A final meeting
Then, due to the huge step about to be made, we offer a face-to-face meeting, be it Scotland, London or our own home towns.
Some do not take this up, some prefer a quick call or Zoom meeting, but first-time buyers are usually very pleased to be able to physically meet you and voice any worries or share any ups or downs about the property.
Once we meet, we now know the specifics, so we go over the mortgage costs, the solicitor quote and the protection that has been designed for them.
If anything needs tweaking we can do it there and then, as well as sign any paperwork that needs a physical signature. After this, we explain one more time what is going to happen next and then head back.
We leave knowing they are 100 per cent sure what is about to happen and they also know all of their protection options.
We put the protection in and lock it ready to go when exchange is set, and get the mortgage in and chase it through to offer, where we then send a copy to the client and arrange a quick Zoom call to go over it with them.
Once that is done, we check the solicitor has received the offer and ask them to keep us in the loop (and chase regularly if not).
We call/text/Whatsapp the client every now and then to check they are OK with the legal requirements and make sure they know they have a place to come if they need it.
Once the client and their solicitor has set an exchange date, we call and let the client know its now time to set off the protection and quickly remind them what the covers are for – especially the income protection, as we need them to know that they are going to be secure should something happen in their work.
These then go live.
The mortgage exchanges and completes.
After completion
After the house purchase has completed we pay for them to have their will finalised as well as making sure all the insurance trusts are in place.
We like to make sure they have this all tied up so they have no worries about the future. A lot of us do not think we need to create a will yet, but it is very important, especially when you become a homeowner. We stress this and then make sure they at least have the option.
Usually we get them a card and a little moving in gift, as well as the highly coveted M4A fridge magnet.
