Buying

The Buying Process

Register with Sullivan Thomas

You can register in three ways: Call us, Register Online or visit one of our offices. Give as much information as possible to our Sales Negotiators so that they can determine exactly what you are looking for.

The Search

We will match properties to the criteria you specify. Full colour brochures with photos and floor plans can be downloaded from our website, emailed to you or sent in the post.

Mortgage

Research the mortgage market and get a mortgage agreed in principle as this will speed up mortgage application. We always recommend that you should speak to an independent financial advisor. We suggest Private Finance.

Viewings

Contact the office to arrange an appointment to view.

Making an Offer

When you wish to make an offer we will discuss this with you. We will put your offer to the seller verbally and in writing at the earliest opportunity. We will ask you about your financial position and any related sale(s). The more accurate information that we are able to put forward the more serious your offer will look.

Sale Agreed

Once the sale has been agreed and the Vendor and Purchaser have instructed the Solicitors, we will write to all parties confirming the details.

Draft Contract

Once the Vendor’s Solicitors receive the title deeds and all supporting documents, they will prepare a draft contract and forward this with the supporting documentation to the Purchaser’s Solicitor.

Local Authority Search

The Purchaser’s Solicitor will obtain local authority searches on the Purchaser’s behalf. They will normally apply for these once they have received funds from you. In order to extradite these, the Purchaser’s Solicitor should be put in funds at the earliest possible opportunity.

Survey

A mortgage lender will normally require that the property being purchased is inspected by one of their appointed valuers. The lender will usually offer the purchaser a choice between a basic valuation report and a valuation report and detailed condition report. Alternatively, if you wish to have a full independent structural survey carried out, you should instruct an independent chartered surveyor.

Exchange Contracts

Most buyers require mortgages. When the mortgage offer has been received in written original copy and the contracts have been approved and completion date agreed, the purchaser is ready to exchange contracts with the seller. Both Purchaser and Vendor need to sign their contracts and instruct their Solicitor to proceed. The Purchaser will also need to sign the mortgage offer; arrange for deposit (which will need to be in cleared funds) to be sent to Solicitor. On exchange of contracts you will need to ensure that satisfactory buildings insurance is in place.

Completion

The completion date will be negotiated prior to exchange of contracts and finalised when exchange takes place. On completion the residual monies (usually 90%) are transferred from the buyers Solicitor to the sellers Solicitors account and once this has taken place, the Purchaser will be given access to the property.