Buyer guides
Buyer guides
Simple guides to help first-time buyers understand the process and make better decisions.
Looking for a full plan, not just guides? The Buyer Planner brings your research into one view.
Start here
The two pillar guides
Two long-form guides covering the complete journey and the complete cost picture. Read these first.
First-time buyer guide
The complete journey — save, plan, find, offer, buy and move in. Best first read if you're just getting started.
Read guide →Cost guideHow much does buying a house cost?
Deposit, stamp duty, solicitor, survey, moving and monthly costs — every line first-time buyers should plan for.
Read guide →Browse guides by stage
Pick the stage you’re in — or search across every guide.
Save and plan
Build the deposit, plan the monthly cost, map the move-in budget.
How much deposit do you really need?
Understand what a deposit is, how it affects your options, and what else you may need to budget for.
What costs should you budget for each month?
Look beyond the mortgage payment and plan for the real monthly cost of owning your first home.
What are the upfront costs of moving in?
Plan for one-off costs like legal fees, surveys, removals and the extras buyers often miss.
How ready are you to buy?
Work out whether you are close to buying or whether a few key areas still need attention first.
How much does buying a house cost?
The full cost of buying — deposit, stamp duty, solicitor, survey, moving and monthly costs — with worked example.
Search and compare
Find the right area and property — and avoid the wrong one.
How to compare areas before you buy
Compare locations properly so you do not just buy the right property, but in the right area too.
What to check at a house viewing
A practical viewing checklist — what to inspect, what to ask the agent, and what red flags mean.
Leasehold flats: what to check before buying
Lease length, service charges, ground rent, major works and management — every check first-time buyers should make on a leasehold flat.
Offer
Decide what to offer, how to make it credible, and how to handle competition.
How to make an offer on a house
What to check first, how to choose an offer amount, and what to tell the estate agent.
Best and final offers
Best and final offers and sealed bids — what to include, how to choose your maximum, and how to avoid overpaying.
Buy and complete
From offer accepted to keys in your hand — the legal and practical side.
What happens after an offer is accepted?
The post-offer process — solicitor, mortgage, survey, searches, exchange and completion explained in plain English.
What is conveyancing?
What your solicitor does, what searches and enquiries are, and what happens before exchange.
What does a property survey check?
RICS Level 1/2/3 surveys explained — what surveyors check, common issues, and what to do if problems are found.
How long does buying a house take?
A practical first-time buyer timeline — every stage, what causes delays, and how to speed things up.
Get support
When you're ready to talk to a broker, solicitor, or HomeReady support.
What to do before speaking to a broker
Get clear on your numbers, documents and credit position before having that first conversation.
Get mortgage support
Understand when mortgage support may help and request a referral when you're ready.
Get legal support
Understand when legal support may help and request a referral when you're ready.
First-time buyer tools
Five free calculators that pair with the guides above.
Ready to take action?
Turn what you’ve learned into a buyer plan
The Buyer Planner brings your deposit, borrowing, timeline, and next steps together — so you can see exactly where you stand and what to do next.