If you plan to buy a home don’t wait until you make your final choice before getting your documentation in order, says Lanice Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank.

“Buyers who have seen bond originators or banks and have made sure of their position in terms of the National Credit Act will be in a far better position to get their offers accepted quickly,” says Steward.

Matters which should be looked into, she says, are

Tax: it is essential to have your tax paid up to date because unpaid taxes will result in the transfer being held up. If you are buying in a spouse’s name, check that he or she has a tax number.

Proof of income: to qualify for a bond, you will have to produce salary slips or bank statements dating back at least three months. You will also have to produce an analysis of your total monthly expenditure.

FICA compliance: to get yourself cleared under the Financial Intelligence Credit Act, you have to produce all bank statements, your identity document and evidence of residence.

Debts: bonds are always awarded quickest to those who have only limited debt. It will pay before you start house hunting to eliminate serious debts, including credit card sums. If for any reason you have been blacklisted by the credit bureaus, it is wise to get this matter dealt with.

“Home buyers will often have overlooked some minor payment or refuse a payment because of a dispute,” says Steward. “This can result in them appearing on the list of bad debtors, which could result in having bond applications refused.

“Any purchase as large as a home is likely to be stressful. In the circumstances, the more you can clarify your position early on, the better. If your bond position and documentation are already sorted out you will be in a far stronger bargaining position,” says Steward.