How do you buy a house in England?

[DorisShutt]

Live in Scotland and the system is totally different; I've watched all the property shows but I'm still a bit clueless.

Normally in Scotland houses are either fixed price or offers over; but in England there is just a price that you usually treat as a negotiation?

Then what? Nothing is binding until the money goes through?

Can someone do me a basic idiots guide?

you've got it right basically.

properties are listed with an 'asking price' which is more of a guide than a fixed price. depending on region offers are expected just over or just under this asking price.
once the offer has been accepted the surveys start: mortgage valuation, structural, builders quotes... following that renegotiation depending on the outcome of the surveys.

the purchase only is binding after exchange of contracts, which often is a couple of months after a first offer was accepted. it's nerve wrecking!

That's pretty much it. You can probably find a comprehensive guide online, but these are the basics:

-get mortgage agreement in principle sorted
-find house, make offer, try to negotiate to agree on price
-get seller to take house off the market (they may not agree to this if the accepted offer is very low)
-instruct a conveyancing solicitor (they will do searches, make enquiries about the ppty on your behalf, etc)
-get survey done (the mortgagee bank will want a basic one, you might want a more thorough one)
-enter into further price negotiations if necessary based on survey (typically if it shows something unexpected like it needs rewiring)
-let solicitor do his/her thing until they send you a contract to sign
-once contracts are exchanged with the vendor, you are bound to buy the place; at any time before this you can walk away and just pay for the survey and solicitors costs; exchange is also when the deposit is paid
-move in on completion day :)

The main differences are, just as you've said really. Prices tend to be what the owner would like for the property. You can make a full asking price offer or put an offer under the asking price on the table both of which you do through the estate agent, if they have one or direct if they don't.

The estate agent puts that to the vendor. If it's accepted you exchange solicitors details and the fun starts...

If it's not you can offer again or walk away.

When the offer is accepted ask for the property to be removed from the market - the vendor doesn't have to do this but if they do it gives your solicitor time to get the ball rolling.

Get a survey done, any problems can lead to a further negotiation on the price. You're not held to the price you agreed until you exchange contracts.

When you exchange contracts, when you will need to produce a deposit via your solicitor. Usually ten percent is OK but you can negotiate if need be - just don't leave that til the last minute. Because only when you exchange is the process legally binding. If you pull out after exchange you may lose your deposit. A day before exchange and you have no obligation at all. Same applies to the vendor. They can get a better offer the day before exchange and let you go.

Completion date is then mutually agreed. You can complete the day after exchange if you all agree but two weeks to a month after is more normal.

I think that's it. DH is a Scot so we had the pleasure of doing both systems at once when we sold his place, my place and bought our joint house.

Oops cross posted!

Yeah, we'd be selling up here and buying down there.

Thing is, we'd be moving to family, so in theory we could sell one week and buy the next (and just store stuff until we needed it IYSWIM).

Oh bollocks... swithering about the whole idea now...