Property guides
Straightforward guides to buying, selling and valuing a home in England and Wales. They are written to help you make sense of the sold prices and local information on MyStreetCheck, and to explain the bits of the process that catch people out.
Buying a home
Buying your first home: a step-by-step guideWhat first-time buyers in England and Wales need to do, in order: deposit, mortgage in principle, house hunting, offers, conveyancing, surveys and completion.How to make an offer on a house (and how much to offer)How to decide what to offer on a home using real sold prices, how to put the offer in, what makes sellers accept, and what happens next.Which house survey do I need? Level 1, 2 and 3 explainedThe difference between a mortgage valuation and a RICS Level 1, 2 or 3 survey, which one suits which home, and what to do if the survey finds problems.Questions to ask when viewing a houseWhat to ask the agent and seller at a viewing, what to look at in each room, and what to check outside, so you can spot problems before you make an offer.How long does it take to buy a house?A realistic timeline from offer accepted to completion in England and Wales, what causes delays, and what you can do to speed things up.Buying a leasehold flat: what to check before you commitLease length, ground rent, service charges, major works, restrictions and the questions to ask before buying a leasehold flat or house in England and Wales.What does a conveyancer do, and how do you choose one?What conveyancing solicitors and licensed conveyancers do when you buy or sell a home, what the searches cover, typical costs, and how to choose a good one.
Selling a home
Selling your home: a step-by-step guideHow to sell a home in England and Wales: getting valuations, choosing an agent, preparing the house, handling offers and getting from sale agreed to completion.Getting your home valued: online estimates, agents and surveyorsHow house valuations work, the difference between an online estimate, an estate agent valuation and a surveyor's valuation, and how to check a figure yourself.Adding value to your home: what pays off and what doesn'tWhich home improvements tend to add value in England and Wales, which rarely recoup their cost, and how to check the ceiling price for your street before you spend.Gazumping and gazundering: what they are and how to protect yourselfWhat gazumping and gazundering mean, why they can happen in England and Wales, and practical steps buyers and sellers can take to reduce the risk.
Money and mortgages
Investing and developing
Buy-to-let for beginners: the numbers that matterHow buy-to-let works in England and Wales: rental yield, buy-to-let mortgages, the stamp duty surcharge, tax on rental income and landlords' legal responsibilities.Planning permission and permitted development explainedWhen you need planning permission for an extension, loft conversion or new home in England, what permitted development allows, and how to check before you buy or build.
Areas and property data
How to read sold house prices (and avoid the common mistakes)What Land Registry sold prices include and leave out, why averages can mislead, and how to use sold prices to judge what a home is really worth.How to research an area before you moveA practical checklist for checking a neighbourhood before you buy or rent: prices, crime, flood risk, schools, transport, broadband, noise and what it's like day to day.Why do house prices differ so much on the same street?The reasons two homes on the same street can sell for very different prices, and how to account for them when you compare sold prices.
Guides are general information, not financial or legal advice. Read our editorial policy.