Buying and selling a property quickly

First up, get your finances in order. This will qualify you as a serious buyer and speed up the process when your offer has been accepted. Next, make sure that all parties aim for the same outcome. If you want to close the deal by a specific date and the vendor has not even started looking, beware! Always put your offer in writing along with the rationale. If the property needs work, highlight what needs doing plus estimated costs. Consider using an independent broker or financial adviser. Lenders compete not only on rate but also on criteria. There can be a big difference between what different lenders will lend. It is not all about the lowest rate. Your solicitor will work with you through this stressful time, so make sure you choose the right one. Get recommendations, and don't go for the cheapest quote. Get your documents in order. When applying for a mortgage, if you can present your adviser with all the documents promptly, that will massively speed up the process.

Make sure you know what your budget is before you start searching for property and creating property portal alerts. Engage with a reputable mortgage broker who can check your documents and overall affordability, obtaining an accurate Decision in Principle and importantly checking the monthly cost. Make sure you have all your payslips to hand, and that you know how to download bank statements from your online banking, this is one of many potential pain points and any delay may cost you if rates continue to move quickly.

The first part of the puzzle is getting a broker to assess your credit-worthiness and to look at your income and outgoings. They can then give you a full affordability calculation and, including your deposit amount, a realistic budget for your purchase price. An agreement in principle can be attained from an appropriate lender at this stage and this will speed things along with offers on potential properties and will usually be requested by estate agents. Once an offer is accepted on a property, payslips, bank statements and other proofs will be immediately required for application, so prepare to download or scan these. Getting a conveyancer that is on the ball is priceless when time is of the essence, as this is the stage that can drag on with questions and searches taking time. In many cases a personal or professional recommendations for brokers or solicitors can help, as you are unlikely to be able to pick your estate agent as this will be down to the property you want to buy.