Conveyancing: how to get ahead of the game

When selling or purchasing a property you might want to “get ahead of the game” and have a conveyancing solicitor ready to act. This is a good idea as all law firms have several requirements to meet Law Society and government legislation. And these can be a little time-consuming.

Further, when you’re in the frenzy of viewings, offers and negotiations, getting your solicitor established, and initial paperwork completed, can reduce your stress enormously. It’s just one less thing to do, in an already busy time, and gets your conveyancing off to a great start.

What can you expect at this preliminary stage?

• When you instruct a solicitor, you can expect a guide as to what costs to expect, albeit these might be approximate if a sale has not been agreed.
• You will need to produce photographic ID and a recent proof of address.
• You will need to sign and return terms of engagement confirming you agree to the firm’s terms and conditions.
• If you are buying your house with cash (rather than a mortgage) you will be asked for evidence of the source of these funds. This is not merely evidencing that you have this money but where it originated. For example, you may have sold a house previously, inherited it or perhaps made savings over a period of time. If you’re getting financial help to buy the property from a family member, tell your conveyancer straight away. Your solicitor will need to write a ‘gifted deposit’ document for the lender.

Once completed, you’re ready to go. As soon as you’ve chosen your dream house, the solicitor can be instructed to start searches, collate the paperwork, and liaise with your estate agent, if required.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property, then get in touch with our specialist property team today to make sure you’re “ahead of the game”. Declan Hayes can be contacted on 01756 692888, or by email on declan.hayes@awbclaw.co.uk