Buying and selling property can be stressful, even for the most seasoned property developer or homeowner. That is where experienced conveyancing lawyers like ours at Johnson Astill come in.
We have the expertise and experience you need to gain peace of mind that your property sale or purchase will proceed as quickly, seamlessly, and cost-efficiently as possible, so you can relax and concentrate on preparing for your move.
What Is Conveyancing?
In simple terms, conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from one person or entity to another. It involves a series of legal steps and administrative tasks that ensure that the buyer takes full ownership of the property and that both parties’ interests are protected. From initial offers to the handing over of keys, your conveyancing lawyer is meticulously working behind the scenes to make it all happen smoothly.
Please call us free now on 0800 059 0600 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and a member of the team will get back to you soon.
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What Do Conveyancing Lawyers For Buyers Do?
For buyers, the conveyancing process officially begins once your offer on a property has been accepted. This is an exciting time, but it is crucial to act swiftly to engage conveyancing lawyers so that the legal process can begin as soon as the parties are ready.
Some of the tasks that our conveyancing lawyers undertake when acting for buyers include the following:
Instruction And Initial Steps
When you have found your dream home, you need to instruct conveyancing lawyers to handle the purchase on your behalf. At Johnson Astills, you can be confident that our conveyancing lawyers will get to work straight away, sending you a client care letter outlining our terms of engagement, fees, and the next steps.
We will then contact the seller’s solicitor to confirm our instruction and request the draft contract pack.
The Contract Pack And Initial Investigations
When they are aware that our conveyancing solicitors are acting for you, the seller’s solicitor will send us a draft contract, a copy of the title deeds, and property information forms. These forms provide crucial details about the property, including boundaries, disputes, services, and fixtures and fittings. We will meticulously review these documents and identify any red flags.
Searches
Searches are a critical stage in the conveyancing process. The search results will reveal whether there are any issues with the property that are not immediately apparent from the title deeds or an initial inspection.
The types of searches our conveyancing lawyers will undertake will depend on the nature of the property you propose to buy and the area in which it is located. Examples of some common conveyancing searches include the following:
- Local Authority Search. A Local Authority Search reveals key matters such as planning permissions, building control history, and road schemes.
- Environmental Search. An Environmental Search checks for contamination, flood risk, and other environmental concerns.
- Water and Drainage Search. A Water and Drainage Search confirms the property’s connection to public sewers and water supply.
Depending on the property’s location and type, additional searches might be recommended, such as a mining search. These searches are vital for you to fully understand the state of the property you intend to buy.
Enquiries
When we have reviewed the contract pack and considered the search results, our conveyancing lawyers will raise enquiries with the seller’s solicitor seeking clarification or further information on any issues that have arisen.
Exchange Of Contracts
Exchange is a major milestone in your transaction. At this point, the transaction becomes legally binding. Pulling out after exchange constitutes a breach of contract.
Completion
At completion, our conveyancing lawyers will request the mortgage funds from your lender and transfer the remaining purchase price to the seller’s solicitor. You can then collect the keys to your new home.
What Do Conveyancing Lawyers For Sellers Do?
For sellers, the conveyancing process begins shortly after you have accepted an offer on your property.
Instruction And Initial Paperwork
Similar to buyers, the process begins when you instruct our conveyancing lawyers who will send you our client care letter and other relevant documentation.
Preparing The Contract Pack
Our conveyancing lawyers will obtain a copy of your title deeds from the Land Registry or your mortgage lender, and prepare the draft contract pack, which includes the draft contract, title information, and the completed property forms. We will then send all relevant documentation to the buyer’s solicitor.
Responding To Enquiries
The buyer’s solicitor will raise enquiries based on their review of the contract pack and search results. Our conveyancing lawyers will liaise with you to prepare answers to the queries and return them to the buyer’s solicitors as soon as possible to keep the transaction on track.
Exchange
Once all enquiries are satisfied and both parties are ready, contracts will be exchanged and the transaction becomes binding.
Completion
On the completion date, the buyer’s solicitor will transfer the purchase funds to the seller’s conveyancing lawyers. We will use the funds to pay off any outstanding mortgage and estate agent fees. The remaining balance is then transferred to the seller.
Navigating the complexities of the conveyancing process requires assistance from specialist conveyancing lawyers like ours. We pride ourselves on offering comprehensive, efficient, and client-focused legal advice.
We understand that every property transaction is unique, and we are committed to guiding you through each step with clarity and care, ensuring a smooth and successful outcome.
Please call us free now on 0800 059 0600 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and a member of the team will get back to you soon.
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