Buy

If you are looking for a property to buy then you will know it is likely to be one of the largest purchases you will ever make and for that reason it can seem very daunting. However, it does not have to be a long and confusing process, particularly if you buy through a professional and experienced agent.

  1. Decide if buying a home is right for you
  • Although 86% of people in the UK want to own their own home, it’s not always right for everybody all the time
  • There are a number of things you need to think about before setting off on your home hunting quest – not least whether you can actually afford it. To arrange a call from one of our recommended independent financial advisors contact us on 01634 730672.
  1. Decide if you should sell first
  • If you are already a homeowner, decide whether you want to sell your house or flat before you buy. It can be dangerous in a rising market, but there are upsides. In particular, you will be able to pounce quickly when you do find the home of your dreams, and you won’t be trapped in a housing chain
  • If you decide to buy and sell at the same time we can advise you on the steps you can take to make things run more smoothly.
  1. Decide on your budget
  • How much do you want to spend? This might be dependent on how much of a deposit you can get together. See our useful mortgage calculator. 
  1. Get your finances in place
  • If you are a first-time buyer,work out how much of a deposit for the mortgage you can get together. Think about savings, the “bank of mum and dad”, the “bank of Granny and Grandpa” and If you have any savings on long term deposit that you plan to use, cash them in.
  • If you are selling your property in order to purchase a new one, get a valuation in order to see how much you would get if you put your current home on the market and how much equity you could use towards the next purchase.
  • Decide what sort of mortgage you want.
  • While you can’t get a mortgage before you buy, you can get a mortgage in principle, which will put you in a stronger position.
  • A mortgage broker can be particularly helpful if you would like advice on mortgages, they are able to search the full range of mortgages available in the market or if you have special circumstances such as being self-employed.
  1. Decide where you want to live
  • If you want to move to a new home close to where you already live, there is little to decide.
  • If you want to move to a different part of town, or across the country, then deciding on the area is more difficult and time consuming.
  • This is a very important decision – get it wrong and you will either be unhappy with where you live or face the costs of moving again. You must do your research thoroughly.
  • You may be considering whether to buy a new build or an existing older or period property.
  1. Choose a specific property
  • Once you know the area you want to live, you should start researching the properties in that area thoroughly, so you really get to know the local market well
  • You then need to contact local estate agents.
  • You need to visit as many properties as possible, and make sure they are no hidden surprises.
  • It’s also important to understand whether the property is freehold or leasehold, and that it is not on a short lease.
  1. Make an offer – and get it accepted
  • Make sure you are in the strongest possible position as a buyer. Having your finances in place will certainly help with this.
  • Decide how much you want to pay, including for fixtures and fittings.
  • Make the offer to the estate agent and seal the deal.
  • Hopefully your offer will be accepted by the seller.
  1. Arrange a mortgage
  • You should ideally have got your finances in place as much as possible before making an offer. If so, you now just need to go back to your mortgage company with the agreed offer and complete the process
  • If you haven’t got your finances in place, you must now scramble to do so as quickly as possible, before the seller loses patience.
  • You will need to get the lender to make you a formal mortgage offer before you can exchange contracts.
  • If buying with a mortgage, it is also a good time to consider getting life insurance advice.
  1. Appoint a solicitor or conveyancer
  • Once you have agreed an offer on your house, you need to get a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the legal work to transfer ownership of the property to you.  Greenleaf have a panel of recommended solicitors who are able to assist with your purchase.
  • Your mortgage company might require you to go with one that is on their panel, which might make the decision for you, however with our extensive panel we are sure to be able to place your case with an acceptable solicitor.
  • Work out how much conveyancing will cost with our free quotation system.
  • The solicitor or conveyancer will do the searches, such as with the local authority and Environment Agency, to ensure there are not any major problems with the property.  
  1. Decide if you want a survey
  • Your mortgage lender will require a valuation by a surveyor, to ensure that the property is a good enough to lend against. This is not a proper survey, and will only look very superficially at the property, if at all
  • You can usually either get the valuation upgraded to a full survey, or you can commission a separate survey. This should tell you everything you need to know about the property, and alert you to any potential problems you will face once you move in. Unless you are very experienced with property, it is usually worth getting a survey done.
  1. Arrange a deposit
  • Before you can exchange contracts, you need to arrange your deposit for the property to be transferred to your solicitor or conveyancer.
  1. Exchange contracts
  • When you exchange contracts with the seller you become legally committed to buying the property – and they are legally committed to selling it to you.
  • If you pull out after this without due reason, your deposit can be forfeited.
  • You should only exchange contracts after you have received the surveyors report, and any necessary action has been taken.
  • Before you exchange contracts, you need to agree a completion date with the seller.
  • You can only exchange contracts after the solicitor/conveyancer is satisfied with the searches, a formal mortgage offer has been received, and arrangements made for the deposit
  • You need to ensure that you take out buildings insurance for the property from the date of exchange, as you are responsible for it from then on. Indeed, it is usually a condition of the mortgage that you have buildings insurance in place.  
  1. Final arrangements and negotiations
  • You need to make arrangements for the supply of electricity, gas, water and telephone service. Often, it is easiest simply to change the account name for the existing suppliers to the property, rather than change suppliers, which you can do at a later date.
  • The solicitor/conveyancer will inform the land registry that they are in the process of transferring ownership of your property
  • Your solicitor/conveyancer should be liaising with the mortgage company to ensure the money will be ready for completion.
  1. Complete the sale
  • Completion is when you pay for the property and take ownership of it, and takes place at a certain time of day – often midday
  • On the day of completion, the money is transferred, and the deeds of the property are transferred, between each side’s conveyancer
  1. Take possession of your new home
  • The seller must leave the property by the time of completion, and you should then be able to collect the keys, normally from the estate agent
  • You are now free to move in.
  1. Pay stamp duty and settle with the solicitor and conveyancer
  • After completion, your solicitor or conveyancer will send you an account, covering all their costs and disbursements, as well as the purchase price of the house and stamp duty. Please see our handy stamp, duty calculator.
  • Your solicitor or conveyancer will normally pay the stamp duty for you, and ensure that the change of ownership is registered with the land registry.

