First-Time Buyer Guide | Sheffield & Chesterfield

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone. But knowing what to prioritise, how to prepare and what to expect can make navigating the property market considerably easier.

For first-time buyers in Sheffield, Chesterfield and the surrounding areas, starting a property search can bring plenty of questions.

How much can you afford? What should you look for when viewing a property? What does a Guide Price actually mean? And what happens when you find the right home and want to make an offer?

While every purchase is different, understanding some of the key considerations before you begin can help you approach buying your first home with greater clarity.

Here are some of the things we believe are worth knowing from the start.

What should you look for in your first home?

Before spending hours scrolling through properties for sale in Sheffield and Chesterfield, think about what you genuinely need from your first home.

It’s easy for a property wish list to grow. An extra bedroom, a driveway, a large garden, a kitchen diner, space to work from home and a particular style of property can quickly become part of the search.

But finding a home that offers everything while remaining within budget isn’t always realistic.

It can help to separate what you’re looking for into three categories: must have, nice to have, can live without.

Those priorities will be different for every buyer. Parking may be essential if you drive to work, while someone else may place greater importance on an additional bedroom, outside space or access to public transport.

Location can make a big difference to what your budget will buy. Across Sheffield, Chesterfield and the surrounding areas, you'll find everything from traditional terraced houses and period semis to modern apartments and new-build developments. Exploring different neighbourhoods can help you understand where your budget stretches furthest, without compromising on the things that matter most to you.

Knowing where you are and aren’t prepared to compromise can make your property search more focused and help you recognise the right home when it comes along.

Look beyond the property listing.

Property photography and floor plans can tell you a lot about a home, but they can’t tell you everything.

When viewing a property, try to look beyond somebody else’s décor, furniture and the way the current owners use the space. These are things that you can change to make the home work for you. Instead, focus on the property itself and your own priorities.

Look at the proportions of the rooms, how the spaces connect and the natural light, alongside the practical features that matter to you - whether that’s storage, outside space, parking or something else entirely.

A viewing also gives you the opportunity to experience things that are difficult to capture in an online listing, from the sense of space and level of privacy, to the local neighbourhood. If a home ticks many of your boxes on paper but something in the listing is making you hesitate, seeing it in person can give you a much clearer picture.

What do Guide Price, Offers Over & OIRO mean?

When searching for properties in Sheffield and Chesterfield, you'll come across different pricing terms. Here's what they generally mean:

Guide Price: An indication of the price range the seller is looking to achieve. Some properties are marketed with a specific range, while others have a single guide figure.

Offers Over: The seller is generally looking for offers above the advertised price, although they can still consider any offer.

Offers in the Region Of (OIRO): The advertised price provides an indication of the seller's expectations, with potentially some flexibility for negotiation.

These are marketing terms rather than fixed rules, so if you're unsure how a particular property has been priced, ask the estate agent.

It’s also important to remember that the asking price isn’t a guarantee of what a property will eventually sell for.

The amount a buyer chooses to offer can depend on the property, their circumstances, current market conditions and the level of interest from other buyers. Ultimately, the seller decides whether to accept, reject or negotiate an offer.

Understanding the position before making an offer can make this part of buying your first home much easier to navigate.

How much can you afford as a first-time buyer?

Before you start scrolling through properties, get clear on your finances.

Understand how much you could borrow, what deposit you have available, and the additional costs involved in buying a home, such as solicitor fees. Having a clear budget from the outset means you can focus your search on properties that are genuinely within reach.

Once you find a property you’d like to offer on, you’ll usually be asked to provide an ‘Agreement in Principle’ (AIP). If you don’t already have one, a mortgage advisor can help you arrange this. Redbrik works alongside Onn Financial, who can help you understand your mortgage options, establish a realistic budget and find suitable rates based on your individual circumstances.

Your current living arrangements are worth considering too.

If you’re living with family and don’t have a property to sell, you may have more flexibility around your moving date. If you’re renting, you’ll usually need to give your landlord two months’ notice. Be careful not to serve notice too early - an agreed purchase isn’t guaranteed to complete on a particular date until you’ve exchanged contracts, and you don’t want to find yourself without somewhere to live if plans change.

For first-time buyers, having your finances and current commitments in order can put you in a stronger position when you find the right place.

Ask the questions that matter.

There’s no expectation that a first-time buyer should already know everything about buying a property.

A viewing isn’t only an opportunity to look around the home. It’s also your chance to find out more about the property and the seller’s position.

You may want to ask why the seller is moving, whether they have found somewhere to buy, what is included in the sale or whether there has been much interest in the property.

If the home has been extended or altered, you may also have questions about the work that has been carried out.

And if something comes to mind after you’ve left the viewing, ask afterwards. Having the right information can help you make a more informed decision about whether the property is right for you.

Making an offer on your first home.

Finding a property you want to buy is a major moment, but deciding what to offer requires careful consideration.

Before putting an offer forward, think about what you are comfortable paying and what works within your financial position.

When an offer is submitted, your estate agent will usually ask for information about your circumstances. This can include confirming that you’re a first-time buyer, your financial position, whether you have an Agreement in Principle and evidence relating to your deposit.

If your offer is accepted, the legal and financial work required to progress the purchase begins.

If you’re buying a Redbrik property, you will also come across SecureMove™ - our approach to creating a more informed and committed sale from the outset. You’ll receive important information about the property early in the process, helping you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

What happens after your offer is accepted?

Once your offer has been accepted, there are several steps to complete before the property officially becomes yours.

You'll usually need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor, progress your mortgage application and arrange any property survey you want to commission. Your solicitor will review the legal information, carry out the necessary checks and raise enquiries before contracts are exchanged.

In England, an accepted offer isn't legally binding until contracts are exchanged. At this stage, the completion date is confirmed and both parties are legally committed to the sale.

On completion day, the remaining funds are transferred, ownership passes to you and you can finally collect the keys to your first home.

Ready to find your first place?

Get your finances in order, know what matters to you and keep an open mind when you start viewing.

Your first home might not look exactly like the one you pictured, but when you find the right one, it should feel right for you.

From that first viewing to picking up the keys, our teams across Sheffield and Chesterfield are here when you need us.

Now, let’s find your place.

View our properties for sale →

First-time buyer FAQs

Do first-time buyers pay Stamp Duty?

First-time buyers in England may qualify for Stamp Duty Land Tax relief. Under the rules currently in effect, eligible buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000 of a property costing £500,000 or less, with 5% payable on the portion between £300,000 and £500,000. The standard rates apply if the purchase price exceeds £500,000.

How much deposit do I need to buy my first home?

Some mortgage lenders offer products requiring a deposit of 5% of the purchase price, although eligibility and available rates depend on your circumstances. A larger deposit may give you access to a wider choice of mortgage products.

How long does buying your first home take?

There's no fixed timescale. The process depends on factors such as the property chain, mortgage arrangements, searches and legal enquiries. Being a first-time buyer means you don't have a property to sell, which can make your position attractive to sellers, but it doesn't guarantee a quicker completion.

First-Time Buyer Guide: Buying your first home in Sheffield & Chesterfield