Getting an offer accepted is exciting.

It is also the point when the spending starts: fees for a survey of the building's condition, a solicitor's legal work, searches of property and council records, and sometimes a lender's estimate of the property's value.

Before handing over money, check what you can about the property itself.

 In Peterborough, that means looking beyond the estate agent's sales description and asking what the title, council records and flood-risk information are telling you.

Start with the title, the legal record of ownership.

HM Land Registry lets you buy the title register, the written ownership record, and title plan, a map showing the property's general boundaries, online for £7 each.

They can show who owns the property, if you own the property and land outright (freehold), or own the right to use it for a fixed number of years (leasehold).

They can also show rights of way, allowing others to cross land; restrictive covenants, rules limiting what owners can do; and easements, rights to use land for purposes such as access or drains.

That will not tell you if the roof is failing, but it can reveal restrictions or ownership details you need to understand before paying for legal work.

Then ask what a Peterborough local-authority search will cover.

 Peterborough City Council says its residential CON29R search, the standard set of council enquiries used when buying a home, costs £185 and normally takes 10 working days.

It can flag planning applications, building-safety approvals, road proposals, action over breaches of planning rules, legally protected trees and restrictions in areas protected for their historic character.

That is not a reason to skip the search.

It is a reason to ask the conveyancer, the legal specialist handling the purchase, exactly what is included, how much the full package will cost and what could be added later.

Get the legal fee and payments the legal firm makes to other organisations on your behalf in writing. 

Also check that the firm is approved by your mortgage lender. A cheap quote becomes less attractive if your lender will not work with that firm.

Flood risk deserves an early look in this area.

The Environment Agency's online service covers river and sea flooding, surface water, rainwater collecting on the ground; reservoirs, large stores of water; and groundwater, water below the surface.

 It reports risk for an area, not a guarantee about one individual house, so a worrying result needs further questions rather than an instant verdict.

The same "match the check to the risk" rule applies to surveys.

 The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), a professional body, sets standards for three survey levels.

Level 1 gives a basic condition report,

Level 2 adds more advice about defects and repairs

Level 3 provides a more detailed investigation and advice for complex properties.

A more detailed inspection may make sense for an older, altered or visibly tired property; a basic option may be adequate for a newer home in good condition.

A mortgage valuation is not a full survey.

A buyer's best first move is simple: get the address, check the title and flood-risk information, ask for the council-search and conveyancing costs, then choose the survey level.

Spend early where it answers a real question not just because the buying process has started.

If a purchase uncovered a restriction, flood concern or costly repair before you exchanged contracts and became legally committed to the purchase, tell us what happened.

Quick Check 

Check the ownership record, flood information, legal quote and council enquiries early. Choose a survey that suits the building and confirm that the legal firm can work with your lender.