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Buying checklist

What should you check before buying a property?

Check you can afford the full cost, compare the price with what homes nearby actually sold for, and get a survey and legal checks before you exchange. Investors also need the yield to work after tax and must meet landlord rules. Pick the checklist that fits you.

Which best describes you?

We'll show you the checks that matter for your purchase.

I'm buying a home to live inBudget, the area, viewings, surveys and the legal steps to completion. Open checklist I'm investing in propertyRental yield, tax, buy-to-let mortgages, price growth and landlord rules. Open checklist

What's on each checklist?

Each one runs in the order you'll need it, from working out a budget to getting the keys.

What should you check before buying a house?

32 checks in 6 steps

  1. Can you afford it?
  2. Is the asking price right for the area?
  3. Is the area right for you?
  4. What should you look for at a viewing?
  5. What survey and legal checks do you need?
  6. What happens at exchange and completion?
Open the home buyer checklist

What should you check before buying a buy-to-let?

28 checks in 7 steps

  1. Do the numbers work?
  2. How much tax will you pay?
  3. Can you get a buy-to-let mortgage?
  4. Will it grow in value and sell later?
  5. Is there steady tenant demand?
  6. What rules must landlords follow?
  7. Have you done the same checks as a home buyer?
Open the investor checklist

Why check sold prices instead of asking prices?

Asking prices are what sellers hope to get. Sold prices are what buyers actually paid, recorded by HM Land Registry, so they're the fairest guide to what a home is worth and how the local market is moving.

Search sold prices in England and Wales

Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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