When you move house, you will reach a point where the conveyancing will take place. Conveyancing can be confusing in what it is and how it works if you do not know much about it. Usually this won’t matter too much as your solicitor will take care of this side of things, however it doesn’t hurt to be aware of what is going on.
In basic terms, conveyancing is the transfer of the legal title of a house from one person to another. This will consist of the exchange of contracts and the completion. The process is carried out using a number of steps, which must be adhered to. They are as follows:
Draft contract and paperwork – this will take place once your offer has been accepted. The solicitor of the seller will draft the contract, which will outline the conditions of the sale and the terms.
Introductory enquiries – the buyer’s solicitor will have, by this point, checked the initial paperwork and contract. It will then be their job to make checks regarding the property.
Organising a survey – this stage involves the house survey, where there will be checks and assessments done on the property and the surrounding area. During this step the solicitor will also perform searches of the local area, which can include seeing if there are any environmental issues such as flood risks or contaminated land.
Approval of initial contract – once the survey is completed, the solicitors from the buyer and the seller with negotiate terms of the contract. Once both parties are happy and the final contact draft has been completed, it will be signed by buyer and seller, in preparation for exchange.
Mortgage Offer – the solicitor will be instructed to check the terms and arrange for the buyer to sign the mortgage deed.
Exchange of Contracts – at this point, the two parties (buyer and seller) will commit to the transaction set out in the contract. If either one backs out, they will be faced with a financial penalty for any losses. The buyer will pay a deposit and a completion date will be set.
Completion – the money is received by the seller’s solicitor who will then proceed with the terms agreed, and the keys are released to the buyer.
Post-Completion – the solicitors will have to sort out any outstanding tasks such as mortgage repayments on the property, estate agent fees, the seller’s payment, report details to HMRC, Stamp Duty, and registering the purchase at the Land Registry.
Although this process may sound complex and confusing, that is why it is in place. Your solicitor/conveyancer is there to relieve as much additional stress as they possibly can in the house moving process.
For more information, or if you are thinking of moving house and need some advice, call us today on 0333 320 8658 or send us an email at info@viewfinance.co.uk.
