Buyer's Guide

Updated October 2026

Before you look · Viewing · Offers · Costs · Stamp Duty · Conveyancing · Exchange and completion

Buying in Sevenoaks moves quickly. Here is how it works, what it costs, and how we help. Buyers never pay us a fee.

1. Before you start looking

Get a mortgage agreement in principle. Sellers take you more seriously, and you know your budget.
Choose a solicitor or conveyancer early. It saves weeks once an offer is accepted.
Have your ID and proof of funds ready. By law, we must check the identity of every buyer and where the money comes from.
Register with us. Tell us what you want and we will call you first, often before a home reaches the portals.

2. Viewing

We show every home ourselves, 7 days a week by appointment, until 8pm. Ask us anything. Every listing includes the material information the law requires, such as council tax band, tenure, any ground rent or service charge, EPC rating and known issues like flood risk.

3. Making an offer

Make your offer through us, in writing. We pass every offer to the seller, by law.
Tell us your position: first-time buyer, nothing to sell, sold subject to contract, or still to sell.
Once accepted, we confirm the sale in writing to both solicitors and complete our ID and source of funds checks.
Nothing is legally binding in England until contracts are exchanged.

4. What buying costs

CostWhat it isTypical range

DepositUsually 5% to 25% of the price, paid on exchangeVaries

Stamp DutyTax on the purchase. See belowVaries

ConveyancingSolicitor fees, searches and Land Registry fee£1,500 to £3,000+

SurveyLevel 2 for most homes, Level 3 for older or altered homes£500 to £1,500+

Mortgage feesArrangement, valuation and broker fees£0 to £2,000

RemovalsDepends on distance and volume£500 to £2,000+

Oak & Acre feeBuyers pay us nothing£0

5. Stamp Duty Land Tax (England)

Use our Stamp Duty calculator

Portion of the priceHome moversFirst-time buyers

Up to £125,0000%0%

£125,001 to £250,0002%0%

£250,001 to £300,0005%0%

£300,001 to £500,0005%5%

£500,001 to £925,0005%5%. Over £500,000, no relief applies

£925,001 to £1.5 million10%10%

Over £1.5 million12%12%

First-time buyer relief applies only if the price is £500,000 or less. Above that, standard rates apply to the whole price.
Second homes and buy-to-let: add 5% to every band.
Non-UK residents: add a further 2%.
Stamp Duty is paid within 14 days of completion, usually by your solicitor.

PriceHome moverFirst-time buyer

£450,000£12,500£7,500

£500,000£15,000£10,000

£750,000£27,500£27,500

£1,000,000£43,750£43,750

6. Conveyancing and surveys

Your solicitor checks the title, runs local authority, drainage and environmental searches, reviews the contract and raises questions with the seller's solicitor. A survey tells you about the condition of the home. Many Sevenoaks homes are period or extended properties, so a Level 3 survey is often worth it. We chase both sides every week and update you, so nothing stalls.

7. Exchange and completion

Exchange: you sign, pay the deposit, and the sale becomes legally binding. Arrange buildings insurance from this point.
Completion: the balance is paid, usually one to four weeks later, and we hand you the keys.
A typical sale takes 12 to 16 weeks from offer to completion.

Protect yourself from fraud

We will never email you new bank details. Always phone your solicitor on a number you trust before sending money.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Stamp Duty rates are correct at the date shown. Please check with your solicitor or GOV.UK before you buy.