I've just bought a house!

hairdye

I have just had an offer accepted on my first home! Thanks to lots of advice from the website and the forum!

I have a mortgage appointment on Wednesday, with another application in the post from a different provider.

I have got quotes from various websites for PPI and life assurance so I won't be done by my mortgage provider.

Is there anything else I can do today to get things moving?

Thanks!

goldengirl28

have you got a solicitor sorted out?

hairdye

I have been comparing some online ones, the only reason I am holding back appointing ones because some of the mortgages with Nationwide (where I am going on Wednesday) include free legal services. Is it worth taking that into account? We need to move fairly swiftly (no chain) so any advice on the quickest options would be great

marking_bad

What would the cost of the solictor be?

beccad

Congrats! The only thing I would say about a solicitor, is get a proper one rather than a cheap conveyencing firm. You might not have any problems, but conveyencing firms can't help if you need proper legal advice about some unforseen aspect of the purchase.

ETA: Has your vendor got a chain above him/her?

Also, don't be scared by the survey unless anyting really bad comes up on it! Surveyors quite often state certain things may or may not be wrong, but they're just covering their backs. You'll know if something is a bit more serious because your mortgage company will ask for a survey of the specific issue to be done (damp etc.) Nine times out of ten it'll turn out to be nothing very serious at all!

sooz

hairdye wrote: »

Is there anything else I can do today to get things moving?

Just don't get too excited just yet. Get a good solicitor, not cheap firm, as others have said.

You haven't bought a house. You've had an offer accepted.
Don't be too disappointed if you don't actually manage to buy this house.

8RRJ

Both Nationwide and Abbey free legal deals are good value IMHO. However they are very much 'bucket-shop' conveyancers, who are fine with a standard purchase, but will stuggle with anything like a complex lease etc.
Mortgage-wise, I'd see a non-fee charging whole of market broker and let them deal with the hassle for you. If they are competitive on the insurances (check yourself online) and not tied, use them for this as a thank-you!

LE3

how exciting
I'm in a similar position & it's great to have someone to hold virtual-hands with throughout the process

There's a "buyers support thread" https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2103195 and I also asked if anyone wanted to be my house-buying buddy & we have a thread for that https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2431107

Person_one

sooz wrote: »

Just don't get too excited just yet. Get a good solicitor, not cheap firm, as others have said.

You haven't bought a house. You've had an offer accepted.
Don't be too disappointed if you don't actually manage to buy this house.

Its so hard not to get excited though! But its true, the house isn't yours until you have the keys, even exchange of contracts isn't always a guarantee as some threads on here will show you.

Try not to think of it as your home yet, don't start mentally planning where to put your stuff or what colour the walls will be as an emotional attachment makes it so much harder to walk away if something does go wrong.

Good luck though! I agree with others that getting a good solicitor is the most important thing now. Do you have friends or family who might be able to recommend one?

hairdye

Thanks everyone

Have just emailed a friend who used to be solicitors for any recommendations, will get some quotes from non online ones just incase

[Deleted User]

get a good local conveyancing solicitor. We have been back and forth to ours a few times and are having a face to face chat before exchange this week. You can`t beat local and live