Most mortgage rates, whether they be fixed, tracker or discount, are for a limited period of time. This is typically two to five years. When your rate ends you’ll automatically move to a standard variable rate, which usually means paying higher interest than you were previously.

If this is the case, it makes sense to consider looking for a cheaper rate and you should do this three to four months before your existing deal ends.

All mortgage deals have a limit on how much you can borrow when compared with the current value of the property. This is called the ‘loan-to-value' or LTV.

If your home is worth more than when you first bought it, your loan-to-value ratio may have changed. The lower your loan-to-value, the wider range of deals you’ll be able to access. So you’ll be paying less to borrow the money to pay for your home.

You’ll need a remortgage valuation to determine how much your property is worth and your lender will conduct this.

Top tips:

• Check whether your property might have risen in value by looking at similar properties for sale in your area.
• Provide evidence of the prices to your lender or broker.
• List the cost of any expensive home improvements you’ve carried out.

Your current lender may be happy to do this through your existing mortgage so check that first. You may even be able to change part of your loan to repayment and leave some as interest only.

Note - switching from repayment to interest-only is much more difficult.

You’ll usually incur an early repayment charge if you’re tied into a deal and want to end it early. This can be quite costly. There’s also usually an exit fee. Weigh up the costs of these versus the savings you’ll make on a new deal before you make up your mind.

Perhaps you’ve received some inheritance or you’ve changed jobs and had a pay rise. Some mortgage deals don’t allow overpayments or they limit the amount extra you can contribute.

If you remortgage you’ll be able to reduce the size of the loan and potentially get a cheaper rate in the process. However, beware of early repayment charges or exit fees and consider this against how much you’ll save with the new, lower mortgage.

You may want to remortgage to pay off debts or remortgage for home improvements. Remortgaging might allow you to borrow additional money at a low rate. Remember to take into account all of the fees first to check that it’s more cost effective than other loans. You might end up paying more overall if your loan is over a longer term.

Most mortgages include charges when you leave. An exit fee (also known as a redemption fee) typically ranges from £50 to £250 and you will usually pay this whenever you repay the loan, whether this is at its natural end or earlier. Early repayment fees are far higher, sometimes as much as thousands of pounds. Check the documents you received from your lender and you’ll be able to work out if it’s worth paying the charge.

You’ll need to know this because this is how much you need your remortgage to cover. It’s a good idea to contact your lender and ask how much you would need to pay to clear the mortgage by a specific date. By giving the date, you'll be taking into account any repayments you’ll make before that time.

Do you want to reduce your monthly payments? Or are you looking for flexibility to pay it off sooner? Maybe you want a fixed rate so that your payments won’t change for a set period. Think about your needs now and how they might change in the future. 

Credit checks are often as important when remortgaging as they are for first time buyers. If you’ve had some financial difficulties since you last took out a mortgage, you’ll need to make sure your credit score is still good if you’re thinking of switching lender. Check your credit rating and scrutinise your credit report for inaccuracies.