Buying your first home can be very exciting, and also a little bit overwhelming. One minute you are scrolling through property listings imagining what colour you would decorate the lounge, and the next you are hearing phrases like ‘local searches’, ‘mortgage offer’ and ‘AML checks’ as if everyone knows something you don’t. The good news is that you are not alone. When purchasing your first home, there are a team of professionals who are on hand to guide you through the process. Understanding who plays what role can make the journey feel much less daunting and help you to know who to contact when you have questions.

The Estate Agent

This is often the first professional that you will encounter during your home buying journey. Their main role is to market the property on behalf of the seller and assist with facilitating the sale. They will arrange viewings, negotiate offers and act as the point of contact between you as the buyer and the seller throughout the transaction. In many ways they are like a ‘matchmaker’, and their job is to introduce you to your future home.

What they do:

• Arrange property viewings.
• Answer questions about the property.
• Negotiate offers between the buyer and seller.
• Assist with coordinating communication between parties.
• Monitor progress once the sale has been agreed.

What they do not do:

• Provide legal advice.
• Carry out property searches.
• Review legal documents.
• Check the condition of the property.

One common misconception from first-time buyers is that estate agents work for everyone. However, agents are instructed by the sellers and, therefore, whilst it does not mean they will be unhelpful, it’s important to remember that their primary duty is to the seller.

The Mortgage Broker

Unless you are a cash buyer, you are likely going to need a mortgage. Mortgage products can be confusing, and understanding your options and finding a mortgage product that suits your circumstances is the role of the mortgage broker. They will help steer you through the mortgage market and explain the route ahead.

What they do:

• Assess your borrowing capacity.
• Explain available mortgage products.
• Help identify suitable lenders.
• Submit mortgage applications.
• Liaise with lenders during the process.

What they do not do:

• Provide legal advice.
• Conduct surveys.
• Carry out conveyancing.

A mortgage broker can help identify overall costs and affordability at the early stages, saving valuable time later in the process.

The Surveyor

You may have found your dream first home, but is it as perfect as it seems? This is where the surveyor comes in. The surveyor’s role is to inspect the property and identify any visible defects, structural issues or areas of the property that may require attention. While you may have been focused on the beautiful new kitchen or garden space, the surveyor is looking for signs of damp, movement, roof problems or other issues that could be costly to fix.

What the surveyor does:

• Inspects the physical condition of the property.
• Identifies visible defects.
• Highlights maintenance concerns.
• Provides recommendations for further investigation.
• Produces a survey report.

What they do not do:

• Carry out legal checks.
• Investigate title issues.
• Arrange mortgages.

Many first-time buyers assume that their mortgage lender’s valuation is the same as a property survey, but it’s not. A mortgage valuation is carried out primarily for the lender’s benefit to confirm that the property’s value is good security for the loan. A survey is carried out for your benefit and provides you with much more detailed information about the condition of the property.

The Conveyancer

Our role is to handle the legal work and deal with the actual transfer of ownership of the property from buyer to seller. This process is known as conveyancing. Behind the scenes, we are carrying out numerous checks and investigations to ensure that the property can be safely purchased and that there are no hidden legal issues waiting to cause problems later.

What we do:

• Review the contract pack.
• Carry out property searches.
• Raise enquiries with the seller’s solicitors.
• Report to you on your mortgage and the legal aspects of the property.
• Liaise with your mortgage lender.
• Exchange contracts.
• Register your ownership following completion.

Much of our work takes place behind the scenes, which is why buyers sometimes wonder what is happening during the quieter periods of a transaction. In reality, we are investigating and communicating with various parties to ensure everything is in order before you are legally committed to purchase the property.

How We All Work Together

Although, as professionals, we all have a different role to play, we are all contributing towards the same goal: helping you successfully purchase your new home! The estate agent helps keep communication flowing. The mortgage broker secures the finance. The surveyor assesses the property’s condition, and the conveyancer ensures the transaction is legally sound. Together, we help turn the endless scrolling for your dream home into reality!

Buying your first home can sometimes feel like a daunting experience. The process involves multiple professionals, unfamiliar terminology and plenty of paperwork. However, once you understand who does what throughout the journey, it becomes much easier to follow. There is no such thing as a silly question when buying your first home. We are all here to guide you through the different aspects of the transaction and help you make informed decisions.

Once the process is completed and you’re standing in front of your new home taking that exciting picture holding your set of keys, that moment makes all the paperwork worthwhile!