Making an offer and instructing a solicitor
You have found the property. Now comes the part that can feel like the biggest leap: putting an offer in.
Deciding what to offer
A good starting point is looking at what comparable properties nearby have actually sold for recently, not just what they were listed at. Your local associate can talk you through this for the specific road or village you are interested in, since prices can vary considerably even within a small area. Consider how long the property has been on the market, and whether there is anything about its condition that should factor into your figure.
Making the offer
Offers are usually made verbally to the agent in the first instance, followed up in writing. Be clear about your position: whether you have a mortgage agreement in principle, whether you are in a chain yourself, and your realistic timescale. This information genuinely helps a seller decide between offers. It is not just paperwork.
If your offer is accepted
Once an offer is accepted, the property should be marked as sold subject to contract, and the agent will issue a memorandum of sale to everyone involved: you, the seller, and both solicitors. This is also the point to convert your mortgage agreement in principle into a formal application, since your lender will need time to process it.
Instructing a solicitor
Choose your solicitor or conveyancer before your offer is accepted if you can, so there is no delay once things move forward. Ask what their fees include, roughly how long similar transactions have taken them, and how they prefer to communicate. Some are excellent by email; others prefer a phone call for anything important.
This stage moves quickly once it starts, so a little preparation beforehand makes a real difference. If you would like recommendations for local solicitors who we know communicate well, just ask your associate.
