Having just been through the process in the past couple of months (and knowing Jake won't mind me replying) , I'll go through these one by one.
1We saw about 30 properties in the end, and although we had an agreement in principle - it wasn't ever requested and Natwest who we went with, care about them so little, that they don't even give them out.
2What's important to note is DON'T RUSH. You might have been to see tons of properties, but remember it's your money and it's a lot of bloody money. If you've got a list don't feel like you've got to compromise too much, provided your list is realistic - just to 'buy' a place.
3It's important to distinguish that Jake means a company who just does conveyancing. We had a conveyancing solicitor from a very well regarded practice, close to where we bought. This is important for me. They knew the lay of the land and issues about the property being in a very specific conservation area and the associated insurances to go with it. This is something a practice working from a distance may not pick up on.
4Not quite as simple as that. In the end, my best broker's best price would only have been £8 a month cheaper than Natwest, but would have taken up to 30 days to process the transaction and would have lead us to probably losing the house we really wanted (and ended up getting). This should be the area you invest most of your time when buying - especially as a first time buyer like I was. It is incredibly complex and you'll need to have your head firmly wrapped around the concepts and different mortgages. Establish early on what repayments you are comfortable with (the bank's upper mortgage offer may be far more per month than you'd be happy with) and how long you want that locked in for (2 years, 5 years etc).
5We bought an empty house with no chain our end and it still took over 2 months.
6Possibly true, although for the vast majority of houses an RICS Homebuyer report (the second best one) will be more than sufficient. Our house is 600 years old, so we got three different surveys done. An RICS Building Survey will be massive overkill on most properties. Then again, if you can get a Building Survey for a decent price or money is no issue, then get one.
7We visited the place we eventually bought in, over a dozen times, before we bought. Worth bearing in mind that news is often sensationalist. Every area of Britain has had murders and rapes, so do take time to contextualise everything and don't get scared away on a whim.
8Not always necessary, but having heard some people's horror stories, I would get this even if I didn't need it, just in case 
Who said you could reply to me you git
1. You don't have to get an agreement in principle from the lender you're going to go with, but getting one would make some estate agents/vendors a little more comfortable. Think of it this way. Two offers of 120k, One has no ground work done yet, one had a bank letter saying they can borrow £120k. You'd go for the latter?
2. Couldn't agree more. Don't rush. I'm itching to buy due to currently living with my other half in one room of a house, and its killing us emotionally, but still I'm not going to buy something that is in a crime ridden place, only has one bedroom, is going to be difficult to sell on again etc.
3. Yes I do mean a bulk conveyancer. A conveyancing solicitor, or even a conveyancer/legal executive who works
for a firm of solicitors will do a much better job, be better trained and/or have much better supervision. Do your research on who you are using, as the craft bulk conveyancers operate under a bunch of different company names to make them look small and homely. I worked at one for two months (worst two months of my life) and we had multiple printers on the factory floor, each with letterhead in with a different company name on. Avoid at all costs.
4. Using a broker was just a suggestion. BUT what I didn't mention (as Dan points out) is the saving per month may not be recovered vs the broker fees if you're only locked into the product for a few years.
5. Yep. If someone promises you a four-six week move, they're probably a shyster. Searches take up to a month alone.
6. Of course if you know your stuff don't shell out thousands for a survey. Me however, I know fuck all about what a house should look like (just how to do the paperwork) so will be getting someone a lot cleverer than I to cast a glance at the one I find.
7. Agree again. If its a new area, visit it a load. And even the best places are less than a mile from some real dumps (Anfield to Goodison
) so don't let that put you off.
8. If you live near a Church I think its usually about the same price to get the insurance as it is to do the search
. There are rumours afoot that chancel repair liability will become obsolete in the near future anyway.
Good luck!
