Buying your first home is a major life milestone — but for many, it can feel like stepping into a maze.
Between working out your finances, viewing potential homes, navigating legal paperwork, and understanding the timeline, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
First-time buyers often face a steep learning curve, especially in today’s fast-paced property market.
That’s why having a clear, step-by-step checklist is essential. This guide will walk you through every stage of the home-buying journey — from your first budget calculation to unlocking the front door to your new home.
🏦 1. Understand your affordability
The first step is understanding what you can afford to spend on your first home.
This includes not just the purchase price but also the additional costs that often surprise buyers, like legal fees, survey costs, and Stamp Duty.
Use trusted mortgage calculators from banks or platforms like MoneySavingExpert to work out your borrowing capacity and monthly repayment options.
Factor in your income, credit score, current debts, and monthly expenses.
💡 Pro tip: The larger your deposit (typically 10% or more), the better mortgage deals you may be eligible for — and the lower your monthly repayments are likely to be.
📄 2. Get a mortgage agreement in principle
A Mortgage Agreement in Principle (AIP) is a statement from a lender showing how much they’re likely to lend you, based on a soft credit check and the information you’ve provided.
While it’s not a full mortgage offer, having an AIP in hand gives sellers and estate agents confidence that you’re a serious buyer. In fact, many estate agents won’t allow you to make an offer without one.
An AIP also helps you refine your property search by setting a clear budget limit, saving you time and helping avoid disappointment later on.
🏡 3. Start your property search
Now that you know your budget, the fun begins — searching for your future home.
You can start online by browsing platforms such as Rightmove, Zoopla, and OnTheMarket. But don’t rely solely on property portals.
Register with local estate agents and sign up for alerts so you can hear about new listings before they hit the market.
Reputable national agencies like Belvoir also provide area-specific knowledge and personalised support, making them a great starting point if you’re unfamiliar with local property trends.
Think carefully about what you’re looking for — location, transport links, number of bedrooms, garden space — and be flexible where you can.
📝 4. Make an offer and instruct a conveyancer
Once you’ve found the right property, you’ll need to make an offer through the estate agent. If the seller accepts, you’ll move on to the legal side of things.
At this stage, it’s important to instruct a solicitor or licensed conveyancer.
They’ll handle all the legal work, such as reviewing contracts, conducting property searches, liaising with the seller’s solicitor, and managing the exchange and completion process.
Make sure your conveyancer is responsive and experienced. A lack of communication between solicitors is one of the biggest causes of delays in the home-buying process.
🧾 5. Get a property survey done
A survey isn’t mandatory, but it’s strongly recommended — especially if you’re buying an older or unusual property.
There are different types of surveys depending on the age and condition of the property:
- A HomeBuyer Report is suitable for modern, well-maintained homes
- A Building Survey (also called a full structural survey) is ideal for older or larger properties
Surveys help identify potential problems such as damp, structural movement, or roofing issues.
If any major defects are found, you may need to renegotiate the price, or decide not to proceed.
🔑 6. Exchange contracts and complete the purchase
Once your conveyancer is satisfied with the legal checks and your mortgage offer is confirmed, you’re ready to exchange contracts.
This is the point at which the sale becomes legally binding. You’ll pay your deposit (usually 5–10% of the property price) and agree on a completion date, usually 1 to 2 weeks later.
On completion day, the remaining funds are transferred to the seller, and you’ll receive the keys to your new home.
🗓️ Want a full timeline?
Still wondering how long the entire process takes? From initial search to completion, buying your first home typically takes 8 to 22 weeks, depending on factors like chain delays, mortgage approvals, and solicitor responsiveness.
Check out this detailed guide on how long it takes to buy a house in the UK for a full stage-by-stage breakdown.
Final thoughts
Buying your first home is a rewarding journey — and one that becomes far less daunting with the right preparation.
By following this checklist and working with experienced professionals, you can take control of the process and avoid common setbacks.
From budgeting and mortgage planning to legal steps and completion day, each stage brings you closer to owning your place. And remember — you’re not alone.
Agencies like Belvoir and the wealth of online property tools available today make the first-time buyer experience more accessible than ever.
