6 min read
The process of buying a house can seem daunting. Here, we look at how to buy a house and break down the process step-by-step, so you have all you need to know about what happens after your offer is accepted.
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So, you’ve decided you want to buy a house. Now what? Whether it’s your first home, or you’re moving onto something new, buying a house can feel like a daunting experience – especially if you’re a first-time buyer, or you haven’t moved in a while.
Here, we explain the process of buying a house step-by-step, so you can get a better understanding of what's involved, giving you confidence through your house-buying journey.
In this guide:
Whether you've found a house you want to put an offer on, or you're still looking for the one, see how much your move could cost in just seconds.
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Whether you’re a first-time buyer, or moving up the chain, watch our video to understand how the buying process works once your offer has been accepted. Or continue reading to find out the steps to buying a house.
Duration: 2 minutes 24 seconds
Generally speaking, once your offer is accepted on a property, the process of buying a house takes around 16-24 weeks. The time it takes is affected by multiple factors and so it’s not the same for every purchase.
If you’re buying a property without a chain, that is freehold and everyone is working towards a fast move and you've managed to secure your mortgage offer, the buying process could take as little as 12 weeks. However, it can take longer than this, and more likely to be around 24 weeks if there are factors such as a long chain or it’s a leasehold property. In some circumstances, it can take upwards of 24 weeks if, for example, probate needs to be granted. Your conveyancer will be able to give you realistic timescales for your purchase.
Find out more about how long conveyancing takes when buying a house.
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Before you even start looking at properties, it’s essential to get your finances in order. The first step in the process of buying a house is determining how much you can afford. This includes saving for a deposit (usually 5-20% of the property value) and reviewing your credit score. Remember to also consider the additional costs and fees associated with moving house, and decide whether you can afford to move right now.
To understand all the costs you’ll need to factor in to your budget read our article on the costs of buying a house.
Once you’re confident with your finances, you can get a mortgage agreement in principle, which is a basic way to find out how much you could borrow from your mortgage lender. It will help you focus your search on houses within your budget and make it easier to make an offer when you’re ready to. An AIP doesn’t guarantee a mortgage, however it should make the process of getting it approved quicker. It might also be useful in more competitive housing markets, as estate agents might only allow you to go to property viewings if you can prove you have an AIP.
You can typically receive an AIP within 24-48 hours, however, it’s important to compare mortgage options carefully.
If you want to get independent advice on mortgage rates, you can speak to a specialist mortgage advisor. Complete your mortgage application as early as possible to help avoid delays further down the line.
Find out more about the mortgage process.
Now that you know your budget, it’s time to start looking for properties. This is one of the more enjoyable parts of the process of buying a house. You can search through online property portals, attend open houses, and speak with estate agents to find your ideal home.
Found the home of your dreams? Decide on your offer, and immediately inform the estate agent who can forward your offer to the seller. When it comes to securing your dream home, you need to move quickly, as the next viewer may make an offer before you do.
This stage can vary significantly depending on your preferences, local market conditions, and how quickly you find a property that ticks all your boxes. For some buyers, it can take just a few weeks; for others, it might take several months.
If the seller accepts your first offer, this process can be quick, often just a few days. However, if negotiations are required, it can take a little longer. On average, the offer stage can take between 1-2 weeks.
Find out more about how to find your perfect home, and how to get your offer accepted.
After your offer is accepted, it’s time to get the ball rolling and select a conveyancer to act on your behalf. They’ll guide you through the house-buying process and complete the legal aspects of buying a property, from conducting searches to reviewing contracts and transferring funds. At My Home Move Conveyancing, we'll match you with a conveyancer who'll provide expert guidance to ensure a smooth and stress-free transaction.
The conveyancing process when buying a house typically takes between 8-14 weeks, from start to completion. However, this can vary depending on factors like the complexity of the property, any issues raised in the property searches, and how quickly both parties can provide the required documents.
Your mortgage lender will perform a desk-based survey to establish the property’s valuation, however you may also want to get an additional home buyer’s survey to check the overall condition of the property, highlight any structural concerns and find out about any essential or recommended repairs and work to be carried out.
Home buyer’s surveys are always advised when buying a house. Although they come at an additional cost, they provide an insight into the overall condition of the property and will let you know if there are any potential issues such as damp or structural damage. Finding out any issues with a survey before you have exchanged contracts can give you the chance to renegotiate the property price or pull out of the purchase before it is legally binding.
Surveys can typically be arranged and completed within 1-2 weeks, depending on availability and the complexity of the survey required.
Book your survey today with our trusted partner The Moving Portal.
