02 / PREPARE
Your first-home plan.One step at a time. 30 practical steps, from your first budget conversation to your first year at home. Tick what you’ve covered and return to what needs attention.
YOUR PROGRESS
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01 Your starting point A decision that fits your life.
0 / 5 Compare buying with renting Write down your reasons for buying, likely time in the area, and the flexibility you may need. Map your household income Use regular take-home income. Separate variable pay and avoid assuming it will always continue. Review real monthly spending Look at recent statements and include annual bills, existing debts, travel, and ordinary living costs. Protect an emergency reserve Decide what you need to keep available for unexpected events before counting savings toward a purchase. Agree on a comfortable budget Discuss a sustainable total monthly housing cost with a lender, including a scenario with lower income. 02 Savings & financing Know what the commitment involves.
0 / 5 List the funds you can contribute Record available savings and clarify whether family support is a gift or a loan. Request a full purchase-cost estimate Include transfer tax, notary, land register, any agency fee, moving, and essential repairs. Gather documents for a lender Ask for their list: identification, income evidence, savings records, debts, and property documents. Compare written finance proposals Discuss the effective interest rate, fixed-rate period, repayment schedule, remaining debt, and special repayment terms. Check funding before committing Ask about current eligibility and application timing for any KfW or regional programme; do not assume approval. 03 Your home brief Make your priorities specific.
0 / 5 Choose locations with everyday life in mind Check commute times, transport, services, and the neighbourhood at different times of day. Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves Identify minimum space, usable rooms, outdoor space, accessibility needs, and renovation tolerance. Confirm the occupancy situation Ask whether the home is vacant or rented and when possession could be available; seek advice on existing tenancies. Plan for future changes Consider working from home, a partner, children, caring responsibilities, or a move for work. Set a viewing comparison method Use the same list of questions for each property and record unknowns instead of guessing. 04 Property checks Look beyond first impressions.
0 / 5 View the property carefully Check signs of damp, windows, roof and building condition. Arrange an independent professional inspection where needed. Read the energy information Ask about the energy certificate, heating system, recent bills, and potential modernisation work. Request the relevant property documents Ask for floor plans, area information, land-register information, and evidence relating to alterations. Review apartment-building obligations For an apartment, review Hausgeld, reserves, meeting minutes, planned works, and any special contributions with professional help. Price the work before making promises Get estimates for necessary repairs and renovation, and check constraints such as listed-building protection. 05 Buying alone or together Clarify responsibilities before signing.
0 / 5 Confirm who will own and borrow Make sure the intended buyers, ownership shares, and borrowers are understood by everyone involved. Document different contributions If buying together, record who contributes savings and pays which ongoing costs. Discuss life changes openly Take questions about separation, death, sale, or one person losing income to a qualified legal adviser. Confirm property-specific finance Obtain clarity from the lender about its approval, conditions, and timing before committing to the purchase. Review the draft purchase contract Give yourself time to read it and ask the notary about payment, handover, included items, and unresolved questions. 06 Completion & your first year Make the handover a beginning.
0 / 5 Follow the notary’s payment instructions Understand which conditions must be met before payment is due; independently verify any changed bank details. Plan the handover Arrange the date and document property condition, meter readings, keys, and any outstanding issues. Arrange essential services and cover Clarify relevant insurance, utilities, moving arrangements, and administrative updates. Keep the purchase records together Retain contracts, payment records, inspection reports, warranties, and the relevant registration documents. Review your budget after moving Check actual running costs, build maintenance reserves, and revisit your financial plan as circumstances change. Some steps depend on the property and your circumstances. Where a step does not apply, confirm that before marking it complete. Work with qualified advisers on financing, property condition, and legal commitments.
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