 

If you require any advice or assistance the sales team at Greenleaf are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

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Properties

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Valley View Road, Rochester

SSTC
4 Bed House - Semi-Detached -  Price Guide £435,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce to the market this extended, versatile, and beautifully presented semi-detached house, enviably located just a short walk to the Rochester Grammar Schools. Boasting four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a stunning open-plan kitchen/breakfast room and equally impressive conservatory with vaulted roof. This spacious and light family home further benefits from a utility room, off road parking for two/three vehicles, and a beautifully established rear garden with large summerhouse complete with pool table to stay! There is also a bar and BBQ area, and a decked area with storage shed. Properties of this size and location are rarely available, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

The layout briefly comprises of: Entrance porch into hallway giving access to the lounge, bedroom four, kitchen/breakfast room through to the impressive conservatory/dining room; The utility room is accessed via the breakfast area and gives access to the shower room/WC; The upstairs landing gives access to three further bedrooms and the family bathroom.

Located within a walk of the highly regarded Rochester Grammar School and Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School, all A2/M2/M20 road links are a short drive away. Nearby historic Rochester High Street offers a range of restaurant, cafes, boutiques and independent shops, as well as the Norman castle and famous cathedral. Leisure and shopping amenities are also nearby, whilst Rochester station offers a 35 minute fast train service to London St Pancras.

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Davy Court, Rochester

For Sale
1 Bed Apartment - Purpose Built -  Price Guide £179,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this spacious and well presented one bedroom GROUND-FLOOR apartment to the market, in sought-after ME1 Rochester. Enviably located just a short walk to the historic High Street and all amenities, this exclusive gated development is surprisingly peaceful and quiet, therefore offering convenience and comfort in equal measure. Boasting spacious accommodation throughout, including an impressive open-plan lounge/diner and kitchen, further benefits include an allocated off-road parking space conveniently located directly in front of the property, and plenty of useful storage. Whilst the apartment has been well cared for by the current owners, the opportunity is also there for the new owners to refresh and update to their own personal taste.

The layout briefly comprises of: Spacious hallway with large storage cupboard, giving access to bedroom, bathroom, and the generous lounge/diner open-plan to the kitchen area.

