Quite possibly the worst thing about moving house is the fact that sometimes it can take so long for the whole process to complete, and is therefore very stressful and frustrating for buyers and sellers alike. Here at Bromley Property Company, we pride ourselves on the fact that we do our utmost to keep the process moving, and are in constant contact with everyone in a chain, and are therefore able to update our clients with what’s going on.
However, what we will say to our clients is that everyone needs to do their bit, and there are definitely ways in which you can help to speed up the buying process in 2022 – here are our top tips for a speedy purchase or sale…
Consider selling your property before buying
If you already own your own home, consider selling it and potentially renting somewhere/living with family, before you start hunting for a new one. Being chain-free puts you in a strong position when it comes to purchasing your next home, and will shorten any potential chain, hopefully therefore making your move quicker.
Make sure you’re in a strong financial position
Before you start house hunting, have a chat with a mortgage advisor to confirm your budget and get an agreement in principle. By doing this, you can then realistically decide what properties are within your budget before you start viewing them. Once you’ve found your home and had an offer accepted, you will then have to formally apply for a mortgage, and you can get the ball rolling quicker if you have all the relevant paperwork organised beforehand. Mortgage lenders will ask for proof of your income and outgoings, as well as proof of your identity and address, so make sure you have all this to hand. Don’t forget that a formal mortgage offer has a shelf life, and if you fail to complete on your chosen property before it expires, you’ll have to start the process all over again- definitely something to avoid!
Make sure that you’re organised and responsive
One of the things that tends to cause delays, is buyers and sellers who just aren’t organised. Ensure that you’re ready to review, fill out, sign and return all documents quickly and efficiently, and keep in regular touch with your solicitor to make sure that they have everything that they need. Sitting on any paperwork will only hold up the process, and slow your house buying process down.
Communicate, communicate, communicate!
We find that this tends to go hand-in-hand with being organised! Stay in regular contact with both your solicitor and your estate agent, and make sure that you return any calls. A weekly update between all parties can be useful, and will diminish the chances of miscommunication over what’s going on with the chain at any given time.
Discuss a timescale, but be realistic
You might be the most organised person in the world, with a very small chain, but it still pays to be realistic when it comes to buying or selling a property. You can talk to your estate agent and solicitor about setting a target for exchanging contracts so that everyone in the process has the same deadline to work towards. This can always be amended between exchange and completion if you and/or the seller needs to delay moving, but it’s good to have an idea of when you’ll be setting foot in your dream home….
