.
Your conveyancer checks whether legal rights and maintenance obligations appear in the title. Searches provide additional information, but private systems may require specialist inspection. Never assume physical access or a parking space means you legally own the right to use it.
Your conveyancer should investigate planning permission, building regulations and lender requirements. Possible solutions include missing documents, retrospective approval or indemnity insurance. Do not contact the council before taking legal advice because this can affect insurance options.
Yes. View before exchange where repairs or concerns remain, and request another viewing shortly before completion. Check condition, agreed fixtures, damage and whether occupants have moved out. Report problems immediately to your conveyancer.