Whether you're a layman looking to understand your own transaction or a lawyer needing assistance with a client's conveyancing our step by step sale and purchase guides will lead you through the process while our mini guides will break the whole thing into manageable chunks and give a deep insight into the key issues and stages. Leasehold, freehold, unregistered, registered – we've got it all covered.
Need help with a remortgage or transfer of equity / deed of gift? Our guides will walk you through the process and highlight some of the common pitfalls. Mortgages and transfers can be very simple procedures but complex issues can sometimes arise and mistakes are easily made. These guides will help you deal with them.
So you want to have a go at your own conveyancing? First you should read about the risks, then if you're still happy to proceed, our guides will take you through each stage of the process telling you what to look out for and helping you avoid falling into expensive traps. Our subscription service will give you access to all of the documents you should need for your conveyancing and we can even supply you with the Land Registry Official Copies you'll need. Our general guides will cover all the obstacles you are likely to face and offer a practical solution. Have a look at our sale and purchase guides too.
A big part of the conveyancing process is the conveyancing searches. This section tells you all about them. What they are, how and when to order them and how to interpret the results. Each search has its own guide and you'll see they are separated into Standard (should be done in every case), Regional (area specific) and Optional (not essential but often useful tools for the would be purchaser). All buyers should beware that when you buy a property, the law assumes that you have seen the information that would have been revealed by searches whether or not you have actually carried them out, so you buy the property subject to the results.
Using a conveyancer to handle your conveyancing will greatly reduce the risk to you and sometimes, particularly if you are taking out a new mortgage, you will have no choice but to instruct a conveyancer. The good news is it doesn't have to break the bank. Get a free, instant quote here. We can also help with quick easy quotes for other moving related services.
Are you looking for the documents you'll need for your conveyancing transaction? Or official copies of the title or other documents from Land Registry. We can help you. Follow the links below.
When buying a property, having a proper survey done should be the top of your list of priorities. After all, you wouldn't buy a car without an MOT certificate and the average house costs perhaps 50 times as much as the average car! It is true that a survey is a not insignificant expense at an expensive time but it could save you thousands in the long run.
Before buying a survey you need to decide which one is right for you. There are three basic types, the basic valuation, the homebuyer's survey and the full structural report. We can help provide free no obligation property survey quotes from a range of surveyors
This is the cheapest and least comprehensive of the options. It's often called a drive by survey because the surveyor may not actually enter the property. This type of survey is unlikely to reveal issues such as damp or structural movement. In fact it does little more than confirm the value of the property assuming it is in reasonable condition.
This is more comprehensive (and more expensive) than a basic valuation and is intend to reveal damp, overt signs of structural damage, the condition of the roof, guttering, windows etc. It is the most popular choice for most homebuyers as it strikes a balance between price and quality of information. It will not usually reveal any latent structural damage and the surveyor may not for example remove floor coverings etc.
Click here to request a homebuyers survey quote from a range of surveyors.
The most expensive option, this should tell you just about everything you need to know about the property. It is particularly suitable for older homes where there may be serious underlying structural problems. These sorts of problems can cost tens of thousands of pounds to fix and may lead you to renegotiate the price or even reconsider your decision to purchase altogether.
Click here to request a full structural survey quote from a range of surveyors.
It should be noted that where a lender carries out its own valuation for mortgage purposes this has serious limitations for you as the purchaser. First, it will be only a basic valuation and second, as it is commissioned by the lender you are not entitled to rely on the results, so if there is a negligent mistake your lender can sue the valuer but not you.
The survey report may recommend further specialist reports, such as a damp and timber report, electrical inspection or has safety check. These specialist reports can be as important as the survey itself as they may reveal defects that can be expensive to put right.