As a first time buyer, it can often feel as though you’ve been plunged into a strange land where everybody speaks a different language. Land registry, deeds . . there are a million things to learn. That’s why having the right team around you can help to make the whole process less stressful. Some key members of your team, that you may not have come across before, are conveyancers and conveyancing solicitors. Experts in what they do, the role of conveyancing solicitors is often misunderstood. To help make things clearer we’ve uncovered and debunked some of the most common conveyancing myths around.
What do conveyancing solicitors do?
Conveyancers, or conveyancing solicitors, are responsible for managing the legal process of purchasing a property. After you have had an offer accepted, conveyancers will carry out local council searches, look after contracts, complete land registry documents and transfer the funds to pay for your property. They’ll be with you every step of the way, from filling in your proof of funds to arranging an occupier consent form for any adult in your household not party to the mortgage.
Common Conveyancing Myths
1. Conveyancers and conveyancing solicitors arrange house surveys. This is not true. Once you’ve found a property that you like and had your offer accepted, the next step of the process is to complete surveys and searches to make sure everything is ok. These are co-occurring but very different pieces of work carried out by different professionals. Conveyancing solicitors will complete land searches to make sure everything about your planned purchase is legal, while a survey of the property is completed by a chartered surveyor. This survey makes sure that the house is in a good condition and is usually required by your mortgage provider before they are able to release your funds.
2. Cheaper is best! When it comes to the process of home buying, cheaper does not mean better. Conveyancing solicitors can come in at different price ranges, but it’s important to make sure that the firm you choose is reputable and has good local knowledge. Good firms will also be upfront about their fees which is important to help you budget your moving costs (the average cost of buying a house is now around £14,000. For example, firms such as Sam Conveyancing offer a fixed price at the start of the process so you don’t have to worry about unexpected bills.
3. You should use the conveyancing solicitor recommended by your estate agent. No! While your estate agent might have some great local knowledge and advice, it’s important to make your own decision about who to go with. Customer reviews are a great place to start to make sure your team is right for you.
4. Conveyancing solicitors are hard to talk to. If you’re finding that your conveyancing team is hard to get hold of, you might want to consider looking elsewhere. The best conveyancers will work alongside you every step of the way to make sure that your house sale is completed as quickly as it can be, which also means that you’ll be expected to answer queries quickly where you can.
So whatever stage you’re at in the home buying process, make sure you choose your conveyancer wisely to make the process as easy as possible.
