Buyers Guide

Before you begin your property search, it is advisable to arrange your finances and, if required, have a mortgage agreed in principle. This will confirm how much money you will have to fund the purchase, which will ultimately influence your property search. We would be delighted to recommend our in house independent brokers.

The first step to finding the right property is to register with Shaw & Co by calling, or visiting one of our offices, where you can discuss your property requirements with one of our agents. Once we have a clear understanding of your requirements you will receive a selection of properties that match your criteria. Our agents can also keep you constantly up-to-date via email and SMS alerts when the latest properties become available.

All viewings are accompanied with a Shaw & Co trained member of staff ensuring you are given all the details of the property and the local area.

Once you have identified a suitable property we will require you to speak with our in house FS advisors (unless already done in step 1) before putting your offer forward to the seller. This will ensure we get as much information from you as possible to put your offer forward to our client in the best light at possible.

Once your offer is accepted we will do the following:

• Prepare a memorandum of sale
• Write to all parties to confirm the agreed price
• Ask you to confirm your solicitor's and mortgage broker's details

You will now need to instruct your solicitor to proceed with the conveyancing process and your mortgage broker to proceed with your application.

As part of the conveyancing process your solicitor will do the following:

• Raise any enquiries on receipt of the draft contract from the seller's solicitor
• Request their own local searches
• Refer to the information already provided in the seller's Home Information Pack
• Agree on a date for exchange of contracts

We will assist your solicitor and negotiate throughout the process, keeping you informed every step of the way.

A survey of the property will be booked by a surveyor on behalf of the mortgage lender to identify any structural problems and advise on the property's value.
After the mortgage valuation report is received, a formal mortgage offer will be sent to you and your solicitor which you will need to sign before it is returned.

Exchange of contracts occurs when all enquiries have been confirmed and agreed.
Once the contract has been signed by both parties the deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price) will be telegraphically transferred or paid in the form of a banker's draft from your solicitor to the seller's solicitor.
The completion date is then set by mutual agreement.

Completion is when the funds are transferred from your solicitor to the seller's solicitor's account. We will release the keys once the money has cleared in the seller's account.
Congratulations, you are now the legal owner of your new home!