You’ve made the first step, you’ve decided you want to buy a house, but what is the next step? Figuring out how to navigate the world of estate agents and online portals is a great start.

Do you need to hire an estate agent if you’re a buyer? Can you buy a property directly off the seller? What costs do you need to expect, and what do you need to put money aside for?

We’re going to take you through the basics and explain a bit about how estate agents can be a vital asset when it comes to your property search.

Can you buy a house without an estate agent?

In short, yes.

However, if you’re a buyer there are some very useful things estate agents can do, to help you purchase your next home, for the right price. When you first begin your property search estate agents can save you a lot of time, they can trawl the market for you, keeping an eye out for properties that tick your boxes.

Building a good relationship with a local estate agent can be useful, they can also let you know in advance when new properties are about to come onto the market, so you can swoop in early and stay ahead of other buyers.

Do you pay an estate agent when buying a house?

No, even if the estate agent has helped you find your dream property, you don’t have to pay them. The agents are paid by the seller once the property has been sold.

There are, however, a few costs to consider when it comes to buying a property:

1) Valuation fees: if you need a mortgage to purchase the property, your mortgage lender will want to have the house valued themselves first. This is so they can be sure the property is worth the amount you are being loaned, usually you must cover the cost of this valuation.

2) Survey fees: surveys are optional checks; they look at the structure and condition of the property you are about to buy. Our estate agents would recommend you arrange a survey, as they can spot any major issues that may become costly down the line, for example, subsidence, damp, and asbestos. Also, if the survey spots a problem, this problem can then be used to negotiate the asking price.

3) Conveyancing/ solicitor fees: the conveyancer or solicitor will handle the legal aspects of your property purchase; they’ll negotiate your contract making sure you’re legally protected throughout your sale.

Stamp duty: this is a tax payable if your property is over £125,000.

Land registry fee: this is a record of who owns property across the UK. When you buy a house the land registry charges a fee to transfer the property record into your name.

Got more questions?

If you still have questions about the buying process, get in touch, our team of estate agents are on hand to help.