Whether you’re buying a house for the first time or moving up the property ladder, you want to be sure that a property is as near to perfect as possible. This generally means going and viewing a number of places. According to a variety of research, people looking for a home will, on average, view 12 to 14 properties.

What if you see something you like but aren’t sure that you can get the mortgage? Well, it pays to do some enquiring in advance.

Say, for instance, that you have decided you want a fixed-rate mortgage because you prefer to know what your payments are going to be and you already know what your budget is. If you go online to Direct Line, you can use our mortgage calculator to work out what you might have to pay over the fixed term and the period after that. We offer a two-year fixed rate mortgage as well as three-year fixed rate and five-year fixed rate mortgages, so you can compare all three.

When you have started looking at properties and have a clearer idea of the cost, you can then apply online for an agreement in principle. This means that, should you find your dream home, you are safe in the knowledge that your mortgage is already agreed. If you don’t find a property within six months, or the rate or offer on the mortgage you apply for changes, then you will have to reapply.

You can find out more about our fixed-rate mortgages and apply online. And if you take out a Direct Line mortgage, we’ll give an extra discount off our best home insurance price.