Advice and tools for buyers

1 Introduction to buying a home

• Step by Step Guide to Buying a Home
• Is buying right for me?
• How to buy your first home
• Can I afford to buy a home?
• The hidden costs of buying and owning a home
• Should I sell my home before I buy a new one?
• How to buy and sell at the same time
• Mortgages made simple
• New build vs existing home
• Buying a Listed building
• How to buy a house at auction
• Buy-to-let what to consider
• Home Buyers' Protection Insurance - is it something I should consider?
• Rightmove, Zoopla and the rest: which is best?
• Are Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) important when buying a home?
• What is gazumping and how to avoid it
• Do I need life insurance?
• Do I need mortgage protection insurance?
• How long does it take to buy and sell a home?

2 How to finance your home

• How much can I afford?
• How to save for a deposit
• What type of mortgage should I get?
• How and when should I get a mortgage?
• How long does it take to get a mortgage?
• Do I need a mortgage "agreement in principle"?
• Do I need a mortgage broker?
• How to make a successful mortgage application
• Remortgaging
• First Time Buyer Mortgages
• Mortgages for the self employed
• Mortgages for the over 50s
• Offset Mortgages Explained
• Mortgages for a leasehold property
• Mortgages for Buy-to-let
• Let to Buy Mortgages explained
• Mortgages for Bad Credit
• Holiday Let mortgages
• Can I take my mortgage with me when I move home?
• How to improve your credit rating before getting a mortgage
• Help to Buy ISA vs Lifetime ISA
• The Bank of Mum and Dad - how to help your child buy a home
• How to keep on top of inheritance tax
• Do I need an Independent Financial Adviser?
• 10 Truths of Household Budget Planning

3 Buying a new build home

• Buying a new build home - problems and tips
• New build property vs existing property
• New homes and getting a mortgage
• Buying a new build - the conveyancing process explained
• Home Insurance for new build homes
• How do I choose the best new home builder?
• How to fix problems in your new build home
• Do I need a snagging list for my new build home?
• Find a snagging surveyor
• New Home Warranties - What they do and don't cover
• Leasehold v Freehold - what's the difference
• Moving into a new build home
• Living in a leasehold house: what you need to know
• Our Campaign for Better New Build
• Buying a New Home: Your Rights Explained
• Should I downsize?

4 Schemes to help buy your home

• How the government can help you buy a home: an overview of schemes
• Help To Buy ISA vs Lifetime ISA
• Help to Buy Equity Loan
• Rent to Buy
• Shared Ownership: What to watch out for
• Shared Ownership (New Build)
• Shared Ownership (Resale)
• Right To Buy

5 Finding a property & making an offer

• How do I find the perfect property
• How to choose the area you live in
• Buying through an online property auction
• How can I get estate agents on my side?
• Clever questions to ask the estate agent
• Estate agents' tricks
• Why you should avoid estate agents' in-house services
• How do I know if I'm not paying too much?
• Making an offer - and haggling over the price
• Top Tips - things not to forget when viewing a property
• Getting to the front of the buyers' queue
• Types of buyers and dealing with offers

6 Getting a Survey

• What sort of survey should I have?
• DIY quick check survey for house hunters
• What To Do After a Bad House Survey Report
• How to complain about your surveyor

7 The legal side of buying a house

• Conveyancing process explained for buyers
• Finding the right conveyancer or solicitor
• How much should conveyancing fees cost?
• Questions to ask your conveyancing solicitor before you instruct
• Should I do my conveyancing online?
• How do I exchange contracts?
• Completion - what to expect
• Leasehold vs Freehold - what's the difference?
• Leasehold charges - what to know before you buy
• Living in a leasehold house: what to expect
• What is gazumping and how to avoid it
• Buying with a partner of friend - what to watch for
• How much is stamp duty and when should I pay?
• Stamp duty for first time buyers
• Stamp duty for second homes
• Local authority searches explained
• Should I do conveyancing myself?
• Property Ombudsman: making a complaint
• Restrictive Covenants Explained

8 Moving home

• What is the best day to move house?
• Moving House Checklist
• How to find the right removals company
• Finding the right storage company
• Can I take my mortgage with me when I move home?