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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2 Bed Flat - Purpose Built 
For Sale

Esplanade, Rochester

Offers In The Region Of £325,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this stunning and rarely available two bedroom apartment, located in a highly sought-after gated and landscaped development on the Esplanade, Rochester ME1. Boasting a fantastic balcony with partial river views, off-road parking for two vehicles, and spacious and light accommodation throughout, this impressive apartment is ready to move into and enjoy.

The layout briefly comprises of: an expansive lounge/dining room, a fitted modern kitchen with integrated appliances, a spacious master bedroom with balcony access, an elegantly designed bathroom, and a good size second bedroom.

Conveniently located opposite the River Medway with beautiful views, picturesque sunsets, and walks to enjoy, Churchfields open green space is a short walk away, as is the Dickensian High Street with its range of bars, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, biannual Dickens festival, famous cathedral and Norman castle. Highly regarded schools for all age groups are also nearby including Kings and St Andrew’s private schools, with grammar school options a short drive away. The station with fast trains to London St Pancras is within walking distance, whilst all A2/M2/M20 road links are a short drive away.

Properties of this quality and location really are few and far between, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Lease 964/ Share of Freehold

Service Charge- £2,820 p.a.

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1 Bed Flat - Purpose Built 
SSTC

Silver Streak Way, Rochester

Price Guide £160,000

GEREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this spacious and well presented one bedroom purpose-built ground-floor apartment, in the popular Medway Gate location of Strood, Rochester. Available with NO ONWARD CHAIN and vacant possession, this modern apartment boasts good size rooms throughout, patio doors opening onto a private area, a great size lounge/diner, and allocated off road parking to the rear of this modern and attractive looking building. Interest is sure to be strong in this perfectly formed one bedroom apartment, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

The layout briefly consists of: Spacious hallway giving access to kitchen, lounge/diner, bedroom, bathroom, and two large storage cupboards, one of which houses the boiler.

Ideally located for the Medway Valley Park with all its amenities including a gym, restaurants and a cinema, A2/M2/M20 road links are a short drive away, as is Strood station with 40 minute fast services to London. Highly regarded schools for all age groups are also a short distance away.

Lease-107 years
Ground Rent- £250 p.a.
Service Charge- £851.92 p.a

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3 Bed House - Mid Terrace 
For Sale

Binnacle Road, Rochester

Price Guide £340,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to introduce this beautifully presented three bedroom house to the market, in a sought-after residential Rochester location, close to highly regarded local schools. Boasting a useful large entrance porch, a good size kitchen/breakfast room, separate lounge/diner, off road parking, and a truly impressive rear garden complete with a summerhouse currently used as a salon, this stylish family home offers space and versatility in equal measure. Further benefits include recent new windows and doors throughout, and a bonus loft room with potential to create further accommodation subject to the new owners wishes, and usual permissions.

The layout briefly consists of: Entrance porch into kitchen/breakfast room, with stairs ahead up to first floor, doorways to front and rear of room into lounge/diner, doorway out to garden; The upstairs landing gives access to three bedrooms, bathroom and separate WC.

Located on a quiet residential road yet within walking distance of Rochester’s sought-after grammar schools, further schools for all age groups are a short distance away. All A2/M2/M20 road links and bus stops are nearby, as is the historic High Street with its range of cafes, restaurants, bars, boutiques, and famous cathedral and Norman castle. Rochester and Chatham stations offer a fast service into London St Pancras, whilst all local shops and amenities are within walking distance also.
Interest is sure to be strong in this spacious family home, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

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1 Bed Flat - Purpose Built 
For Sale

Warren Wood Road, Rochester

Offers In The Region Of £160,000

Greenleaf Property Services are pleased to introduce to the market this well presented ground floor flat, which would ideally suit a first time buyer looking to get their foot on the housing ladder, or perhaps an investor looking to add to their portfolio.

The accommodation briefly comprises of: Entrance hall, fitted kitchen, lounge/dining room, a good size double bedroom, and shower room W/C. The property further benefits from a communal garden with brick built storage shed, double glazing and gas central heating.

Located within walking distance of popular schools and A2/M2/M20 road links to London, Rochester and Chatham stations with 35 minute fast trains to London are all close by. The historic local High Street offers a range of restaurants, bars, boutiques and features the Norman castle and famous cathedral. Whether you are a first-time buyer, downsizing, or looking to add to your portfolio, this ideally located property is ready to move into and add your own stamp, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

EPC Grade C. Council Tax Band A.

Lease approximately 176 years.
Ground Rent – £10 P.A
Maintenance Charge £913 P.A

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5 Bed House - Semi-Detached 
SSTC

City Way, Rochester

Price Guide £555,000

GREENLEAF PROPERTY SERVICES are delighted to present this substantially extended semi-detached house to the market, on the highly sought-after City Way, Rochester, ME1. Boasting versatile and spacious accommodation over three floors, including five/six bedrooms, three bathrooms, WC/cloakroom, utility room, open-plan lounge/diner and kitchen/breakfast room, this well presented family home further benefits from an exceptionally good size rear garden complete with spacious patio, large double garage with potential for further accommodation subject to the new owners wishes and usual permissions, solar panels, and generous block-paved off road parking to the front and side of the property for several vehicles.

The layout briefly comprises of: Hallway into lounge open-plan to dining room, utility, WC, and kitchen/breakfast room out to garden; The first floor landing gives access to the master bedroom with large dressing area, en suite (and potential to utilise as two double bedrooms), a further double and single bedroom and bathroom; The second floor landing gives access to two further double bedrooms and bathroom.

Located close to highly regarded state and private schools, all A2/M2/M20 road links are a short drive away. The historic High Street offers a wealth of restaurants, cafes, bars, boutiques, the famous castle and cathedral, whilst nearby Rochester and Chatham stations provide a 40 minute fast train service into London St Pancras. Further shopping and dining amenities are also just a short walk away. Properties of this size, versatility and location are rarely available, we therefore recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

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3 Bed House - Semi-Detached 
SSTC

Crow Lane, Rochester

Offers In The Region Of £400,000

GREENLEAF Property Services are delighted to offer for sale this well presented three/four bedroom house to the market, set on one of Rochester’s most sought-after roads. Boasting secure off road parking for two cars, three double bedrooms, a separate dining room with potential for use as the fourth double bedroom, open-plan kitchen/breakfast room, separate good size lounge, and spacious accommodation over three floors, this versatile family home, located just off the historic High Street, really must be viewed to be fully appreciate the potential on offer.

The layout briefly comprises of: Entrance hall, kitchen/breakfast room and dining room, to the first floor there is a spacious lounge, bedroom three and family bathroom W/C with separate shower, and the third floor offers two further double bedrooms. Further benefits include double glazing, gas central heating, and security shutters to the ground-floor windows.

This beautiful family home is located a short walk to 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, the famous cathedral, Norman castle and beautiful river walks. All A2/M2/M20 road links to London and coast are a short drive away.

Properties of this calibre and location are rarely available, we recommend viewing at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Freehold. EPC Grade D. Council Tax Band E.

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