Conveyancing is the legal transfer of a property from one party to another. It involves plenty of legal and administrative work before the key stage where contracts are exchanged between the two parties. Below we explore when you need a conveyancing solicitor and what this will entail.
When exactly do you need a conveyancing solicitor?
The best time to instruct a solicitor to start the conveyancing process is as soon as you have an offer for a house accepted. This doesn’t mean that you can’t plan who to approach in advance though. You should decide your solicitor in advance to ensure that time is saved, and your conveyancer will be ready to start the moment the offer’s accepted.
Deciding who to approach
Deciding on your conveyancing solicitor is crucial. Naturally, the first thing you’ll look for is someone with the right experience and credentials. But there are other skills to keep an eye out for too. Ideally, you want someone who can smoothly walk you through the process. Plus, they need to have the availability to begin the process as soon as your offer’s accepted. Check in advance that they’ll have the capacity to dedicate themselves to your task when the time comes.
What will my conveyancing solicitor need to do?
But what does the conveyancing solicitor do and how long will it take? When you’ve identified your conveyancing solicitor and worked out when you’ll instruct them to start the conveyancing process, you’ll be wondering about the work that will be undertaken from that point.
Usually, the process will take eight to twelve weeks. This will begin with identity checks and proving the buyer’s source of funds before obtaining a fittings and contents form from the seller. At this point, any necessary searches will occur. Checks can include making sure that you’re buying from the legal owner, examining planning permission, environmental checks to see if the house and area are safe, plus checking where the house’s water comes from and drains to.
Once the searches are complete, it’s just a small matter of legal work with the lender and exchanging contracts.
Hiring a conveyancing solicitor can feel daunting initially. But you need to have one ready to go for when your offer is accepted. Approach a solicitor who has time and expertise to handle your case and you should receive satisfactory results.
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