A Guide to buying

Buying a property, especially if you are a ‘first time buyer’, can sometimes be a very daunting and stressful experience. That’s why here at Starkey & Brown we are always available to guide you through the process and answer any questions that you may have to help make the whole transaction as smooth and stress-free as possible. If there is any aspect of moving home that you are unsure of then all you need to do is call us and we will always be at hand to help, 7 days a week.

We are able to offer you properties in all prices brackets, new and second hand homes, and ranging from 1 bedroom flats to 7 bedroom detached houses!! Just let us know what kind of property you are looking for and we will do our very best to find it for you!!

Not only are we able to help you find the ideal property, we can help you with mortgage advice, and we can also help you to shop around for a local solicitor.


If you are thinking of moving, you should consider the following steps:

Mortgage Advice – Arrange an appointment with our advisor who will recommend what kind of property you can afford, what kind of deposit you will require, and what the monthly repayments are likely to be.

Register on our mailing list - Now you have seen our mortgage adviser and you are confident of your affordability, we can start searching for that perfect property! Our staff will discuss your property requirements to include location, number of bedrooms, parking, garden size etc, and guide you through our selection of properties to see which might be most suitable. If we cannot find you a property there and then, we will keep you up to speed with any properties that come onto the market, by email or by telephone – the choice is yours.

Arrange to view some properties – Once you have narrowed down which properties may be of interest, all you have to do is ask a member of staff who would be more than happy to arrange for you to see these properties, at a convenient time for yourself.

Make an offer – You have seen a property which you would like to buy – what next? Make an offer. A simple phone call or visit to our office will suffice, and we will be able to usually find out that same day whether or not your offer is acceptable. If your offer isn’t acceptable, we will get back to you as soon as possible to let you know what kind of offer our vendor would be willing to accept.

Mortgage Application & Choosing a solicitor – As soon your offer has been accepted, you will need to choose solicitor. The solicitor (also known as a conveyancer – a solicitor who deals in property) will carry out all the legal work involved with purchasing the property for you. Additionally, our mortgage adviser will guide you through applying for the mortgage, and all the associated insurances available to protect you and your new home.

Survey – As part of your mortgage application, the lender will usually carry out a survey of the property you are buying to ensure that it is satisfactory order, and to confirm that the price you have agreed to pay is in line with the current market value.

Exchange of contracts – Once you have received your mortgage offer, and your survey has been carried out, and your solicitor has carried out all of his/her legal work, you are ready to sign your contract! Once this is signed your solicitor will liaise with the seller’s solicitor to confirm a ‘moving in’ date and swap, or exchange contracts. This is the point where the transaction becomes legally binding – the seller is legally bound to sell you the property, and you are legally bound to buy it.

If there are any aspects of buying that you are unsure of then please let us know and we can run you through it!! We are here to help!!