Located just a short walk to the historic Dickensian Rochester High Street and its range of boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants, cathedral, castle and station with 35 minute fast trains to London St Pancreas, highly regarded local schools for all age groups are close by, including Kings and St Andrews private schools. With A2/M2/M20 road links to London and coast a short drive away, river walks on your doorstep and a range of leisure and shopping amenities nearby, we recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Service Charge- £500 quarterly
Ground Rent- £150 per 6 months
Lease- 100 years

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1 1 1

Hempstead Road, Hempstead, Gillingham

SSTC
4 Bed House - Semi-Detached -  Price Guide £435,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this extended four bedroom semi-detached house to the market, in sought-after Hempstead, Gillingham. Available with NO ONWARD CHAIN and vacant possession, this bright and spacious family home benefits from ample off road parking to front and rear, a single AND double garage, great size lounge with a good size dining room extension to the rear, and a decked sun terrace leading to the private established rear garden with rear access into the garages. Further benefits include a useful bedroom four/office to the ground-floor, downstairs shower room/WC and upstairs bathroom/shower room. Whilst well cared for by the current residents for many years and ready to move into and enjoy, the opportunity exists to refresh and update this versatile and spacious property to the new owners wishes, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

The layout briefly comprises of; Hallway giving access to impressive lounge through to dining room, kitchen, bedroom four/office, rear lobby, and downstairs shower room/WC. Upstairs a spacious landing gives access to three bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Located close to highly regarded local schools, easy access to A2/M2 road links, stations to London within 2-3 miles, Hempstead Shopping Centre and nearby local Coop and amenities, interest is sure to be strong in this enviably located family home, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Church Street, Hoo, Rochester

SSTC
3 Bed House -  Offers Over £315,000

GREENLEAF are delighted to introduce this immaculately presented three bedroom house to the market, in sought-after Hoo, Rochester. This attractive property boasts spacious rooms throughout, off road parking, gas central heating and new double glazing.

The layout briefly comprises of; hallway giving access to cloakroom W/C, kitchen, a spacious lounge diner with doors out to the garden. The spacious landing gives access to three bedrooms, and family bathroom W/C.

This impressive and attractive family home has been much loved and cared for by the present owners, and is tastefully presented throughout to a high standard. It is quite simply ready to move into and enjoy.

Located in a fantastic semi-rural location with wonderful countryside views, a walk to local shops and schools, and a short drive to town, shops, station, and all A2/M2/M20 road links, we recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment

Council Tax Band C. EPC Grade D.

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St. Margarets Street, Rochester

For Sale
4 Bed House - Detached -  Price Guide £950,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES proudly introduce this stunning detached double-aspect residence to the market, in the highly sought-after “Golden triangle” location of ME1 Rochester, available with NO ONWARD CHAIN! Built approx 1898, and bursting with character, original features, versatility, space and classic Victorian style throughout, this beautifully presented and much loved family home really needs to be seen to be appreciated. Benefits include four double bedrooms-with the additional bonus of a spacious loft room offering potential for use as a fifth bedroom subject to usual permissions, an impressive hallway with separate lounge and dining rooms, utility room, en-suite, beautifully established yet low maintenance gardens, and off road parking for two cars. Properties of this calibre and location are few and far between, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

The layout briefly comprises of: Hallway giving access to lounge, dining room, kitchen, utility room, WC, study/garden room and stairs up to the first floor; The split-level upstairs landing gives access to four double bedrooms, an en suite and family bathroom, WC, and removable wooden staircase to the spacious loft room. There is a useful hard-standing storage area to the rear, a pretty courtyard garden to one side, and the beautifully established lawn garden is accessed via the study/garden room.

Located opposite the beautiful St Margaret’s Church, a short walk away from highly regarded schools for all age groups including the renowned Kings and St Andrews private schools, the station with 35 minute fast trains to London St Pancreas, and the historic High Street offering a wealth of cafes, bars, restaurants and boutiques, as well as the famous cathedral and Norman castle are all within walking distance. A2/M2/M20 road links to London and coast are all close by, as are beautiful river walks, and the nearby ever-green Vines open space.

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Higham Road, Wainscott, Rochester

SSTC
2 Bed Bungalow - Semi Detached -  Offers In The Region Of £320,000

Available with NO ONWARD CHAIN!

Greenleaf Properties Services are pleased to offer this semi-detached bungalow to the market, situated on the sought after Higham Road, Wainscott. This spacious property, whilst in need of updating throughout, boasts a lovely size rear garden, a conservatory, off road parking, double glazing, gas central heating, and potential to create a lovely family home to your own specification.

