Buying house costs

ArbitraryRandom

Noneforit999 said:

BobT36 said:

What's the point of Mortgage brokers? 
As far as I can see, I can search various offers on comparison sites and sign up with a lender (Nationwide or whatever) myself? 

If its your 5th remortgage and you have 30% LTV then probably very little but if you are not a vanilla remortgage...

I'd add to this and say they're always something I recommend to FTBs who are asking questions like the OP. A broker will support you through the application process and make sure (because they are required to by regulation) you understand exactly what you are signing up to, what it will cost, and what will happen at the end of the fixed term/what you need to do next. 

When it's your first time going through the process that advice alone (IMO) is worth a few hundred on a multiple thousand pound purchase.  

For anyone other than FTB, it's like asking 'what's the point in a decorator, anyone can paint a wall' - for some there will be no point, for others the service will be worth the cost. 

EssexHebridean

Not specifically on the subject of the financial side, but really stop and take notice of things your solicitor sends you. When they say "You need to read this and come back to me with any queries" they don't mean "skim across it and then ask me stuff which would have been covered if you'd actually read the stuff I sent" or indeed "Just stick it in a drawer and tell me you've read it". Don't be afraid to ask about stuff you don't understand either - that's what the solicitor is there for. Ask them from the start whether they'd prefer your main contact to be via email or telephone too - that way you're both on the same page about what is easier. 

If you need people elsewhere in any chain just to be given a nudge to progress things use the estate agent selling the place you're buying as a first port of call - but take with a pinch of salt the agent assuring you that this document or that is now in place, or any suggestions of likely dates achievable. Your solicitor is the one who can really advice accurately on dates, anyone else is very probably just guessing and hoping. 

Good luck!