GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME: Sarah Gaunt is here to help first time buyers get to grips with the conveyancing process. She kicks off the new year by answering some of your frequently asked questions…
There are a number of queries most first time buyers raise during the conveyancing process, so I thought I’d round them up into one handy checklist. I hope this helps!
How long will the conveyancing process take?
This is one of the first things most buyers ask me. The average transaction takes between 12 and 14 weeks, but unfortunately, it is not something we can guarantee, as it depends on a number of factors.
If you need a mortgage, for example, the lender will determine when the valuation is carried out and how quickly it can process the mortgage offer. Likewise, if there are several parties in your chain, their availability will impact on exchange and completion dates.
The transaction itself doesn’t become legally binding until contracts are exchanged, at which point you will pay your deposit and the completion date will be fixed. This is the day you’re working towards – when you finally receive the keys to your new home.
I’ve had to pull out of a house purchase, but the searches and survey had already been done. Can I recoup any of the money I’ve lost?
Any searches you have commissioned on a property are valid for between three and six months, so it may be possible to resell them to a third party, if a new buyer is secured in time, enabling you to recover this expense.
Unfortunately, surveys are specific to the person who instructed them and cannot be passed onto another purchaser.
Do I really need a solicitor to handle my property purchase?
Our legal system is set up to give people the right to deal with conveyancing independently. However, if you require a mortgage, or another third party is involved in the transaction, they will insist you instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf.
The firm you appoint can be based anywhere in England and Wales, but it does help to use one from the area in which you are purchasing, as they will be aware of the locality and any specific issues that may be relevant to your transaction.
Solicitors require a payment on account to cover their initial work and the cost of any searches commissioned, with the balance settled prior to your completion date. This will include your solicitor’s fee, plus costs incurred during the conveyancing, including the Stamp Duty Land Tax and the Land Registry fee, to officially record the property in your name.
There are rules set out by the Law Society that prevent the same firm acting for several parties in a chain or transaction. This may work to your benefit, as it can speed up the timescales involved.
If you are a first-time buyer with a question about moving home, our residential property expert, Sarah Gaunt, would love to hear from you. Email: marketing@tayloremmet.co.uk or for a quote click here.
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