Buying A Home

At C&D Properties, we recognise the fact that the purchase of your property, be it a home or commercial building can be one of the most important and expensive transactions you are likely to undergo.

Our database features numerous properties and we are sure that with our local knowledge and expertise, we will be able to find you a property to suit your needs, be it a straightforward move, ‘Buy to Let’ investment or commercial building.

To enable you to unravel the complexities of buying your home, we have set out below an overview of the various procedures involved:

REGISTRATION
Firstly, you will need to register your details and property specification requirements with us.  This can be done with by email, phone, in person at our Tithebarn Street branch.
This will give us an insight into your personal requirements and allow us to review our database of properties and supply you with the details of the most appropriate we currently have available.
Once registered, you are then in a position to receive details from us directly in person, by phone or email.

VIEWING
Our friendly team are available to arrange viewings of your selected properties. Please contact us to arrange a convenient time.

MORTGAGE
To ensure a speedy buying process, it is advisable wherever possible; to get a mortgage agreed in principle before any final decision on your new property is made.
This provides you with a clear indication of what is affordable to help narrow your search and the fact that you have a mortgage agreed in principle can be very attractive to potential sellers.

MAKING YOUR OFFER
Once you have chosen your preferred property and provided C&D Properties with your offer.  We will then submit it to the vendor for their consideration. This is done both verbally and in writing.
NB: Please note that all offers are “subject to contract” and therefore neither party is legally bound until the contract is actually signed.

ACCEPTED OFFER / INSTRUCTING SOLICITORS
Once your offer has been accepted by the vendor, you should instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf. Your solicitor will handle all legal requirements of your purchase (property conveyancing).
At this point, you will also need to formally proceed with your mortgage application and instruct your mortgage lender / broker accordingly.

SURVEY
The next step is to obtain an official Mortgage Valuation, which is required by law. This will need to be conducted by a Chartered Surveyor acting for your Lender. The valuation report will determine whether the amount to be loaned is secure and also deals with the basic condition of the property.
As the buyer you are also provided with a copy.  This allows both parties to evaluate the findings prior to entering into a commitment to purchase.

SEARCHES
These will be conducted by the buyers appointed solicitor who submits a local authority search to the local borough council. The purpose of which is to ascertain if there is any planning consented previously granted on the property or if there are any other local issues which may have an impact on the purchase. In some instances, the search may also include an Environmental and Drainage search.

DRAFT CONTRACTS
A draft contract will be drawn up by the seller’s solicitor and forwarded to the buyer’s solicitor for consideration. Any further queries or questions will be asked and answered at this time, and the contract amended accordingly; this will then be subject to final approval.

MORTGAGE OFFER
Once the Lender is in possession of the following items and confirmed that all references and checks has been conducted satisfactorily and subject to the findings of the report; they will send a formal mortgage offer to the buyer and their appointed solicitor.

• Mortgage Valuation survey (additional surveys engaged by the purchaser)
• Receipt and approval of the mortgage application

EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS
Once the contract has been signed by both parties, a deposit (normally a small percentage of the purchase price) is paid by either bank transfer or banker’s draft.

It is at this stage that both seller and buyer will agree on a date for completion.

COMPLETION
The completion of any sale will usually follow a few days or weeks after exchange of contracts. The balance of the purchase price is transferred by the buyer’s solicitor to the seller’s solicitor and the keys released to the property.