Buying a house: understand the costs, checks and decisions
Buying a home combines financial, legal and building-related decisions. These tools and guides help you prepare questions, estimate costs and understand what still needs confirmation from your lender, conveyancer, surveyor or another qualified professional.
Work from an all-in budget
The deposit is only one part of the buying budget. Consider property tax, conveyancing and searches, a suitable survey, mortgage or broker fees, insurance, removals and a contingency for immediate repairs or setup costs.
Mortgage and tax calculators are illustrations based on the figures entered. Check the current official rules and obtain regulated mortgage advice where you need a recommendation.
Investigate the property, not just the asking price
View more than once where possible and ask about alterations, services, boundaries, tenure, charges and known defects. Your conveyancer investigates legal title and searches; a mortgage valuation is for the lender and is not a condition survey for you.
Choose inspection and advice that reflect the age, type, condition and complexity of the property. Follow up material survey findings before you become legally committed.
Keep the transaction moving clearly
Record outstanding enquiries, finance conditions, survey follow-ups, insurance requirements and proposed dates. Do not treat a hoped-for completion date as fixed until your conveyancer confirms the legal position.
Totally Moving can help organise information and tasks, but your appointed professionals remain responsible for advice within their regulated or professional scope.