The accommodation comprises of: entrance hall, lounge area open-plan but separate to the dining area, kitchen, conservatory, two bedrooms and bathroom W/C.

Located close to highly regarded local schools for all age groups including the newly opened Maritime Academy, all A2/M2/M20 road links are a short drive away. Strood and the historic Rochester town centres both offer a wide range of shopping facilities, restaurants, cafes and bars, whilst the comprehensive Dockside outlet is a short drive away. Strood station provides fast, direct and frequent trains to London St Pancras and the Kent coast. The location is well-served by nearby bus routes making it highly accessible.
Opportunities such as this are few and far between, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
EPC Grade Awaited. Council Tax Band C. Freehold

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Redwing Road, Chatham

SSTC
2 Bed House -  Price Guide £73,750

FOR 25% SHARE

Situated in a sought-after area within Walderslade Chatham, this immaculately presented end of terrace house presents an excellent opportunity for first-time buyers. With the opportunity to purchase shared ownership of 25%, this lovely family home is an ideal stepping stone into the housing market, and boasts a spacious open-plan lounge diner, conservatory, two bedrooms, off road parking, economy seven heating and an enclosed rear garden. In our opinion this delightful property should be viewed at your earliest convenience to avoid any disappointment.

The accommodation comprises of entrance hall, fitted kitchen, spacious lounge/dining room and conservatory. To the first floor there are two double bedrooms and bathroom W/C.

Located close to highly regarded schools for all age groups, leisure facilities, and nearby Walderslade Village with its range of shops and amenities, all A2/M2/M20 road links to London and coast, and trains stations to London are a short drive away. A further fantastic selection of restaurants, shopping and leisure facilities can be found in nearby Chatham, Gillingham and historic Rochester. Interest is sure to be strong in this family home with so much potential, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

EPC Grade D. Council Tax Band D. Freehold
25% Ownership ( Monthly Rent £483.96)

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St. James Close, Isle Of Grain, Rochester

SSTC
2 Bed House -  Offers In The Region Of £250,000

Greenleaf Property Services are pleased to offer for sale this spacious two bedroom end of terrace property, located in the rural village of Grain, Rochester. The property is well presented throughout and would make a lovely family home. Boasting spacious accommodation, off-road parking and a good size rear garden, this property must be viewed to fully appreciate all that’s on offer.

The layout briefly consists of: Entrance porch, entrance hall, lounge/dining room, fitted kitchen, utility room, a further reception area and conservatory. To the first floor there are two double bedrooms and shower/wet room W/C.

Situated on the outskirts of Rochester, the village of Grain boasts a range of amenities, including local convenience stores, school, pubs, and a post office—all within close proximity. There is a nearby beach, perfect for leisurely walks and family outings, and a lovely park area a short walk from the house itself.
For those commuting into London, a reliable coach service operates nearby, offering convenient collection points, whilst Strood and Rochester stations offer a 35 minute fast train service into London, and are approx a 20 minute drive away. Strood and Rochester towns also offer a further extensive range of shopping, restaurants and leisure facilities, with A2/M2/M20 road links to London and coast nearby.

EPC Grade C. Council Tax band B.

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Rochester Avenue, Rochester

SSTC
2 Bed House - Mid Terrace -  Price Guide £240,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this bay-fronted mid-terrace Victorian house to the market, available with NO ONWARD CHAIN, in a sought-after residential location just a short walk to Rochester and all amenities. Boasting two double bedrooms both with separate access to the upstairs bathroom, a separate lounge and dining room, utility room to rear of the kitchen, and a basement room with potential, this property further benefits from the fantastic added bonus of an off-road parking space behind the rear garden, a rarity in this location! Whilst the property is vacant and available for immediate occupation, the opportunity is there to update and modernise to the new owners specification, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

The layout briefly comprises of: Entrance porch into lounge with stairs up to first floor, through to dining room with stairs down to basement, through to kitchen, utility room and out to the garden with bonus parking space; The upstairs landing gives access to two double bedrooms, both with separate access to the bathroom via a spacious inner landing.

Located within a walk of highly regarded schools for all age groups and the historic High Street with it’s range of restaurants, cafes, bars, boutiques, famous cathedral and castle, the nearby station provides a 40 minute fast-train service into London St Pancras. All A2/M2/M20 road links are a short drive away, as are further leisure and shopping amenities. Interest is sure to be strong in this first-time buyer’s family home with potential, we look forward to hearing from you soon to book your viewing.