Your conveyancer will arrange property searches to give you more information about the house before you move on with your purchase. The main ones are Land Registry, environmental and drainage searches. They’re an important part of the process as they can flag potential issues, such as planning restrictions, flood risk, ground stability and local development plans.
If you’re taking out a mortgage to purchase your property, your lender will likely insist that searches are necessary – as they’ll need to make sure that their money won’t be invested in a property that has a higher chance of being worth less in the future.
Property searches can take 2-4 weeks, depending on the local authority's turnaround times. Read our article for more information on local authority lead times and which councils are taking more than 25 working days to return searches.
Once the survey is done and the conveyancing searches have come back, you can inform your lender you’re ready to proceed with your purchase.
If your mortgage application is successful, you’ll receive an offer from your mortgage provider. You can then spend some time reviewing your mortgage product and your contract terms to check the deal is right for you, since you’ll be making a big commitment. If you’re happy to proceed with your mortgage offer, you’ll then move on to the final steps of the home-buying process.
It can take, on average, 2-6 weeks to finalise a mortgage offer. The time taken for this process can vary depending on your mortgage provider, the underwriters' assessment, the complexity of your financial situation and the response times for both you and the lender.
Find out more about getting a mortgage.
To avoid any delays, you’ll need to transfer the deposit into your conveyancer’s account around now, so it’s cleared in time for the exchange. Depending on how long there will be between exchange and completion you might also need to cover conveyancing fees, as well as Stamp Duty Land Tax. To find out how much tax you will be required to pay, you can use our stamp duty calculator.
You’ll now be able to discuss provisional moving dates with the seller and the rest of the chain, so it’s a good time to start getting house removal quotes. This will help you to budget, as it can often cost a lot more than you were expecting. To make sure your move runs like clockwork, check out our handy moving house checklist.
Your conveyancer will guide you through one of the final steps of the transaction; exchanging contracts. Once the contracts are signed, you’re now in a legally binding contract to buy the house.
This process usually takes around 4-8 weeks from the time your offer is accepted, depending on how smoothly the legal and financial checks go. At this stage, both you and the seller are legally committed to the transaction.
The final stage of the process of buying a house is known as completion. This is when the remaining funds are transferred to the seller’s solicitor, and ownership of the property officially passes to you. You’ll receive the keys and can finally move into your new home!
Following completion of your new house purchase, your conveyancer will let the Land Registry know you’re the new owner and arrange the funds transfer if you had stamp duty to pay. Once the registration is complete, your conveyancer will send you and your mortgage provider copies of the title deeds.
All that’s left to do is enjoy your new home!
Completion usually occurs 1-2 weeks after the exchange of contracts, although this can be flexible depending on the agreement between you and the seller. Whilst there's no legal time limit for completion, it's recommended you should complete within 7–28 days of exchanging contracts.
At My Home Move Conveyancing, we understand that buying a home can feel daunting, especially if you're unfamiliar with the process. That’s why all of our partners are committed to providing expert legal advice, clear communication, and exceptional service every step of the way.
Here’s what our satisfied clients have to say:
“The team at My Home Move Conveyancing made buying my house so straightforward. Their advice was always clear, and they kept me updated throughout the entire process. Highly recommend!”
— Sarah, 5-star Trustpilot Review —
“Fantastic service! As a first-time buyer, I had lots of questions, but My Home Move Conveyancing were always available to help. They made the process of buying my home stress-free.”
— James, 5-star Trustpilot Review —
“Efficient and professional. They kept me informed every step of the way, and we completed on time. Couldn’t be happier with the service!”
— Chloe, 4-star Trustpilot Review —
From underestimating the importance of budgeting and the amount of legal costs, to skipping home buyer’s surveys, these common mistakes could make your purchase more stressful. Here’s how to avoid them:
As buying a house in a long-term commitment, budgeting correctly is essential to determine the price range of properties you can afford, so you can avoid financial stress, now and in the future. To be able to comfortably handle your new financial responsibilities as a homeowner, you need to factor in all costs – from legal fees and property taxes to maintenance and ongoing costs involved in the running the property.
For more help, read our guides on the costs of buying a house as well as ideas on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency, to help with ongoing bills and maintenance costs.
Underestimating legal costs is another common pitfall, so make sure you talk to your conveyancer to fully understand charges and include them in your budget. Remember that when you buy a property, you’ll need to cover both legal fees and disbursements. These will vary depending on what conveyancing firm you use and the specific details of your property purchase.
