How to Choose the right Conveyancing Solicitors
From first time buyers to those looking to sell up and move elsewhere, the common factor that needs to be considered is Conveyancing. Importantly, selecting experienced, reputable conveyancing solicitors can make the process run a lot more smoothly.
We are often well informed about how to find a house to buy, exploring mortgage options and seeing how much we can borrow, however conveyancing can sometimes be left unconsidered until there is a mad rush to find someone after an offer is accepted.
In this guide, we explain why you need to find a reputable conveyancing solicitor, and what their role is in your house-buying process.
What is conveyancing?
Conveyancing is the legal transfer of home ownership from one party, ‘the seller’, to another, ‘the buyer’. Essentially, it is the legal process of buying a house.
As soon as you have had an offer accepted on a house, you will need to instruct a conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor.
Conveyancing solicitors will manage the legal side of things to ensure that their client’s rights are protected. The transfer of ownership must meet all legal requirements. Finding trusted, reliable conveyancing solicitors to manage this for you will take a lot of the stress out of your house-buying process.
Considerations when looking for a firm to instruct
- Is the company well-reviewed? The more great reviews there are, the more comfort you can take that it is a respected, legitimate firm. You could, for example, look at Review Solicitors for feedback. We are rated 4.9 stars out of 5 for housing and property services.
- Are the conveyancing solicitors on your mortgage lender’s panel? If not, this could lead to unnecessary complications and a longer conveyancing process.
- Ask your friends and family. Have they had any good experiences with a particular conveyancer that they could recommend? Perhaps they have had a bad experience somewhere, which you can then avoid!
- Look at local firms. If there is a respectable local firm in your area, it is highly likely that they will have dealt with similar houses to yours, or even your new house, in the past. Local knowledge can be very helpful in overcoming any barriers in the conveyancing process.
How much are solicitors’ fees for buying a house?
Fees can vary depending on the property price band and whether it is a freehold or leasehold.
Generally speaking, most houses are freehold, as you own the building and the land it is on. Most flats or maisonettes are leasehold. While you own the flat, you don’t own the entire block, and so the lease of the entire building must be considered.
Stamp Duty is another factor to consider. Again, as the price of the property increases, so does the value of the Stamp Duty required.
There are a number of different checks which need to be done as part of the conveyancing process. These can include environmental searches, water and drainage searches, mortgage handling fees, Land Registry charges and more.
Your quote should give you a breakdown of each fee.
Should I compare conveyancing quotes?
It is important to shop around, whatever service you are looking for. It is equally important to consider more than just price when comparing conveyancing quotes. Get an instant quote from us to compare with the others.
Often, the cheapest option will not be the best. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Be wise and realistic in your judgement of conveyancing quotes. If the transaction is to be more complex than usual, you should expect a higher cost.
How long does conveyancing take?
Generally, the conveyancing process can take around 8-12 weeks. This will vary on a case by case basis, but if you choose to instruct reputable conveyancing solicitors, this is the sort of timeframe you can expect.
If you are involved in a chain, it may take up to 6 months to complete the process.
If you have a mortgage agreement in principle before you start house hunting, it can take less time for your offer to be accepted. This means that you can get the conveyancing process started faster.
On the day of completion, the conveyancing solicitors will arrange for the transfer of funds, and you can have the keys to your new property. They will stay in touch to ensure that all of the paperwork and legalities are sorted from the transfer of funds.
Get in touch with our Conveyancing Solicitors
Whether you want to kick-start the process, get a quote or you have an enquiry for our conveyancing solicitors, get in touch with the team.
You can call us on 0161 969 3131, fill out our contact form, speak with us on live chat at the bottom of your screen, or get an instant quote.