Welcome to the First Time Buyers section of Number One 4 Property.

Detailed below are a range of useful tips and ideas you will need to consider as a First Time Buyer.

First time buyers can sometimes attract special mortgage terms so ask about these when discussing your mortgage.

Look out for catches. Do you pay a fee to have your fixed rate loan application processed, even if it falls through? If you move before it finishes, can you take it with you or will you have to pay a redemption penalty? When the period ends, will your lender guarantee you a new fixed rate loan?

You will normally need to pay a deposit of at least 5% of the price of the property. Therefore you must make sure you have this money available as YOU will have to pay this when you exchange contracts.

For further information regarding mortgages visit our mortgage advice section.

Contact local estate agents and ask to go on their mailing lists or use ITL's Home Locator service, this will keep you up to date with all the latest properties on the market. First time buyers are ideal customers because you don't have a property to sell. The people selling the properties, not you, pay the estate agent, so you should take advantage of this free service.

Most people have a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer to do the legal work. Don't be afraid to shop around, getting a quotation (preferably in writing) for their work. Fees can vary tremendously so it pays to make a few enquiries.

Ask for estimates of other legal expenses you may have to pay such as local authority search fees and Land Registry charges. If your property costs more than £60,000 there will be Stamp Duty to pay too.

Tell your solicitor if you are arranging to buy the seller's carpets and curtains. Misunderstanding here can cause delay later.

There is a wide choice of properties on the market, it could be very easy to get trapped into making the wrong decision. By setting your own agenda, you'll know exactly what you want in your ideal home and you'll be in control.

When inspecting potential homes, don't be blinded by the decor - after all, it's only paper thin but use your eyes to spot the less obvious features. Is the roof in a good state of repair? Are there any cracks in the walls or ceilings? Is the closed door under the kitchen sink hiding a damp patch?

If you think you really like a property, go back a different time of day or week, preferably when it's raining. You'll not only see if the traffic's any heavier but you'll find out if the gutters need repair too! Also, ask the neighbours what the area is like to live in. If the nearest shop is a mile away and you do not have a car, it could soon lose its attraction.

You have to ask how long that special discounted rate will last. What's the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) which shows what you pay for borrowing all the money in the deal, including the "hidden" extras such as valuation, arrangement and legal fees.

Also, ask yourself if you have to buy something else - a particular form of insurance policy perhaps - to get that "special" rate.

As a first-time buyer, you should be aware of being over insured. Watch out if your lender offers you a "standard" household contents policy. Some have a minimum sum insured of £45,000, which is far too much for many people.

Take care over Mortgage Guarantee Insurance (MGI) which many first time buyers have to pay to protect the lender in case you fall badly into arrears. If this applies to you, ask how much it will cost and see if it can be added to your mortgage.

One of the most important, yet neglected documents in the home buying process is the formal letter from your lender offering the loan. This document sometimes called an offer letter, sets out in great detail not just the amount of loan but also the terms and conditions.

Check your offer letter carefully. You might find some surprises such as hefty redemption charges or high APR within it. Don't just put it away, virtually unread, in the belief that because you've been offered the money you were seeking, there's nothing else to bother about.

Depending on how much you have to move, a removal firm may a necessity rather than a luxury. If you are moving yourself, visit your local supermarket for cardboard boxes. The ones they use for packing tins are usually the strongest. Put valuables into bubble-wrap, paper, tissue or even straw.

If you do decide to use a removal firm, it is essential to check that your goods will be insured in transit.

The first-time buyer's worst nightmare is turning up with the removal van only to find that there's been a snag and the other people aren't prepared to move out. Check with everybody - the sellers, your lender and your solicitor - about a week before you are due to move that everything is going to plan.

Do the same the day before. Is the lender ready to pay the money at the appointed time? Have there been any last-minute legal difficulties? Call the removal firm too. If they fail to turn up on the day, then all your hard work will have been frustrated. check completion arrangements