First time buyer looking for someone to talk me through the process

[Homebuyinglimbo]

My offer has been accepted, my mortgage broker is completing my application, a solicitor has been instructed, the estate agent is doing the introductions and sending out paperwork.

What happens next?

What do I do about a survey? Can I get them instructed and that completed now or do I wait on my solicitor?

Fellow FTB here! A bit further along though.
As I understand it the solicitor should be in touch with the sellers solicitor and get a draft contract and relevant forms such as fitting and fixtures and property information. Then they'll do searches and send them to you once received.
Our mortgage broker advised us to wait until our mortgage offer came in to do the survey, but I know a lot of people arrange it as soon as possible. The survey is for you and you don't have to have one, so you can get it whenever really!
Lender will do their own valuation during the mortgage process.

Someone may be along to correct me but that's how it's worked for us.

Hi, thank you for replying so quickly. It's an exciting but stressful time isn't it!

Hopefully your solicitor will be good and on it, but this is the time when you need to be prepared for lots of chasing!

Make sure alllllll the paperwork you'll need for your solicitor is in order and ready to go - any details about income, gifted deposits, etc is all in hand.

You can instruct a surveyor now - pass their details to your solicitor too, and to the estate agent handling the sale so they can sort access.

Other than that, there's not much you can do: your solicitor will start looking at paperwork and doing checks, but you can be chasing e.g. check whether their solicitors have your solicitors details yet, whether your solicitor has recieved paperwork from theirs yet and if not, chase the estate agent to get them to prompt the seller (this can go through a few rounds - e.g. we had to chase our sellers for FENSA certificates and then later something to do with the loft).

Once the paperwork is received by your solicitor, ask them what's needed from you and a rough idea when you should next hear something, and then call back if you haven't.

I'm sure any conveyancers and estate agents reading this are probably groaning internally but in my experience, you cannot assume everyone is just doing their job - we made the mistake of doing this in our first house sale and wasted 2 weeks where our solicitor had forgotten to follow something up and their side were waiting on it so nothing was happening, and it was only when we tentatively asked that it started again.

Be the squeaky wheel. Know who should have what paperwork and whether they've got it at all times and call to chase it up!

With any luck you'll have a good solicitor, though :)

Also start looking at insurance, cos you'll need that before you exchange (I think - might be before completion)!

Fellow FTB here too! We had one purchase fall through (sellers couldn’t find anywhere to buy so aren’t moving) and are waiting to hear about an offer on another house now.

@beeskipa you need insurance after exchange and before completion.

Last time round we organised the survey straight away although it didn’t actually happen for about two weeks just due to availability etc. Will probably do the same again.

I’ve seen people talking about how their lender did a valuation and they paid to upgrade that to a level 2 survey. Personally I’d rather choose my own local surveyor firm. And last time round my mortgage provider just did a desktop valuation anyway.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to start making a list of things I want to know or check about the property, so I can send them to the right people at the right time. Eg last time I sent some queries about things on the fixtures and fittings form and also sent some other questions along at the same time.

It's a bit disconcerting how the entre process (viewings aside) is all conducted online and via email and apps to verify identification!

I found this weird, too! We didn't even sign anything in person - all done via scans/digital signing. It's so exciting but this period is a bit stressful because there are so many people to be managing - solicitors and estate agents and the lenders etc, while also thinking about a moving target for completion and getting moved in.

It's well worth it once it's over, though :)

we had to take ID in person to the solicitor

I'd suggest doing things sequentially to reduce risk and lost money. Although estate agent may hassle you more - but ignore them. Wait until you get your mortgage approved before instructing the surveyor, then wait until you get a survey report and you're happy with everything before asking your solicitor to apply for the searches (mention this soon so they don't just apply for them). Don't' feel pressured to do all these things at once unless you are really in a hurry.

Instruct your own surveyor. Take time to actually study the survey. Ask your surveyor/trusted builder what any issues will cost to repair. If something significant comes up, you can try and renegotiate price. If it's sold as a 'modernisation project', go around with a builder (or 2 or 3) and get them to quote, so you can plan financially and can line builders up to get works finished asap after completion.
Shop around for building insurance well in advance.
Don't sweat the small stuff. It's unlikely every window, door, boiler or damp proof course will come with all paper work if it's not a newbuilt. The certificates won't insure against rod/wear and tear/accidental damage/breaking down. If the boiler is still in warranty, that's of course worth having. You can always take out/have seller take out indemnity insurance to rule out any small building regulation breaches. You definitely want to see paperwork for any extensions/underpinning or other big item building works.
Check in with your solicitor. Ours once told us the day before exchange that there was a covenant on the land (restrictions on how to use it). Ask them directly to contact you immediately if anything comes up during their searches.