How to offer on a house

Making an offer on a house in the UK involves several steps, and it’s important to approach the process with preparation and care. Here’s a detailed guide on how to make an offer on a house:

Research the Market

Understand Prices: Research similar properties in the area to understand market prices.
Property History: Check the history of the property, including how long it has been on the market and any price reductions.

Get Your Finances in Order

Mortgage in Principle: Obtain a mortgage agreement in principle to show you are a serious buyer with financing in place.
Deposit: Ensure you have a deposit ready, typically at least 5-10% of the property price.

Decide on Your Offer Price

Initial Offer: Determine a reasonable initial offer based on your research, the condition of the property, and your budget.
Negotiation Margin: Consider leaving room for negotiation but be realistic to avoid offending the seller.

Make the Offer

Contact the Estate Agent: Communicate your offer to the estate agent handling the property. This can be done via phone, email, or in person.
Written Offer: Follow up with a written offer to formalise your intentions. Include details such as the offer price, any conditions, and your position as a buyer (e.g., first-time buyer, chain-free).

Highlight Your Position

Strong Position: Emphasise any factors that make you an attractive buyer, such as being chain-free, having a mortgage in principle, or being a cash buyer.
Flexibility: Mention any flexibility you have regarding completion dates or other terms that could appeal to the seller.

Be Prepared to Negotiate

Counter offers: Be ready for counter offers from the seller. Decide in advance your maximum budget and stick to it.
Negotiation Strategy: Remain calm and polite during negotiations. Clearly explain your reasoning if you need to adjust your offer.

Confirm the Offer in Writing

Formal Confirmation: Once an agreement is reached, confirm the agreed offer in writing through the estate agent.
Solicitors: Provide details of your solicitor who will handle the legal aspects of the purchase.

Offer Acceptance

Subject to Contract: Understand that an accepted offer is “subject to contract” and not legally binding until contracts are exchanged.
Further Steps: Once your offer is accepted, the estate agent will mark the property as “sold subject to contract” (SSTC).

Survey and Legal Checks

Property Survey: Arrange for a survey to assess the property’s condition.
Legal Searches: Your solicitor will conduct necessary searches and checks.

Exchange Contracts and Complete

Exchange Contracts: Once all checks are satisfactory, you will exchange contracts and pay a deposit, making the agreement legally binding.
Completion: On the completion date, the remaining funds are transferred, and you receive the keys to your new home.

Key Tips

Communication: Maintain clear and frequent communication with the estate agent and your solicitor throughout the process.
Documentation: Keep all documents and correspondence organised.
Professional Advice: Seek advice from professionals, such as your solicitor and mortgage advisor, to ensure a smooth transaction.

By following these steps and being prepared, you can navigate the process of making an offer on a house in the UK effectively.

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We recently helped our daughter buy her first flat and Tom and Liza Donnelly were incredibly helpful throughout. It was a long process through no fault of theirs and they were both always readily available to help with good humoured and useful advice.

Nick Phillips

Absolutly incredible from start to finish, moving house is ment to be stressful but when you work with a professional like Tom. They take the stress away, we sold out house for what we wanted, even in a tough market.

Scott Lowther

Tom and Lisa recently helped me sell a rental property in Pudsey. They were both a pleasure to deal with throughout the process. Their advice was excellent, there was no hard sell or false expectations and their communication was brilliant. The service was multiple levels better than that we received from a regular 'high street agent' during a previous sale. I highly recommend them and look forward to working with them again in the future.

Andy Norman

Tom was our first estate agent while looking for our first home and, in short, he has set the bar exceptionally high. We were always greeted with detailed documentation and a big smile! He is extremely knowledgeable of the properties and areas. You can tell he puts in a lot of effort to get to know the sellers and their property based on the information on the neighbourhood and community, and getting to know us as buyers.
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Jessica Mowatt

My son recently purchased his first property through Tom Donnelly Estate Agency. It was an amazing service with step by step help for the first time buyers. Any queries or issues that arose was immediately dealt with very efficiently and with fantastic communication. I would highly recommend Tom and his sister Liza, as they made the whole process happen very smoothly and very quickly. They make a fabulous duo and would not hesitate to use them again. Thankyou so much to both of you for all your help.

Kathleen Heyhoe

Dealing with Tom has been a pleasure. From beginning to end, he did an excellent job at selling our home. He is highly professional, has excellent knowledge of the housing market, and goes the extra mile to work for the best result and experience for his clients.
We first met Tom when viewing a property and we were impressed by his friendly, personable and professional nature. It was great to deal with an estate agent who actually knew about the home and the position of the sellers.

Lucy and Stephen

I had the pleasure of working with Tom and Liz at Tom Donnelly Estates while purchasing my first house, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. In a market filled with slow, mismanaged, and unrealistic estate agents, Tom Donnelly Estates stand out for all the right reasons.
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