Choose a solicitor

You need a solicitor to help you buy your home and the best way to choose one is to get some personal recommendations, so ask friends and family. Your solicitor carries out the conveyancing which is the legal process of transferring a property from one person to another. Your solicitor also has a duty to protect your interests so they will investigate the legal aspects of the property such as the property boundaries and what exactly is included in the sale.

Your solicitor will carry out a ‘search’ to determine, for example, whether someone has gained planning permission to build something in close proximity to your home which could undermine the value of your property.

They will also advise you about and handle the offer you make to the sellers and then make sure the sale is completed once contracts are exchanged. Most solicitors will charge a fixed fee and it is usually a percentage of the agreed sale price. It is useful to agree the fee in advance and check whether items like Land Registry Fees and local searches are included.

Mortage IQ are happy to recommend a firm of solicitors, with good track record for speedy service at competitive prices.

Have the property surveyed

A survey is designed to give you a good idea of the property's condition and value. There are different types of survey, from a simple valuation indicating how much the property is worth, to a full structural survey. We will obtain a valuation of the property you wish to buy but depending on the age of the property you may want to pay for a full structural survey. It is always worth spending as much as you can afford to get the most thorough survey which will highlight any potential problems such as dry rot and damp. If problems do come to light, you are within your rights to withdraw your offer.

If you need to withdraw your offer due to problems with the property, you cannot get a refund on your survey. However, it is always worth spending a little money now, to prevent spending thousands in the future.

First time buyer Northern Ireland - A person who has not previously bought or built a house and who is purchasing the property as their principal place of residence.

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