Buying with Redmile Homes? Here’s your step-by-step home buying process guide.
Buying with Redmile Homes
Buying a home – especially your first – can feel overwhelming. It’s one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make, and there’s a lot to consider. That’s why we’ve created this simple, practical guide to help you navigate every stage of the journey with confidence.
Our UK home buying process guide covers:
- Before you enquire
- Step 1: Finding your home
- Step 2: Reservation and planning
- Step 3: Personalising your home
- Step 4: Finalising your choices
- Step 5: Confirming your mortgage offer and solicitor instruction
- Step 6: Staying connected whilst we build your home
- Step 7: Completion and moving in
- After you move in
- Buying a home that's already built
- FAQs about the UK Home Buying Process
Redmile Homes’ step-by-step home buying process guide gives you a clear overview of each stage. Click any section for more detail, or scroll down to read the full guide.
Before you enquire about a new build…
Save your deposit
Before anything else, you’ll need to have saved a deposit – or know where it’s coming from. Most buyers need at least 5%, but a 10% deposit or more can give you access to better mortgage rates.
There are several ways you might fund your deposit:
- Personal savings
- Equity from a property sale
- Help from family or friends
- Government schemes
- A Lifetime ISA can boost your savings by 25%
Find out how much you can borrow
Use online calculators to get a general idea of how much you can borrow, then speak to a mortgage broker or advisor. They’ll take into account your income, expenses, and credit history to help you understand what kind of mortgage (and property) is realistic for your budget.
Redmile Homes’ partner RSC offers free new build mortgage advice, with no impact on your credit score.
Get a mortgage in principle
A mortgage in principle (MIP) – also called a decision in principle (DIP) or agreement in principle (AIP) – shows how much a lender is likely to lend you, based on your financial details.
It’s not a formal offer, but it shows you’re a serious buyer and can help speed things up when reserving your home.
Step 1: Finding your home
When you first enquire with Redmile Homes, we’ll sit down with you to understand your lifestyle and preferences – location, layout, space, and more. Based on your needs, we’ll help you choose the perfect plot and property type.
After you’ve made your decision, we’ll guide you through completing the reservation form and take a reservation fee to secure your chosen plot. At this point, we’ll also run an affordability check to confirm you’re in a good position to proceed.
Step 2: Reservation and planning
With your home reserved, we’ll walk you through the planning documents so you can visualise exactly what your future home will look like. These include the site layout, brick colours, landscaping, legal plan, and external works drawings.
This gives you a clear understanding of how your home fits within the development, what it will look like, and how features like driveways, fencing, and garden areas are designed. Once you’re familiar with the details, it’s time to move on to the exciting part – personalisation.
Step 3: Personalising your home
Next, you’ll be invited to a dedicated choices appointment at our selection room. This is where you can explore a wide range of design possibilities – from kitchen units and worktops to bathroom tiles and flooring finishes.
We’ll discuss the available options and explain the pricing clearly, so you understand what’s included and what counts as an upgrade. You’ll have around two hours to make your selections, after which we’ll check in regularly to answer any questions.
Step 4: Finalising your choices
When your selections are made, we’ll go through them with you – room by room – to confirm every detail. Your preferences will be added to our system, and you’ll receive a full pricing breakdown for transparency and peace of mind.
You’ll also have time to review everything at your own pace and make any minor tweaks. Once you’re happy with final choices, we’ll proceed to the next step in the home-buying process: preparing your home for build and completion.
Step 5: Cooling off, confirming your mortgage offer, and instructing your solicitor
With your choices finalised and the cost confirmed, you’ll enter a short “cooldown” period. This gives you one last opportunity to make any adjustments before your custom selections are locked in and construction begins.
During this stage, you should apply for your mortgage and instruct a solicitor (you can use our recommendation or your own). Once your mortgage offer is approved, this should be sent directly to your solicitor so they can prepare for the next steps.
Step 6: Staying connected whilst we build your home
While your home is being built, we’ll keep you updated every step of the way. From foundations to roof completion, our team will share progress at key milestones and will always be on hand to answer your questions.
At the same time, your solicitor will work on your behalf to carry out legal checks, prepare contracts, and complete all required documents. We’ll liaise with them throughout this process to keep things moving smoothly.
Top tip: Staying in contact with your solicitor and returning all requested documents promptly can help avoid delays and keep the process on track.
Step 7: Completion, handover, and moving in
As we near completion, you’ll be invited for a final inspection to check everything is in place and to ask any final questions. We’ll also explain how your fixtures and systems work, so you’re confident before moving in.
All Redmile Homes houses are built to UK building standards and inspected throughout construction. Some buyers also choose to arrange a third-party snagging survey, but this is optional and entirely up to you.
When you’re ready, you’ll exchange contracts (this is your legal commitment to buy), pay your deposit, and arrange a completion date. On completion day, ownership transfers to you, and your keys to your new Redmile Homes house will be ready to collect!
After you move in…
Get insurance
New build estates are often managed by private companies, and some developments include building insurance as part of the annual fee. If not, you’ll need to arrange this yourself. Your solicitor or management company will let you know what’s covered in your estate fees.
In all cases, we’d recommend that you also arrange:
- Contents insurance
- Life insurance (especially if buying with a partner)
- Income or illness protection
Pay any final bills
After completion, your solicitor will send a final bill including:
- Remaining legal fees
- Stamp duty (they usually pay this on your behalf)
- Any balance refunds if estimated costs were too high
They’ll also register your ownership with the Land Registry.
Register your warranty
All Redmile Homes houses come with a 10-year NHBC structural warranty. You’ll need to register this once you move in to activate your cover.
Your solicitor or our team will provide the details and guide you through the process.
The process of buying a home that’s already built
If you’re buying a Redmile Homes house that’s already constructed – such as one of our final available plots – the process of buying a home is slightly simpler and will progress more quickly. You won’t be able to make design choices (these will have been pre-selected), but everything else remains the same. We’ll invite you to view the property before making your decision.
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Frequently asked questions about Buying a UK Home
How can I purchase a home?
Start by saving a deposit and getting a mortgage in principle. Then, choose your Redmile Homes house, reserve it, personalise the interiors, apply for a mortgage, and complete the legal process with a solicitor. Finally, receive your keys and move into your new home!
How long does a house sale take?
It varies depending on your situation. If you're buying a newly built or off-plan Redmile Homes house, the timeline depends on the stage of construction – some homes are ready within weeks, while others may take several months to complete.
If you’re also selling a home, the overall process can take longer and may depend on how quickly your own sale progresses. Legal work, mortgage approvals, chain delays, and build timelines can all affect the timescale.
On average, expect anywhere between 6–24 weeks, but we’ll always keep you informed on your home’s progress so you can plan ahead.
How long after mortgage offer to exchange?
It depends. With new builds, especially off-plan homes, your mortgage offer may arrive months before the property is ready to complete. Some buyers exchange contracts soon after receiving their offer, while others need to wait until the build progresses.
Most mortgage offers are valid for around 3-6 months, though some lenders may extend this. If your build takes longer, your broker or lender may need to recheck your circumstances or issue an updated offer closer to completion.
What are steps to buying a house?
The step-by-step home buying process includes: saving a deposit, getting a mortgage in principle, choosing a home, reserving, personalising the home, applying for a mortgage, legal work with a solicitor, exchanging contracts, and completing the purchase.
Value for money and a home to be proud of.