For many people, buying or selling a home can be an extremely stressful and confusing process. Director and Head of Conveyancing, Jenna Gall from Paul Crowley & Co solicitors, explains how that stress can be reduced by guiding you through the process to buying a property.
What is conveyancing?
Conveyancing is the process of transferring the legal title to a property from the original owner to a new owner.
The process has 2 main stages:
Exchange of contracts: This is where the contracts are signed by both parties, and the parties are then legally bound by the terms.
Completion: This is where your solicitor will pay the seller’s solicitor the agreed purchase price and the legal title to the property will be transferred to you.
What do conveyancing solicitors do?
Conveyancing solicitors carry out all the administrative and legal checks needed before you can exchange contracts and complete the purchase.
This can include organising mandatory searches as well as any which are required by your lender, making enquiries to clarify any issues, and communicating with the seller’s solicitor throughout the process.
At Paul Crowley & Co, our experienced team of conveyancing solicitors are experts in all aspects of the legal process and will keep you updated throughout the purchase of your new property.
‘If you are looking to purchase a residential property and would like us to provide you with a free no obligation quote, or if you would like to find out more about the conveyancing services we have to offer, then please call our conveyancing team on 0151 264 7363 and we will be happy to help.’
Jenna Gall | Director
Paul Crowley & Co.
How long does conveyancing take?
The entire conveyancing process generally takes from 2 to 3 months, but the length of the purchase process can vary depending on the property you are buying and how many people are involved in the transaction.
For example, if your solicitor recommends further searches or if there are lots of buyers and sellers in the chain, the process can be delayed. At Paul Crowley & Co, our team of conveyancing experts are here to help the process go as smoothly and quickly as possible so you don’t experience unnecessary delays.
How to speed up the conveyancing process
Your solicitor will provide you with a Client Information Pack when you first instruct them, which should be filled out as soon as you can. Make sure you promptly produce evidence of ID and proof of your current address when it is needed.
Your lender and solicitor will ask where your deposit and purchase funds are coming from so make sure you can provide evidence of this if you need to. Lastly, make sure you comply with your lender’s special conditions as your mortgage funds won’t be released until you do.
How much does conveyancing cost?
The cost of your conveyancing services will be different depending on the property you’re buying and how complicated the transaction is. There are also fixed costs to third parties to pay, such as Land Registry fees or Stamp Duty Land Tax.
You might also need to pay for additional searches depending on the location of the property you’re buying, for example if it is near a river or coal mine.
When do you pay conveyancing fees?
You might have to pay for the searches your solicitor conducts, but most of it is paid at the end once the purchase is completed.
How to choose a conveyancing solicitor
All conveyancing solicitors must be members of the Law Society of England and Wales and many will also be members of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme.
You will also want to consider if your solicitor has a good knowledge of the local housing market, so they are aware of any local issues or practices which might affect your sale.
Another important characteristic of a good conveyancing solicitor is that they effectively communicate with you throughout the buying process and keep you up to date as things progress.
Paul Crowley & Co… here to help
If you’re looking to buy a property and have a question you would like to ask, please call John on 0151 264 7363 and see how he can help you today.
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