Certus Mortgage Solutions: At-a-glance guide to home buying

1. Choose a mortgage and find out how much you can borrow.

2. Visit a mortgage lender and get an offer in principle.

3. Register with estate agents in the area. Make your interest clear by keeping in touch regularly.

4. Arrange a viewing schedule, using lunchtimes and the journey home from work to fit in appointments.

5. Make an offer.

6. If your offer is accepted, instruct a solicitor to act for you. They will start contract negotiations with the seller's solicitor, and will organise local authority searches for you. You can speed the search process up by asking for a personal search. Check with the solicitor how far your search extends.

7. Your mortgage lender gets the property valued.

8. Commission a surveyor to carry out a survey of the property.

9. Your mortgage lender accepts the valuation and approves your mortgage application.

10. The surveyor sends you their report.

11. Agree a date for exchanging contracts.

12 The solicitor finalises contract details and you hand over the deposit. Contracts are exchanged and your deposit is sent to the seller's solicitor.

13. You and the seller agree a date for completion.

14. Book a removals firm, if necessary. Sort out utilities and phone, and redirect mail.

15. Your solicitor transfers the money for the property to the seller's solicitor, and you pick up the keys. Congratulations - you've done it!

Useful Hints:

Research property prices and get all the inside info on any postcode at www.upmystreet.com

You can also look up property prices at www.landreg.gov.uk

Look for a local builder who is a member of the Federation of Master Builders. Visit www.fmb.org.uk

Want to find out more about surveys? Visit www.rics.org

Need a conveyancer? Talk to the Council for Licensed Conveyancers: www.conveyancer.org.uk/directory.asp