NatWest - process for FTB

beverley1976

I'm a FTB at the age of 50 (!) and would just like to understand the process a bit more whilst I'm agonisingly waiting for news. My broker is great, but feel like I'm bombarding him with enough questions!

I am (hopefully) buying a house for £190000, with a 10% deposit. This is through NatWest, who also issued me with a DIP.

13/04/2026 - full application submitted through broker. "Subsequent Credit Search" showing on credit file from this, albeit a "soft search"

14/04/2026 - notification from EA and broker that NatWest have instructed valuation on house for 22/04/2026

My questions are:

With having NatWest issuing my DIP, will this speed things up?

Is the "Subsequent Credit Search" a sign that they are happy with the documents provided to them and don't require anything else?

I'm assuming they're doing a physical valuation with it being booked in - will they be waiting for this and then potentially offer a mortgage?…or will they wait for the valuation before even looking at the paperwork?

All help greatly appreciated!

ACG

At 90% it is highly likely to be a physical valuation. The fact the agents have said it has been booked in also confirms that.

It is currently taking 2 working days to assess applications with natwest, so assuming your broker uploaded all of the documents on the 13th or even the 14th April and they have not asked for anything else, it sounds like you are at a stage where it is just down to the valuation. ie if there is a problem with the valuation (im sure there wont be), natwest are still happy to lend to you, just not on the property.

beverley1976

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81970658#Comment_81970658

Brilliant - that's really helpful thanks.

In your experience, how long does it usually take for NW to issue an offer post-valuation?

ACG

Current service levels are 2 working days - https://www.intermediary.natwest.com

This is normally about right. Allow 3 though just in case they get the valuation back late in the day (which is usually the case I think).

beverley1976

Just an update on this (if anyone is interested)…I managed to log in to the tracker on NatWest’s site today. By “Assessment” there is a green tick…By “Valuation” its amber and says “In progress”. Can I take from that that I’ve passed the underwriting phase and, all being well with the valuation, I should receive an offer?

beverley1976

Well…this all rather frustrating!

Valuation was booked in for last Wednesday, so thought I'd be nearing getting an offer at the end of last week/ start of this.

Broker rang me to say that the valuation couldn't take place due to the valuer having a "conflict of interest" on the property - something he had never heard of before!

Broker confirmed that bank have accepted me as a customer, subject to the valuation being ok. But, as of this morning, the valuation still hasn't been booked….

ACG

That could be anything, he might know or even be the vendor.

Sounds positive though. Even if there is a problem with the property, you are good for the mortgage. So that should take some of the stress away (hopefully).

beverley1976

Well, that all went very quickly! Physical valuation done yesterday…and mortgage offer sent this morning!

One more hurdle jumped :-)

RelievedSheff

Congratulations.