Step one: Seek advice from a Mortgage Talk adviser to determine your borrowing capacity and to review the costs involved in purchasing a house. It is quite possible to obtain an agreement in principle from the lenders at this stage so that you can commence house hunting safe in the knowledge that a mortgage has been agreed in principle.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Mortgage Talk's standard fee for arranging a mortgage for a Blundells customer is £499.  However a full menu of fee options are available on request.  Please talk to your adviser for further details.

The name of your solicitor will be needed at this stage so its a good idea to obtain quotes before starting the house buying process. Blundells Conveyancing are delighted to recommend one and obtain free no obligation quotes on your behalf. A good solicitor can make all the difference to the home-buying process and help everything go smoothly.

Step two: Speak to your mortgage adviser and finalize the mortgage application and any suitable protection policies. Having already had an agreement in principle can speed this part of the process up considerably. The Lender will make all the necessary checks; employer; credit; etc as appropriate for the type of mortgage being applied for. Once satisfied they will instruct the valuation report through an approved surveyor. Remember you may want to commission a homebuyers report or full structural survey depending on the age and type of property you intend buying.

Step three: If you have not already done so instruct your solicitor to work for you, and provide them with full property details.

Step four: Valuation report arrives with the Lender. Note: If the valuation report highlights work that is required the lender may agree the mortgage subject to conditions ie:, work needed on the property. If work is needed, get at least two quotes for every job. Our fully trained negotiators will then speak to all parties and suggest a suitable outcome and progress the sale.

Step five: Solicitor carries out searches, for example, to check that the seller actually owns the property or to make sure there are no new road plans that could affect your proposed new home.

Step six: The mortgage lender will issue the mortgage offer - a copy to you and a copy to your solicitor. The Mortgage Offer sets out the terms and conditions that will apply to the Mortgage Contract. The solicitor will also receive a legal pack from the Lender. The legal pack contains full instructions about how your solicitor should meet the Lenders completion requirements. This pack includes items such as the form of undertaking, which your solicitor is required to give the Lender, a copy of the deed of mortgage and charge, loan advance requisition form etc.

If all is in order, your solicitor will draw up and send you the legal paperwork to sign and return along with the deposit as applicable.

Step seven: The solicitors will exchange contracts with the sellers solicitor, and advise you of the expected completion date. You are now legally committed to the purchase. You should speak with your Mortgage Adviser to ensure that all necessary insurance’s are in place and placed ‘On Risk’.

Step eight: Start planning the move. Pre-packing can relieve the stress on the day. Book removals in plenty of time.

Step nine: On completion day, call the seller’s estate agent to arrange picking up the key.

Step ten: Pick up the keys and move in!

[Mortgage Talk's Approval Number is H97694]