Conveyancing for First Time Buyers
Last updated: August 2009
In this article, we take a look at conveyancing, which is appointing a solicitor to handle all of the legal paperwork that is involved in buying a house.
Once you have made an offer on a house and the offer has been accepted, the seller's solicitor will want to contact your solicitor to arrange the contract. We will now give you a bit more information about what a solicitor can and will do for you, and how to find a reputable solicitor.
The Job of a Conveyancing Solicitor
One of the main tasks of a conveyancing solicitor will be to negotiate transaction dates between the two parties (or more if there is a chain). These transactions refer to the dates when contracts are exchanged and when everyone moves into their new home (i.e. when money is transferred, known as the completion date).
The other task is to perform a local authority search on your property - this will highlight any potential problems within the boundary of your property such as whether any planning permission has been granted, any potential health issues and any trees that are protected on the site. Your solicitor should provide you with a report on their findings and explain anything that is unclear.
Tip: We recommend that you do some of your own research at the local council offices to find out if there are any nearby developments that may affect the property you intend to buy, or the area around it. Alternatively, your solicitor may be willing to do a search on the local area for an extra fee.
In reality, your solicitor will send you a mountain of paperwork to review and complete. You must read through the paperwork carefully so you do not miss anything because there is no going back once you have exchanged contracts. I recommend that you talk to your solicitor to get their opinion on the paperwork because it is written in legal speak, which is somewhere between Latin, English and a language that I have yet to come across.
Getting a Conveyancing Solicitor
Like mortgage lenders, there are many solicitors to choose from so it's a good idea to shop around by getting a few quotes.
Solicitors are represented by The Law Society in England and Wales, so it makes sense to use their website (see below) to find a solicitor that specialises in Conveyancing in your area.
The Future of Conveyancing
The government's land registry is pioneering a new form of conveyancing which aims to make the whole process much easier and faster. E-conveyancing, as its known, may be available as early as this year.
Conveyancing Resources
- Find a Conveyancing Solicitor - At The Law Society.
- The Solicitors Regulation Authority
- E-Conveyancing - At the Land Registry.
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Article by Tim Ballard.
March 2008 - last updated August 2009
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User Comments
Tim from Suffolk said...
Go on, be the first to add a comment!
Thursday, April 10th 2008 06:53 PM
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