Buying a house is one of the most exciting things you’ll do in life – but also one of the most daunting, especially when it’s your first purchase. Moving home is undeniably stressful but with some careful planning and the professional help of a conveyancing solicitor, the stress can be kept to a minimum.
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring the ownership of land or property from the seller to the buyer, and conveyancing solicitors are the legal experts who make sure this all happens smoothly. From the moment your offer is accepted through to the contracts being signed and your money transferred to complete the purchase, your conveyancing solicitor works closely with you to ensure you have thought of everything and the property has no nasty surprises.
What Does A Conveyancing solicitor Do?
Your conveyancing solicitor is responsible for checking that the property meets your expectations. This includes checking the title to Property to ensure it is not defective, that the Property has the benefits of necessary rights for its full use and enjoyment and it is not subject to onerous reservations and restrictions. To carry out necessary searches and making appropriate enquiries to establish that the Property has all the necessary planning permissions for your proposed use, whether there are any restrictive covenants on the property. To establish that the seller is legally entitled to sell the property, whether there are any financial obligations on the property and checking important matters such as boundaries and boundary responsibility.
It’s important you are happy with your conveyancing solicitor so take the time to choose the right one for you.
Top 5 Tips For First Time Buyers
- You Matter
Whilst your conveyancing solicitor deals with all the important legal matters involved in the purchase of property, you are responsible for thinking of a lot too and alerting them to subjects they may not have thought about. Don’t forget, your conveyancing solicitor probably won’t have seen the property so it makes sense for you to raise any issues you are concerned about and want them to look into, such as a nearby bus stop, power cables or whether there is a shared driveway or an extension that doesn’t look quite right. It’s also a good idea for you to visit the property at different times of the day and to double check the title plans when you are at the property to ensure the boundary markers are right.
- Be Chatty
Talk to your conveyancing solicitor on a regular basis and tell them exactly what you want them to do, even if it seems obvious to you. There may be specific plans you have for the property so mention this so the right checks can be made. If you’re ever in any doubt about any aspect of the property, always ask your conveyancing solicitor who can make the relevant checks.
- Surveys nd Searches
There are different types of surveys available, depending on the level of detail you want on your potential new property – your conveyancing solicitor can advise you on the right one for you. Searches include local authority, water authority, coal authority, environmental and chancel check, and check for items such as planned building works, flood risks, and financial liabilities on the property. It’s always best to understand any issues with the property before you sign contracts and become the legal owner.
- File Away
It’s sensible to keep all your documents in the one place so you can access them whenever you need them, which will speed up the conveyancing process and help prevent any delays along the way.
- One Step At A Time
Whilst you’ll no doubt be keen to buy the property and move into your new home, be sure to exchange and complete on separate days. When you exchange, contracts are passed between you and the seller and you become legally obliged to purchase the property. You complete when you actually move in – and there is a great deal to be sorted before the moving day so it’s a good idea to allow plenty of time between exchanging and completing.
Bartletts Solicitors has experienced conveyancing solicitors who make the process of property purchase as easy and stress-free as possible. We provide a friendly, professional, knowledgeable approach together with clear communication and regular progress updates so you can manage every stage of the process to ensure you’re happy with your new home.
For professional advice and guidance on your property purchase, please contact our solicitors on 0800 988 3674 or 01244 311 633 email advice@bartletts.co.uk
