Buying process

Haybrook have an abundance of properties for sale in Sheffield and as well as properties for sale in South Yorkshire. We cover areas including Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. This allows us to offer a choice of homes for sale. Take a look at our step by step guide at buying a property.

It's important to set out what you are looking so your requirements are clear when searching on estate agent websites and portals such as Rightmove and OnTheMarket.com. Haybrook estate agents make searching for properties for sale in Sheffield easy. You can:

• Search for properties within a set radius of things you need to be near such as schools, transport links and amenities;
• Search by property type, budget and number of bedrooms;
• Search by postcode, town or road name;
• Search by leasehold, freehold, chain free and properties that are holding an open house.

You can then prioritise these results to only include properties with the features you want such as conservatories, en-suites, period property and many more! You can also enter your own keywords to find the properties that match exactly what you need.

Carry out a property search today.

 

Viewing a property gives you the opportunity to discover whether the property is right for you. We have some top tips for a successful viewing:
Allow yourself a good amount of time for viewing the property properly as well as looking at the amenities in the local area if you are not familiar with it;
See the property more than once;

• Check for damp within the property such as mould, musty smells or dark patches on walls and ceilings;
• Look out for any cracks around doors and windows as well on walls and ceilings. These may point towards a structural problem in the property. It is always advisable to have a property survey carried out;
• Don't forget to look round the exterior of the property as well.

After deciding a property is right for you and you are ready financially to purchase a property, it's time to contact the estate agency to make an offer. It is important that the estate agent is fully aware of your situation including whether you have a property to sell, are a first time buyer and details of your solicitor and mortgage broker to avoid delays further down the line.  Ensure your offer in subject to contract and subject to a satisfactory survey.

If a seller declines your offer, you will need to review the situation with the estate agent to find out what is required to have your offer accepted. Make sure you stick to your budget and check what the property is truly worth.

Once the offer has been accepted, it is time to get he legal work underway and have any necessary surveys completed. Unless your are a cash buyer, you will need to complete the lenders application form and a mortgage valuation will need to be carried out on the property you are purchasing. A mortgage valuation is not the same as a property survey.

Once this is complete, you will receive your formal mortgage offer which you will need for your buildings insurance once the property has exchanged. At the point, your solicitors will be progressing with the draft contract.

The term ‘conveyancing’ refers to all the legal and administrative work associated with transferring the ownership of land or buildings from one owner to another. This process starts after an offer has been made and accepted to buy a property and solicitors’ details exchanged by the two parties.
A conveyancer is usually employed by a firm of solicitors and they look after your interests and deal with the complex paperwork.

Your conveyancer will:

• Act on your behalf for any new mortgage (if you are not a first time buyer) as well as dealing with any repayment charges for ending your previous mortgage;
• Pay stamp duty;
• Work to resolve any queries for the buyers such as fixtures and fittings or boundary queries;
• Check local authority searches and proposed plans for the local area;
• Check copies of guarantees on the property, building regulation certificates or details of planning permissions;
• Prepare a Report of Title for the buyer;
• Arrange registration of title in the buyers name.

Do make sure your check the sellers responses to any of your queries very carefully and if there is anything you do not understand at any point within the process, ask your conveyancer. It is helpful to keep in regular contact with your legal services to ensure you are kept up to date, and always remember to use postal services that ask for a signature of delivery on anything you send to your legal team.

Understanding the condition of the property is vital and therefore it is important to have a survey carried out so you understand if there are any issues with the property that need to be addressed or that may cause you to change your mind about purchasing it. A valuation report will be required by the mortgage provider, but this is not to be confused with a property survey.

There are three types of survey - they vary depending on how much detail you need and the age of the property you are purchasing:

1)  Condition report - The most basic and most suited to newer, more modern houses in a good condition:

• Costs £150-£300;
• Provides an overview of the property’s condition and focuses on things like the roof, walls, windows, floors and stairs;
• Outlines significant problems but does not go into detail, therefore further investigation will be needed;
• Provides the condition of each element in a clear ‘traffic lights’ ratings which identifies problems that need varying degrees of attention;
  This type of survey does not include a valuation or insurance reinstatement.

2)  Homebuyer’s report - Suitable for modern properties as well as older properties that are deemed to be in a reasonable condition:

• Costs between £250-£600;
• Includes maintenance advice as well as necessary repairs that are needed;
• Particularly useful for issues such as cracks, damp or subsidence;
• Highlights any areas that do not meet building regulations;
• Only look at parts of the property that are readily available - not behind walls, loft space or under floorboards.

3) Buildings survey - Useful for older properties, rare or unusual properties, properties in a poor condition, properties in which you are planning significant work or for any major concerns you have with a property:

• Costs between £500 and £1,000;
• Provides a breakdown of the structure of a property and the condition;
• Gives detailed information on how the property has been constructed, the materials used, the condition of the foundations, roof and walls;
• Outlines advice of the maintenance as well as necessary repairs are needed;
• Give a more intrusive report that will look at the loft/attic space as well as under the floorboards.

With new build properties, a survey is not so likely to be needed. You can however ask for a New-build snagging survey for extra peace of mind.

Exchanging of contracts is the last stage in the legal process of buying a property after which you cannot pull out, without incurring legal costs and losing your deposit.
During exchange, copies of signed contracts are exchanged between the seller's conveyancer and the buyer's conveyancer, and the buyer's deposit is paid.
A date for completion is then set - this is usually around two weeks after contracts are exchanged though it can be quicker.

Ensure you read the contract thoroughly and several times. Raise anything you are unsure about before you sign.

The completion of a property sale is the where all the monies are passed over and the buyer has the legal right to the property. As a buyer, you will receive a call from your legal services to let you know your money is has now gone through and you can obtain the leys to your new property. You will also receive your completion statement that should reflect the original quotation from your conveyancer.

There is a lot to think about! So here is a handy list of little things that can get forgotten before completion:

• Visit the property again before you complete to make sure all is in place – including your fixtures and fittings;
• Send a copy of the title deeds to your mortgage lender;
• If your property is a leasehold, you will need to inform the freeholder that you will be completing on the property;
• Notify the utility companies that you are now the owner of the property;
• Inform your banks, credit card, place of work, mobile phone company and the DVLA of your new address;
• Set up your a post-redirection.

 

Congratulations! If you are moving into this new property, download our handy Moving Checklist to help you with your move.