The Buyer's Moving Checklist

Get a mortgage agreement in principle

An agreement (or decision) in principle from a lender or broker shows roughly how much you can borrow and signals to agents that you're a serious buyer. It's usually quick to obtain and worth having before you start making offers.

Confirm your deposit and where it's coming from

Know how much deposit you have and that it's accessible. If any of it is a gift from family, your lender and solicitor will need to evidence its source — sorting that paperwork early avoids a scramble later.

Budget for the full cost of buying, not just the price

Beyond the deposit, factor in your conveyancer's fees, searches, a survey, mortgage and valuation fees, removals, and any Stamp Duty Land Tax that applies to your purchase. A realistic total tells you what you can genuinely afford.

Choose a solicitor or licensed conveyancer

Line one up before you offer so you can instruct the moment a sale is agreed. Ask about fees, who your point of contact will be, and how they prefer to communicate — a responsive conveyancer makes a real difference to the pace of a purchase.

Be clear on your must-haves, your area and your timing

Beds, location, commute, schools, parking, outside space — and how soon you need to move. Knowing what matters most keeps your search focused and helps the agent match you to the right homes quickly.

Register with local agents for property alerts

The best homes often go to registered buyers before they reach the portals. Tell agents exactly what you're looking for so you hear about the right properties early — sometimes days or weeks ahead of the public launch.

View with a considered eye and a second visit

Look beyond the styling: layout, light, storage, the state of the roof, windows and boiler, the road and the neighbours. A second viewing — ideally at a different time of day — often tells you what the first one didn't.

Research the area and the asking price

Check what comparable homes nearby have actually sold for, the local amenities, transport and schools. It helps you judge whether the asking price is fair and gives you a sound basis for your offer.

Make your offer through the agent

Put your offer in clearly, along with your position — your deposit, mortgage agreement in principle, whether you're chain-free, and your timescale. A well-evidenced offer from a ready buyer carries real weight.

Get your offer acceptance confirmed in writing

Once an offer is agreed, ask the agent to confirm it in writing along with what's included and the position of everyone in the chain. In England and Wales this isn't legally binding yet, but it sets out the basis everyone is working to.

Formally instruct your solicitor or conveyancer

Confirm your instruction so they can open the file, send you their initial paperwork and start liaising with the seller's side. The sooner they begin, the sooner you reach exchange.

Submit your full mortgage application

Turn your agreement in principle into a full application with your lender or broker. Provide everything they ask for promptly — payslips, bank statements, ID — as missing documents are a common cause of delay.

Arrange the mortgage valuation and consider your own survey

Your lender will carry out a valuation for mortgage purposes, but that is not a survey of the property's condition. Consider commissioning your own survey — a HomeBuyer report or a fuller building survey for older or unusual homes — so you understand what you're buying.

Let your solicitor order the searches

Local authority, water and drainage, environmental and any other relevant searches reveal issues a viewing never would — planning, flood risk, road schemes and more. They take time to come back, so the earlier they're ordered, the better.

Review the survey and search results with your solicitor

Read whatever the survey and searches flag, and talk through anything that concerns you. If something material comes up, this is the stage to ask questions, seek quotes for any work, or renegotiate before you're committed.

Raise and review enquiries before you proceed

Your solicitor will raise enquiries with the seller's solicitor on anything unclear — boundaries, guarantees, alterations, the lease if it's leasehold. Don't feel rushed to exchange until you're satisfied with the answers.

Confirm your mortgage offer is issued and you're happy with it

Make sure your formal mortgage offer has come through and that you understand its terms and any conditions. Your solicitor needs it in hand before you can exchange.

Agree the fixtures and fittings that are included

Check the seller's fixtures and fittings form so you know exactly what stays and what goes — carpets, curtains, white goods, garden items. Resolve any uncertainty now rather than discovering a gap on moving day.

Arrange buildings insurance from the date of exchange

On most purchases you become responsible for the building at exchange, not completion, and your lender will usually require cover in place from then. Set the policy to start on your exchange date so you're never uninsured.

Make sure your deposit funds are ready to transfer

The deposit (typically a percentage of the price) is paid on exchange. Have the funds in the right account and be aware that bank transfer limits and timing can catch people out — check with your bank ahead of the day.

Read and sign the contract, and understand what exchange means

Once contracts are exchanged you're committed; pulling out afterwards usually means losing your deposit or facing a claim. Make sure you're comfortable with the completion date and terms before you give your solicitor the go-ahead.

Book your removal company and confirm the date

Lock in the firm, the date and the scope — packing, dismantling furniture, and whether they supply boxes. If you're moving yourself, book a van early and start with the rooms you use least.

Set up utilities and broadband at the new address

Arrange gas, electricity and water accounts to start on your completion date, and book your broadband and phone transfer early — installations can take a few weeks, and you'll want to be connected from day one.

Arrange a Royal Mail redirection from your old address

Set up a redirection to catch post you've forgotten to update. It can take a few working days to start, so arrange it ahead of the move rather than on the day itself.

Update your address with everyone who matters

Bank and building society, employer, insurers, the DVLA (licence and V5C), TV Licensing, GP and dentist, subscriptions and loyalty schemes. A quick list now saves a lot of chasing later.

Tell the councils about your move for council tax

Notify your current council so they can close your account, and register with the new council so your council tax starts on the right date at the new home.

Pack an essentials box for the first night

Kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, phone chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools, bin bags and any medication. Keep it with you rather than on the lorry so you're not unpacking at midnight.

Wait for completion to be confirmed before collecting the keys

Keys are usually released through the agent once your solicitor confirms the funds have transferred. Stay reachable on the day — completion times vary — and don't set off until you get the go-ahead.

Take meter readings as you arrive

Photograph the gas, electricity and water meters as you take possession and send the readings to your suppliers. It marks the point your responsibility begins and avoids paying for the previous owner's usage.

Check the property is as expected

Confirm the fixtures and fittings you agreed are present and the home is in the condition you'd expect. Flag anything significant to the agent or your solicitor promptly.

Locate the stopcock, fuse board, meters and isolation valves

Find the water stopcock, the consumer unit, the meters and how the heating works — ideally before you need any of them in a hurry. Knowing where everything is heads off a lot of early stress.

Direct the removals and tackle the essentials first

Get beds assembled, the kettle found and the bathroom usable before anything else. The rest can wait — a working bed and a cup of tea make the first night in a new home far more bearable.

Confirm your council tax account at the new address

If you haven't already, register with the local council so your first bill is correct from the start and you're paying the right band.

Register with a local GP, dentist and optician

Sorting this before you need it is far easier than in a hurry. If you've moved out of area, you'll usually need to register afresh rather than stay with your old practice.

Update the electoral roll and your driving licence

Register to vote at your new address — it also supports your credit profile — and tell the DVLA your new address for both your licence and your vehicle log book (V5C). The DVLA updates are free, and out-of-date details can mean a fine.

Check the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work

Test every alarm and replace any that are missing or dead. It's a five-minute job that's easy to forget in the chaos of moving in, and an important one.

Note any snagging — especially on a new-build

Keep a list of anything that needs putting right. On a new-build home there's usually a defined process and warranty period for reporting snags to the developer, so record issues and report them within the timeframe.

Introduce yourself to the neighbours

A friendly hello early on is the start of feeling settled — and neighbours are often the best source of local knowledge about bin days, parking and the area.