Here’s a quick guide on what a Conveyancer will do for you as part of your Home Buying Process. 

Please remember that we work with a number of Trusted Conveyancers and would be more than happy to make a personalised recommendation based on your circumstances.

 

Understanding the Role of a Solicitor or Conveyancer

A solicitor or conveyancer manages the legal side of buying a property and transferring home ownership. They work on your behalf to uncover everything you need to know about a property, ensuring a smooth, transparent transaction.

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Conducting Searches and Verifying Boundaries

Solicitors run local searches to provide insights into factors that might affect the property, like planning permissions, boundaries, or environmental risks. They’ll make sure the property meets your requirements and aligns with what’s stated in the contract. You must pay for your searches upfront, typically costing a few hundred pounds, this is non refundable. 

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Negotiating Key Dates

Your solicitor will communicate with the seller’s side to negotiate key dates, such as completion and move-in dates, helping you coordinate a timeline that works for everyone involved.

Preparing Contracts for Signing
Solicitors prepare a secure contract for you to sign, confirming all legal requirements are in place. This step ensures you’re protected legally, and you can confidently proceed without fear of unexpected complications later on.

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Solicitor vs. Conveyancer – What’s the Difference?

Both solicitors and conveyancers handle property purchases. Conveyancers specialise in property law, focusing on residential transactions, whereas solicitors offer a broader range of legal services. If you choose a solicitor, it’s worth ensuring they have expertise in property law, as this will streamline your home purchase. A solicitor might also be able to help you with any other complex matters that might come up. 

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The Costs of Legal Fees When Buying a Home

Combined costs to your solicitor will be around £2,000 for a house purchase. This includes legal fee's but also a number of other fee's that you pay your solicitor for, such as registering the Title with Land Registry. Be careful when looking at quotes, as many firms only quote 'legal fees' and not the extras you are liable to pay. The quotes we can offer you for our partners are inclusive of all costs.  

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Estimated Timeline for the Conveyancing Process

The legal process typically 12-15 weeks, though it varies based on factors such as the property chain. Josh will work with your solicitor to help keep you informed throughout. Remember that progress is often only as fast as the slowest firm in the chain.

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The Solicitor’s Role in Your Home Purchase – Step-by-Step

A solicitor manages every legal detail of your property purchase, from start to finish:

• Opening the Purchase File: Initiating the legal paperwork and processes for your purchase.

• Requesting Fees for Searches: Arranging necessary searches for property checks.

• Understanding the Chain: Getting details on any chain of buyers and sellers from the estate agent.

• Receiving and Reviewing Documents: Obtaining documents from the seller’s solicitor, raising any queries, and performing extensive checks.

• Preparing Final Paperwork: Drafting secure paperwork for you to review and sign.

• Requesting Your Deposit: Collecting the initial deposit to proceed with the transaction.

• Coordinating Exchange and Completion: Aligning all parties in the chain for exchange and completion.

• Final Steps: Completing the exchange, finalising the purchase, and registering the change of ownership.

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