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2 2 1 862sqft

Mount Road, Rochester

For Sale
5 Bed House - Detached -  Price Guide £560,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this substantially extended detached house in a sought-after location within Rochester ME1, a short walk to the highly regarded grammar schools. Boasting NO ONWARD CHAIN, and ready for immediate occupation, this property is as versatile as it is spacious, with the potential for five bedrooms (two on the ground-floor with en suite, and three on the first floor with further bathroom), a utility room with WC/downstairs cloakroom, a great size lounge/diner with log burner, and a good size established rear garden and patio. There is also ample off road parking, and the property has further benefitted from a recent redecoration inside and out. With highly regarded local grammar schools within walking distance and a spacious and versatile property ready to move into and enjoy, we recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

The layout briefly consists of: Long Entrance hallway giving access to kitchen, utility, WC, two bedrooms and en suite, garden access, and lounge/diner with stairs up to the first floor landing; From here there is access to three further bedrooms and a bathroom.

The nearby historic Rochester High Street offers a range of restaurants, bars and boutiques, Norman castle and famous cathedral, with riverside views, walks, and Priestfields Park just a short walk away. Rochester train station provides a 35 minute fast service to London, and all A2//M2/M20 road links are nearby.

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2 5 2 2024sqft

Ingram Road, Gillingham

SSTC
3 Bed House - Mid Terrace -  Price Guide £270,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this spacious and well-presented house to the market, in Gillingham, Kent. Available with NO ONWARD CHAIN, and boasting three/four bedrooms over three versatile floors, this substantially extended bay-fronted family home includes a stunning kitchen/diner with feature lightwell, downstairs shower room and upstairs bathroom, two spacious reception rooms with one currently used as a further bedroom, and a good size patio and garden to the rear. The property has further benefitted from a recent re-rendering, and whilst presented to a good modern standard, retains much space and character throughout.

The layout briefly consists of: Hallway giving access to lounge/bedroom four, through to lounge/diner, open-plan to kitchen area, shower room to rear, and dining room area with patio doors out to the garden; Stairs from the lounge/diner lead down to bedroom three on the lower ground floor, whilst stairs from the ground floor lead up to the two double bedrooms, with an inner hallway giving both bedrooms separate access to the bathroom.

Located a short walk to the station with fast services to London, all local amenities and schools are nearby. A2/M2/M20 road links are a short drive away, as is the High Street, and Dockside Shopping Centre offering a further extensive selection of shopping, dining and leisure facilities. We recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

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2 3 2 1281sqft

Brissenden Close, Upnor, Rochester

For Sale
1 Bed House - End Terrace -  Price Guide £215,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this beautifully presented one bedroom freehold end-of-terrace house to the market, in the highly sought-after location of historic Upnor, Rochester. Available with NO ONWARD CHAIN, and boasting a spacious conservatory/entrance porch, open-plan lounge/diner and kitchen to the ground floor, a good size double bedroom and bathroom to the first floor, off road parking, and a private garden and patio area complete with storage shed, this stunning property is simply ready to move into and unpack! The property has further benefitted from a recent refurbishment and redecoration throughout, with the stylish modern kitchen and conservatory fitted in recent years, and there are also plenty of built-in storage options. Nestled privately in this peaceful and quiet residential Close a 2 minute walk to the marina and stunning riverside views, we recommend viewing this unique and rarely available property at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

The layout briefly comprises of: Impressive conservatory/entrance porch into the open-plan lounge/diner, which is in turn open-plan to the kitchen, separated by a feature breakfast bar; There is a large storage cupboard and plenty of built-in under-stairs shelving options; Upstairs there is an open-plan landing into the bedroom with further storage area, built-in wardrobes, and a doorway into the spacious bathroom.

Located within a short walk of the historic cobbled Upnor High Street on the banks of the river opposite the Naval Dockyard, nearby public houses, Upnor Castle, the beautiful marina, and fantastic countryside walks are all a walk away, whilst A2/M2/M20 road links to London and coast are just a short drive away. Historic Rochester and Strood offer fast train services to London, a wealth of restaurants, bars, boutiques, shopping, supermarkets, leisure facilities, and a range of highly regarded schools for all age groups.

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1 1 1 463sqft