Getting an additional home buyer’s survey to check the overall condition of the property is essential to uncover problems that might not be visible to you and avoid expenses for repairing these. There are different levels you can get at different costs, so it’s wise to factor in which one you should get based on the property type you are buying. Make sure that the surveyor is an experienced and qualified professional. Once you’ve got the report, carefully review it and discuss any concerns before moving forward with your purchase. This will help you make an informed decision about whether to go on with your purchase as is, ask for repairs, or negotiate a lower price.
Find out more about home buyer’s surveys.
Mortgage loan rejections can be a significant factor in why property purchases fall through. While a mortgage pre-approval (or mortgage agreement in principle) provides confidence that you will be able to secure financing, it’s important to understand that this is not a guarantee.
Several key factors can still cause a lender to decline a final mortgage application:
Change in Circumstances: A job loss, change in income, or increased financial commitments (e.g. taking on new debt) between the pre-approval and final approval can lead to rejection. Lenders reassess your financial situation before granting the final loan, so any significant change can affect their decision.
Gathering Documents: To improve your chances of mortgage approval, ensure you have all the required documentation ready—such as wage slips, bank statements, tax returns (if applicable), and proof of other income. These documents help the lender verify your financial standing.
Credit Rating: It’s crucial to check your credit report before applying for a mortgage. Errors or unexpected changes in your credit score may impact your loan approval. Address any issues in advance to avoid surprises.
Not Borrowing to the Limit: While a pre-approval may give you an idea of how much you can borrow, it’s wise not to max out that amount. If the property purchase process takes longer than expected and interest rates rise, you may struggle to afford the new, higher rate. Keeping some financial flexibility can prevent this risk.
Buying a home involves multiple legal documents, such as purchase agreements and contracts. Before signing any documents, make sure you take the time to read and fully understand the terms. You can also seek legal advice about your obligations and responsibilities. Ask your conveyancer to answer any questions, review documents and inform you about the consequences of breaking the agreement. Our team of Move Specialists can guide you through what is needed for a smooth transition.
The Scottish legal system and house buying process is quite different to England. If you are buying in Scotland read our article for detailed information on the process.
Whether you’re wondering about stamp duty or completion dates, we’ve got the answers.
As a minimum you will need to have at least a 5% deposit when buying a house. This means, for example, if you’re buying a house priced at £200,000, you would need a deposit of £10,000. Having a 5% deposit, means you have a loan to value (LTV) ratio of 95% (5% deposit, 95% mortgage).
There are some exceptions to this minimum, for example, new builds tend to need a higher deposit, and some mortgage providers may not offer a 95% LTV.
If you were required to have a 10% deposit, for a property priced at £200,000 you would need a deposit of £20,000 and have a LTV of 90%.
It’s worth considering that even if you can get a mortgage with a 5% deposit, the larger the deposit you can put down, is often better. This is because mortgage providers often provide better, and lower, interest rates for mortgages with a lower LTV percentage.
Read our guide to getting a mortgage for more information on house deposits, or, if you’re struggling to save for a deposit, read our article which includes our top tips to help you save for a deposit.
If you’re a first-time buyer, you won’t have to pay any tax on properties up to £425,000. If the cost of the property you’re buying is up to £625,000, you’re also eligible for discounted rates. However, if you’re purchasing a house that costs more than this, you won’t benefit from the first-time buyer exception.
However, stamp duty rates are changing from 31st March 2025, and these changes will have a proportionally greater impact on first-time buyers. You can find out how these changes will impact you in our stamp duty article.
The cost of buying a house involves various factors and fees, such as mortgage and conveyancing fees, survey and removal costs and more. Explore the key expenses you’ll need to budget for and get tips to keep the costs down.
No Move No Legal Fee guarantee
Unlike many high street solicitors, if the transaction falls through, through no fault of your own, you won’t have to pay us any legal fees. Also, if you have already paid for searches, we will honour searches free of charge on an alternate property.
Property Specialists
The conveyancers we work with are all specialists in this field – this is all that they do, so they are better placed to help you with specialist knowledge and without any other distractions.
Online document submission
All the conveyancers we work with are based online, so you'll never need to visit your conveyancers offices. You can manage your move online through our eWay portal, meaning a lot less paperwork and delays.
Get in touch with one of the team
If you would like to speak to your conveyancer, please log in to your eWay account where you can find their contact details.
Log in to eWayMonday - Friday
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If you would like to discuss a quotation you have received please call our Move Specialists on
0333 234 4425Monday - Friday
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If you would like to email us, please send it to the following email address:
quotations@myhomemoveconveyancing.co.ukMonday - Friday
9am - 5pm
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