Buying your first home is an exciting moment. There will be plenty on your mind, and you will likely be busy thinking about furniture, location, and changes to your day-to-day – but it is important not to forget about the process itself.

For first-time buyers, things are not always as simple as they seem.

If it is your first purchase, this can all seem quite daunting. The highest level of care and attention must be taken with every decision within every home move. Support from an expert conveyancing solicitor is integral to ensure you can enjoy the move into your new home, knowing all legal matters are taken care of.

Our experts help members of our local community spend more time planning and less time worrying about legal matters when it is time for their first move.

Here is our checklist for the first-time buyer.

Stamp duty

When you buy a home that is worth more than a specific amount, you must pay stamp duty, which is a levy or tax, to HMRC.

When saving for your new house, this is often an extra obstacle, especially for first-time buyers. On top of your initial deposit, you will need extra money available.

Because every property is unique, it can at times be difficult to determine the rates and the cost to you. In England and Northern Ireland, stamp duty will not be collected on the first £250,000 of the property’s worth. For the first £425,000 of the property’s worth, first-time buyers are exempt from stamp duty.

Even though it might seem like a simple process, our Portsmouth conveyancing solicitors can assist you if you run into problems with the rates or other complexities related to stamp duty.

Surveying

You cannot be certain of the circumstances you will be responsible for after purchasing without knowing more about your possible new house. Even though a lot of houses may have attractive exteriors, underlying structural issues or possible future issues can drastically lower a property’s value.

To fully understand what you are purchasing, you should get a survey of the property rather than letting doubts impact your decision-making.

When acting as your conveyancing solicitor in Portsmouth, we are happy to recommend local professionals that we have worked with in the past. You can also find your own surveyor through the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Expect the unexpected

Life isn’t always straightforward, and buying your first home is no different. There is the chance of roadblocks appearing at almost every stage, and whilst some are out of your control, working with a conveyancing solicitor can help. They will be able to ensure you have done everything possible to keep your move on track and on time.

From purchasing, signing contracts and ongoing support with all stakeholders, a conveyancer can reduce the risk of delays and ensure you are legally compliant at every step of your buying process.

Is a conveyancing solicitor required?

Buying a home can be incredibly stressful, especially when you are doing it for the first time. If you are unsure or worried about what steps you need to take to purchase your first home then it is recommended that you make an appointment to speak to one of our professionals.

They will be able to talk you through the entire process and answer any questions that you may have.

First-time buyer? We are here to help

Andrew & Andrew provide timely, resourceful and cost-effective legal solutions for all your conveyancing needs, and take care of all legal processes involved with your first home purchase.

We are here to help, whenever you are ready. To get started, please talk to our team.