What happens when I am ready to buy?
A simple guide to what happens from choosing your home to collecting your keys
Finding a home you would like to make your own is an exciting moment. If you are buying for the first time, it is also completely natural to wonder what happens next.
There are a few important stages between choosing your home and moving in, with different people working behind the scenes to make your purchase happen.
Here is what you can expect along the way.
Reserve your home
Once you have chosen your Hopkins home and your financial position has been confirmed, the next step is reservation.
During your reservation appointment, your Sales Executive will take you through the important information about your chosen home and development. You will also complete the reservation paperwork and pay the reservation fee.
This gives you the opportunity to go through the details carefully and ask any questions before the legal process begins.
Get the legal process underway
You will need to appoint a solicitor or conveyancer to look after the legal side of your purchase.
They will review the contract and information relating to your new home, carry out the necessary searches and raise any questions that need to be answered before you can proceed.
Your solicitor is there to represent you throughout the purchase, so they will also explain any legal documents you need to sign.
Finalise your mortgage
If you are buying with a mortgage, this is when your full mortgage application will progress alongside the legal work.
Your lender will complete its checks and arrange a valuation of the property before deciding whether to issue your formal mortgage offer.
Once your mortgage offer arrives, take the time to read through it carefully and make sure you understand the terms before moving forward.
Make your home your own
Depending on the build stage of your home, you may be invited to choose from selected finishes, options or upgrades.
It is one of the enjoyable parts of buying new and gives you the opportunity to add personal touches before you move in.
The choices available will depend on how far construction has progressed, and your Sales Executive will explain what is available for your particular home.
Exchange contracts
Once the legal work is complete and your mortgage offer is in place, you will be ready to exchange contracts.
Your solicitor will guide you through the documents and arrange for the required deposit to be transferred.
Once contracts have been exchanged, you and Hopkins Homes are legally committed to the purchase.
If your home is still being built, you will then continue to receive updates as it moves towards completion.
See your home taking shape
If you are buying while your home is still under construction, there may be opportunities to see its progress before moving day.
Hopkins Homes buyers are invited to a Meet the Builder visit at an appropriate stage of construction, giving you the opportunity to meet the site team, see some of the craftsmanship behind your home and ask questions.
Closer to completion, you may also be able to take measurements and start planning furniture, curtains and those finishing touches that will make the space your own.
Get to know your new home
Before you move in, you will be invited to a home demonstration with your Sales Executive and Site Manager.
They will take you through your new home and show you how its key features work, from heating and appliances to the practical details you will need once you move in.
It is also an opportunity to ask questions and become familiar with your home before moving day arrives.
Completion and collecting your keys
Completion is the point at which the purchase of your home officially completes and ownership passes to you.
Your solicitor will manage the transfer of funds and confirm when completion has taken place.
Then comes the part you have been waiting for: collecting the keys to your first home.
Your Hopkins team will welcome you to your new home, complete the handover and make sure you know what support is available once you have moved in.
From reservation to your first night at home
The process may feel unfamiliar at first, but you do not need to think about every stage at once.
In simple terms, your journey will look something like this:
- Reserve your home
- Appoint your solicitor
- Finalise your mortgage
- Complete the legal work
- Exchange contracts
- Prepare for moving day
- Home demonstration
- Completion and keys
There will be people supporting different parts of your purchase along the way, and each stage brings you a little closer to making your first home your own.
Looking for more detail?
If you would like to explore each stage of buying a Hopkins home in more detail, our full step-by-step guide takes you through the process from your first visit through to moving in and beyond.