Buying a house is a big milestone! My mum has always told me it’s one of the most stressful milestones in life. I’ve just googled ‘most stressful life milestones’ and yes, moving house makes top 5. No surprise that such a big event means you’re going to need some help; emotional support, advice and possibly some extra hands on moving day. Here’s 7 people who can help you buy a house and how:
1. Friends/ Family
Friends and family can be invaluable when it comes to moving, turning a potentially overwhelming process into a fun, collaborative effort. They can help with everything from packing boxes and wrapping fragile items to loading and unloading the moving truck. Friends and family can also help keep the mood light, making a long day more enjoyable. Plus, they’re often the best people to help with last-minute tasks, like cleaning up the old space or arranging furniture at your new home.
2. Property Websites
Property websites have become invaluable tools for anyone looking to buy a new home. They offer a convenient and efficient way to browse listings from the comfort of your own space. With features like advanced search filters, interactive maps, and virtual tours, these sites allow buyers to refine their search based on criteria such as location, price range, property type, and specific amenities.
Many platforms also provide detailed neighbourhood insights, market trends, and access to property history. By streamlining the home-buying process and offering instant access to updated listings, property websites empower buyers to explore options, save favourites, and even set up alerts for new listings.
3. Estate Agents
Making your first call to an estate agent can feel a bit daunting- it definitely did for me. You’re past the point of discussing buying a house and actually taking the first official step. Estate agents will show you around properties you’ve expressed interest in, liaise between you and vendors and offer advice during the buying process.
4. Mortgage Advisor/ Broker
Mortgage advisors play a crucial role in helping you buy a new home by simplifying the financing process and guiding you through each step. They have expertise in the housing market and access to a range of lenders and mortgage products, so they can find options that best suit your financial situation and goals.
A good mortgage advisor will assess your income, credit, and budget to help you determine how much you can afford, provide insight on interest rates, and even highlight government programs or incentives for first-time buyers. They also handle much of the paperwork, communicate with lenders on your behalf, and offer advice on how to strengthen your application, which can improve your chances of securing a favourable mortgage rate.
Ultimately, a mortgage advisor not only makes the process smoother but also helps you make informed, confident decisions as you work toward buying your new home.
Check out my blog post on reasons why you should use a mortgage broker for more information.
5. Customer Liaison Manager
Once an offer is accepted on a house the estate agent passes you over to a customer liaison manager. The estate agents will show you around properties and then liaise between you and the vendors when making an offer. As soon as your offer is accepted you no longer have any contact with the estate agents and instead will communicate with the customer liaison manager.
This is the person who updates you on the sale from that point all the way up to collecting the keys. We didn’t have much contact with our customer liaison manager; we preferred to speak with our mortgage advisor or solicitor instead.
6. Surveyor
This is someone who examines the condition of properties on your behalf. Your level of involvement with a surveyor will vary depending on how thoroughly you want the property examined.
All mortgage lenders ask their own surveyor to look at the property- LOOK being the key word. ‘Looking’ can literally mean driving by the house to check its there. If you require a mortgage then you have to have this done- this is called a valuation. The valuation is mainly in the interest of the mortgage lender. If you can’t make your mortgage payments and they repossess the house, they need to know that the property can be sold for at least your mortgage value.
In addition, you can pay to have a more thorough report which is more in your interest. You can stick with the mortgage lenders surveyor to do this or hire someone else to produce the report for you. Your surveyor will probably know the property better than you and help you with your decision about whether to go ahead with the purchase.
7. Conveyancer/Solicitor
This is someone who deals with the legal side of buying a house. Usually the estate agents you are buying the house with will offer their legal services. However you can choose to hire someone independently. We found someone independently as it was half the price quoted by the estate agents.
Your conveyancer/solicitor is very busy behind the scenes; applying for the relevant searches, checking all building work complies with standards, arranging the contract/ deeds, exchanges the deposit and finalises the mortgage. This is the part of the purchase that takes the most time (6 weeks minimum) and it’s easy to feel impatient. There is little for you to do at this stage. Our sale took almost 5 months, so towards the end I was ringing our solicitor every other day it felt like. (And probably every 5 minutes to him).
Final thoughts..
Buying a home is one of life’s biggest milestones, and having the right people on your side makes all the difference. From mortgage advisors who find the best financing options to home inspectors who ensure your investment is sound, each professional plays a vital role in guiding you through the process. By building a team of trusted experts, you’re not only setting yourself up for a smoother experience but also gaining the knowledge and support needed to make confident, informed decisions.
Good luck and happy house hunting.
