Buying a home, made simple.

1. Get Financially Ready (Before You Start Viewing)

Before booking viewings, it’s essential to have your finances in place. That means arranging a Mortgage Agreement in Principle (AIP) and ensuring you have funds ready for your deposit and related costs like solicitor fees, surveys, and stamp duty.

If you haven’t yet spoken to a broker, we strongly recommend you do so. A whole-of-market broker can often find better rates than your bank. Why not check out our page on Mortgage Advice.

You should also line up a solicitor early, so they’re ready to act the moment you have an offer accepted. Why not check out our page on Recommended Solicitors.

2. Start Your Search

Once your finances are sorted, register with us so we can alert you to properties that match your criteria often before they appear on Rightmove Zoopla or OntheMarket.com.

We’ll take time to understand your needs, budget, and preferred areas across South West London, and can help you shortlist properties worth viewing.

3. Viewings & Making an Offer

When you find a property you love, we’ll guide you through making a realistic, well-positioned offer based on comparable sales and market data.

Our team will communicate clearly with both you and the seller to negotiate the best outcome, ensuring your offer is taken seriously and properly presented.

4. Offer Accepted (Week 1)

Once your offer is accepted, we’ll carry out buyer verification checks, confirming ID, proof of funds, and solicitor details and then issue a Memorandum of Sale to all parties.

This document formally confirms the sale details and signals the start of the legal process.

5. Conveyancing & Mortgage Application (Weeks 2–6)

Your solicitor will review the draft contract, conduct searches, and raise any enquiries with the seller’s solicitor. At the same time, your mortgage broker will finalise your full mortgage application and arrange a lender valuation survey.

If you’d like additional reassurance, you can book an independent RICS Homebuyer Survey, which we can help arrange.

6. Survey Results & Mortgage Offer (Weeks 4–8)

Once your valuation and survey reports are back, you’ll receive your formal mortgage offer.
Your solicitor will review all findings and ensure there are no legal or structural concerns before proceeding.

We’ll stay in touch with both sides to keep everything moving smoothly.

7. Exchange of Contracts (Around Week 10–12)

Once all enquiries are satisfied and your mortgage is in place, both solicitors will arrange the exchange of contracts. At this stage, you’ll pay your deposit (usually 10%), and the completion date will be fixed.

The purchase now becomes legally binding and your new home is almost yours!

8. Completion Day (Typically Week 12–14)

On completion day, your solicitor transfers the remaining funds to the seller’s solicitor.
Once received, we’ll hand over your keys and congratulate you on becoming the proud new owner of your South London home.

9. After You’ve Moved In

Even after completion, we’re still here for you. Whether you need trusted contacts for removals, decorators, or property management advice for a buy-to-let investment, Samuel Estates is just a call away.