Guides
Buying your first home, one little step at a time
Short reads and tickable checklists for every stage. Free to read. Join to track your own progress.
- Completion day checklistTwenty small things that make the big day go smoothly.
- Conveyancing: what your solicitor actually doesTen stages, what your solicitor does at each one and what you do.
- First-home furniture checklistRoom by room, what you need on day one and what can wait for payday.
- How much deposit do you really need?Most first-time buyers put down 5% to 15%. Here is what each level means.
- Marriage and stamp duty: what every couple should knowIf your partner owns a home, HMRC treats it as yours. The rule, the figures and when the extra cost can be reduced.
- New build or old build?Price, condition, bills, negotiation and timing, side by side, then which suits you.
- Register to vote in three stepsFive minutes on gov.uk and lenders can confirm who you are.
- The Lifetime ISA in five minutesSave up to £4,000 a year and the government adds 25%.
- Understanding and improving your credit scoreWhat lenders see, what moves the score and a booster checklist you can start today.
- Viewing a home: the full checklistHow to prepare, what to look at, what to ask and what to do afterwards.
- Ways to buy with a smaller depositYou may not need as much as you think. These are the routes that are open in 2026.
- What an agreement in principle is (and is not)A quick check from a lender that shows sellers you are serious.
- What buying a home actually costsThe deposit is the big one, but it is not the only one. Budget for these so nothing surprises you.