Conveyancing
We understand the importance involved when choosing the right solicitor to oversee your home move. The legalities of the move is one of the most stressful and time consuming part of any property transaction and that is why we work with local and national solicitors to provide you with the best conveyancing service available.
As your agent we will help you choose the most appropriate solicitor dependant upon your requirements. Factors that you may wish to consider are is the solicitor easily accessible location / parking etc or, it could be that online access is essential to you if you find it hard to receive calls during the day. We know and work closely with many practices and can therefore help you make the most suitable choice of solicitor.
How long will it take?
Conveyancing is one of the most time consuming aspects of any home move. If the property is empty and the buyer does not require a mortgage, a sale or purchase can be completed within a few days. However, this is very unusual and it is more likely a mortgage will need to be approved and there will be a chain of transactions to contend with. If this is the case, then it usually takes 6-8 weeks to exchange contracts and then another 1-2 weeks between exchange of contracts and completion. This makes the process a total of 6-10 from start to finish. We understand the pressured timescales involved in property transactions and we do all we can to progress the transaction as quickly as possible.
How soon do I need to pay any money?
If you are buying a property, your solicitor will usually ask for an initial payment at the beginning to cover the search fees that will be paid out on your behalf. The balance of the price and the solicitor’s cost, as well as any additional charges, will be payable shortly before completion of the deal. If you are borrowing more than 90% of the purchase price then you may be required to pay prior to the exchange of contracts.
If you are selling your solicitor may charge a small fee in advance to set up their file. The costs and agent fees will be paid out from the sale proceeds on completion before any balance is sent to you.
How much deposit will I need?
It is normal for a deposit to be paid on exchange of contracts. If you are buying and selling, the solicitor will usually use your buyers deposit in connection with your purchase so you will not have to transfer any monies. If you are just buying, the amount of the deposit will usually depend upon the size of your mortgage (if any). If it is less than 90%, you will usually need to a 10% deposit to be put forward but if you are borrowing more than this ie 95% mortgage, the solicitor will ask the seller to accept whatever amount you are putting into the property. purchase.
If I have any questions, should I ask the Agent or the Solicitor?
If you have any questions regarding the legal aspect of moving, we recommend speaking to your solicitor. However, as your agent will also be aware of how the sale or purchase is proceeding and should be able to cover any general queries you have.
What happens with the keys?
Keys are usually left with the estate agents on the day of completion so that the buyer can collect them once the money has been paid over for the purchase of the property. Although your solicitor will always try to ensure that everything is finalised as early as possible on the day of completion - and usually this is dealt with by midday - there can sometimes be a delay if, for example, your solicitor is still waiting for the mortgage monies to arrive or there is a particularly long chain. If this happens, please don't panic or become upset because your solicitor will invariably resolve the problem by early afternoon - if not sooner!
