Buying your first home: what happens from start to finish?

Last reviewed: October 2026

Buying a home is easiest to understand as a sequence: set a realistic budget, get financially ready, define your search, find and view homes, make an offer, progress mortgage and legal work, arrange a survey, resolve issues, exchange contracts and complete.

This guide covers the current buying process in England and Wales. Rules and taxes differ elsewhere in the UK, and individual transactions vary.

1. Work out a realistic total budget

Start with more than the maximum purchase price.

• Deposit available.
• Comfortable mortgage payment and likely borrowing.
• Mortgage product or arrangement fees.
• Solicitor/conveyancer fees and searches.
• Property survey.
• Any applicable property tax.
• Removals and moving costs.
• Insurance.
• Immediate repairs, furniture and emergency buffer.
• Ongoing costs such as Council Tax, utilities and relevant service charges.

2. Get financially ready for the search

If you need a mortgage, gather the information lenders commonly ask for, such as proof of identity, income, bank statements and evidence of your deposit. It is often useful to obtain an Agreement in Principle (also called a Mortgage in Principle or Decision in Principle) before becoming serious about offers. It is an indication, not a final mortgage offer. Do not treat the maximum figure as a spending target.

3. Define what you are actually looking for

• Target locations and flexibility.
• Minimum and ideal bedrooms.
• Workable budget range.
• Genuine must-haves.
• Nice-to-haves.
• Deal-breakers.
• Commute/travel constraints.
• Desired moving timescale.

Where EarlyDoors fits

With EarlyDoors, you tell Scout your requirements and buying position, review the structured Buyer Brief it creates, and choose relevant local estate agents to receive it. You can update the Brief as your search changes. This reduces repeated registration without promising that an agent will have a suitable property or contact you before a portal listing.

4. Search portals and register with relevant estate agents

Online portals are an important way to find homes, but local estate agents are another useful channel. Registering clear, current requirements means a branch has your search details if something potentially relevant comes onto its books. Keep budget, locations and buying position up to date.

5. View properties systematically

Record consistent notes on layout, light, noise, storage, location, running-cost questions, visible maintenance issues and leasehold information. If you like a property, consider a second viewing at a different time. A mortgage valuation is not the same as an independent home survey.

6. Make an offer

Offers are usually made through the estate agent. Consider comparable value and your ceiling, condition, what is included, lease length if relevant, your buying position and timing. In England and Wales an accepted offer is generally not legally binding until exchange of contracts.

7. Instruct a solicitor or conveyancer

Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer handles the legal transfer, commonly including contracts, searches, legal enquiries, Land Registry matters and transfer of purchase funds. Compare more than the headline fee and ask whether likely disbursements are included and whether the firm is approved by your intended lender.

8. Submit the full mortgage application

An Agreement in Principle is not a final mortgage offer. After a property is agreed, you normally progress the full application for that specific purchase. The lender assesses the application and arranges a mortgage valuation.

9. Arrange the right survey

A lender's valuation is for lending purposes and should not be relied on as a condition survey. RICS Home Surveys are structured at three levels. The appropriate choice depends on age, size, condition and complexity.

10. Conveyancing, searches and enquiries

Your conveyancer reviews legal information, usually orders searches, raises enquiries with the seller's solicitor and reports issues requiring your decision. Keep in contact and answer requests promptly.

11. Receive your mortgage offer and resolve outstanding issues

• Survey results.
• Conveyancer's report and searches.
• Final mortgage offer.
• Fixtures and fittings.
• Completion timing.
• Any unresolved legal or practical issues.

12. Exchange contracts

Exchange is the major legal commitment point in the current England and Wales process. Before exchange, ensure surveys and searches are complete, the mortgage offer is in writing, deposit funds are ready, and completion date and included items are agreed. Once contracts are exchanged, withdrawing can have serious financial consequences.

13. Completion and moving day

On completion day, your conveyancer transfers the purchase money to the seller's solicitor. Once completion is confirmed, the estate agent can normally release the keys. Your conveyancer also deals with relevant post-completion legal work such as registration.

How long does buying a home take?

Current GOV.UK guidance gives about five months on average and notes chains can make it longer. Treat this as a broad benchmark rather than a promise.

2026 editorial note

The UK Government announced homebuying reforms in June 2026 aimed at making information available earlier, digitalising more of the process and reducing fall-throughs and delays. This article describes the process as it currently works.