Refreshingly Different Buying Journey
We know that buying a home is a personal journey. Start your search below and register for exclusive updates on the latest properties.
In a fast-moving property market, preparation is key.
To stand out as a buyer, you need to be ready to take action. If you are a homeowner you should preferably have your current home on the market. Ideally, you will be under offer and if possible, chain-free. Work with a trusted, proactive mortgage broker and solicitor, so you are ready to act fast.
Need help getting started? Register with us today and we’ll help you discover your perfect home.
Understanding stamp duty and survey costs is essential when buying a property.
Remember to factor these expenses into your budget to avoid last minute surprises. Arranging a professional survey is simple and helps uncover any hidden issues, giving you confidence in your purchase.
Need further guidance? Use our free stamp duty calculator below. We’re happy to recommend local, trusted surveyors who can support you when you’re ready.
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Successfully buying a home involves several key steps, from defining your budget and requirements to completion and collecting your keys. The process includes arranging your finances, finding the right property, attending viewings, making an offer, and progressing your purchase through surveys and legal stages until completion.
With our step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the entire journey, helping you progress from your first search to moving day as smoothly as possible. Below are the essential steps to successfully buying your home.
Understanding your financial position is the first step on your homebuying journey. This should include clarifying your deposit funds, assessing your income & expenses, and factoring in additional costs such as stamp duty, legal fees and removals. Our expert advisors can help you calculate a realistic and comfortable budget so you can begin your search with clarity and confidence.
Securing a Mortgage in Principle is key to showing sellers you’re a serious buyer. An agreement from a lender will confirm the amount you can borrow, subject to full application and valuation. Not only does this strengthen your position when making an offer, it also gives you a clear financial framework for your property search.
It's advisable to instruct a conveyancer early on for the legal aspects of your purchase. This facilitates a smoother purchase when you are ready to make an offer. Our recommended solicitors, or your chosen firm, should support a seamless transaction, from reviewing contracts to carrying out local authority searches and liaising with the seller’s solicitor.
Once your budget is set and your Mortgage in Principle is in place, you’re ready to focus on viewing properties. Our local teams will work closely with you to identify homes which match your criteria and arrange viewings at times to suit your schedule. We’ll also provide guidance on local areas and amenities to help you locate your ideal home.
Once you have found the right property, we’ll help you submit an offer and guide you through the negotiation process. Our experienced agents will ensure your offer is positioned effectively, working hard to secure the offer on your behalf.
To protect your investment, arranging a property survey is highly recommended. Depending on the type of property, your lender may require a mortgage valuation too. Surveys can identify any structural or maintenance issues which could affect your decision. We can help you book a trusted surveyor and explain the report and findings.
Once your offer is accepted, our dedicated Sales Progression team will oversee every step until completion. We liaise between solicitors, the seller and mortgage advisors to keep your purchase on track, providing regular updates and resolving any issues swiftly to avoid delays.
It’s essential to arrange buildings insurance from the point of exchange. This protects your future home from potential damage or risk. We can point you in the direction of competitive, reliable insurance providers to ensure you’re fully covered from the outset.
When all legal checks are complete and both parties are satisfied, contracts are exchanged and a completion date is agreed. On completion day, your solicitor transfers the purchase funds to the seller and ownership of the property is officially yours.
Congratulations – it’s time to collect your keys and move into your new home! We hope your journey with us has been smooth and rewarding. If you’ve enjoyed the experience, we’d love for you to recommend Bourne to friends and family. Your support means the world to us – and we’re always here if you need us in the future.
Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions you’ll make. Seeking expert guidance is therefore one of the best decisions you can make.
Our independent, whole-of-market mortgage advisors offer tailored advice free of charge. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or moving around the property market, making a new purchase or remortgaging, we’ll help you explore your options and secure the most competitive mortgage deals which are right for you.
Buying land or a new build home is an exciting opportunity. Having the right team on your side can make all the difference.
Our specialist Land and New Homes team is here to support you every step of the way — from understanding planning potential to navigating the purchase process. Whether you’re investing in a plot or securing your dream new home, we’ll help you make informed decisions and prepare for a successful purchase.
Realistic and honest
My whole experience with Bourne when buying my first property was superb. They were very realistic and honest with what I could afford and which properties met my needs as a first time buyer. Of course very highly recommended.
Pleasure to deal with
Bourne were a pleasure to deal with whilst they helped us buy our dream home. They were friendly, responsive, always available and a pleasure to deal with.
Stress free
I have been well looked after as a buyer. They have been very helpful and treated us with respect. They have proved very useful in the negotiations with our seller and made the process as stress free as they could…
Always available
Bourne were a pleasure to deal with whilst they helped us buy our dream home. They were friendly, responsive, always available and a pleasure to deal with…
Easy and flawless
I always found the process of buying my first house daunting, not knowing where to start. After contacting the Bourne sales team, I was able to get my foot through the door of a few properties resulting in me finding my dream home. From viewings to completion the transition was easy and flawless, couldn’t recommend Bourne more highly…
The first step is to register with a local estate agent such as Bourne Estate Agents, so they can understand your buying criteria and help you receive suitable property alerts as soon as they become available. You should also arrange a mortgage agreement in principle to understand your budget and strengthen your position when making an offer.
On average, buying a property takes between 8–14 weeks from offer accepted to completion, depending on factors such as mortgage approval, surveys, legal searches and the complexity of the chain.
When buying a property, you should budget for:
Planning ahead for these costs helps you navigate the process more smoothly.
While not essential, having a mortgage agreement in principle is highly recommended. It shows sellers you are a serious buyer, are ready to transact quickly and can speed up the process once your offer is accepted.
Once your offer is agreed:
Bourne Estate Agents help with communications between all parties, to keep the process on track and moving smoothly.
Common delays include:
Working with an experienced estate agent can help minimise these risks and keep your purchase on track.
Yes, a survey is strongly recommended. It provides an independent assessment of the property’s condition and can highlight any issues before you commit to the purchase. There are 3 main types of property survey, depending on how in-depth you would like the report. The team at Bourne can advise you about the different types available and provide details for recommended local surveyors.
The deposit is paid to your solicitor just before exchange of contracts.
Ideally your property should be on the market or under offer before you start looking to buy. This shows sellers you are serious and able to move forward with an offer. Once you discover your desired property, you need to be in the best position possible, especially if others are interested in the property too. Â Our sales team can provide you with a free valuation to help get you moving.
At Bourne Estate Agents, we support buyers throughout the entire journey — from finding the right property and arranging viewings to liaising with solicitors and progressing the sale. Our local expertise across Surrey and Hampshire ensures you receive accurate advice and access to the best opportunities on the market.
Buying and selling or letting through the same agent can ensure a simpler, quicker result.
Take the first step with a FREE, no-obligation valuation to discover what your property is worth.
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