Buying a new
home can be stressful at the best of times and positively exasperating at
worst. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-time buyer or a grizzled
property market veteran, the infamously complex gauntlet on the road to home
ownership is never going to be straightforward. However, that isn’t to say that
there aren’t a variety of options you can take advantage of to make the whole
process infinitely easier. One such advantage is in the hiring of a
conveyancing solicitor to aid you through the contractual portion of buying a
home.
As arguably
the most important part of buying a home, ensuring that the binding contracts
are completely watertight can make the difference between a smooth handover
process and one fraught with legal difficulties. Therefore, by having an expert
to hand to offer legal advice when needed, you can rest assured that you’re
getting the best deal. Yet, what exactly is conveyancing, and how can a
conveyancing lawyer actually
help
during the buying process? We’ve decided to answer these burning questions and
look at all the ways a conveyancing solicitor can help you in buying the
perfect home.
What exactly is
conveyancing?
To the
uninitiated, the term conveyancing may seem a little ominous, however, in
layman's terms, it simply means the transference of a property and the land
it's situated on between two individuals. Covering all of the legal and
administrative tasks associated with this transference, conveyancing is
essential to ensure your purchase is valid in the eyes of the law. With this in
mind, it’s obvious to see why the process of conveyancing needs to be carried
out properly.
At this
point, many buyers will look to enlist the help of a conveyancer to help you
through the process culminating in the final ‘exchange of contracts’, namely
swapping the signed paperwork between the buyer and seller and committing to
the sale of the property.
What can property solicitors offer?
Now that we
have an understanding of conveyancing, it’s useful to ascertain what services a
conveyancing solicitor can offer you upon hiring them. Usually, your
conveyancer will begin their work by conducting research with the various
organisations, such as local authorities and utility services, to ensure that
your prospective new home won’t be near any future building plans; a prime
example of this is major sewage works that may need to take place under the
property.
They will
also be able to advise you on any of the incurred costs regarding the process,
including expenses such as stamp duty and will liaise with your mortgage lender
to check all of the necessary paperwork it might need to carry out their work.
They’ll also, of course, ensure the exchange of contracts is completely legally
watertight so that you won’t get caught out. Finally, once the process is at an
end, your conveyancing solicitor will pay any related fees on your behalf and
finish up by naming you as the new owners on the Land Registry.
This is only
a small list of what a conveyancer can help you with during the buying process,
making it even more essential to hire their services.
The benefits
It really
cannot be understated how beneficial a conveyancer can be to the home buying
process; , working with a local solicitor opens up a host of advantages. For
starters, the main benefit is their expertise in the industry.. The personal
touch they can offer your case is far superior to online conveyancing services
or by doing it yourself. They will have a comprehensive list of contacts and
will have dedicated research skills to ensure that any problems are picked up
before they can develop.
It’s also
important to note how useful it is to have an easily accessible professional at
hand to help answer any nagging questions you might have. A conveyancing
solicitor will have gone through years of study and work experience in order to
become accredited in the industry. Therefore, they will have ample knowledge to
keep you in the loop and waylay any fears you may have.
Ensuring you get the best conveyancing
solicitor
Of course,
it is beneficial to have a conveyancing solicitor on hand to help you through
what is an extremely important process, however, not all property lawyers are
created equal. With this in mind, it’s important to take the time to pick the
perfect solicitor for your needs, ensuring that you’ll end up with the best
deal. However, what exactly makes a good solicitor? Well, we’ve written up a
little list to help you in your search.
- Speak to your lender:
With knowledge in the industry, your lender, mortgage broker
or Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) may be able to point you in the right
direction when it comes to finding a quality conveyancer, so don’t forget to
ask.
- Ensure they’re accredited:
Because conveyancing is such an
important factor to the real estate sector, there are numerous governing bodies
monitoring the practice, ensuring that your investment is protected. With this
in mind, make sure that your chosen conveyancing solicitor is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales
before
proceeding.
- Don’t let price tempt you:
An important thing to remember is that, whoever you decide to
hire, they will be the ones responsible for the majority of your legal and
admin work regarding your property purchase which, if done incorrectly, can
cause heaps of problems for you. With this in mind, don’t fall for seemingly
cheap rates, as it could end up costing you in the long run.
- Ensure they have time for you:
This may sound obvious, however, conveyancing is a complex
and time-consuming process that requires a huge amount of attention. Therefore,
it’s essential that you work with a solicitor that specialises in the field of
conveyancing; if you believe your case may come second to others, it may be
best to look elsewhere.
- Arrange a meeting:
Whoever you decide to work with, it’s important that you invest your
time and money into someone you feel can comfortably carry out the task to a
tee. A meeting beforehand can be a great litmus test as to whether a
conveyancer is up to the job and can give you an image of the person behind the
solicitor.
Smalley’s Solicitors - making property law easy
When it
comes to buying a property, it’s imperative that you utilise any option
possible to make the process easier both for yourself and the seller. If not,
you could lose out on your dream home due to an easily resolvable issue - this
is the same when it comes to conveyancing. As an intrinsic part of property
investment, subpar conveyancing can lead to a host of problems in the future or
could lead to the deal falling through before it even gets off the ground.
With this in mind, it’s important that you invest in a solicitor who will
strive to achieve the best deal for you. Here at Smalley’s Solicitors, we
understand the importance of the necessary process, which is why our dedicated
team of conveyancing are here to guide you every step of the way.
As no one
real estate transaction is the same, our personalised service will ensure that
all of your bases are covered, no matter how uniquely complex they may be,
meaning you can rest assured you’re working with the best.
If you would like to learn more about our extensive range of legal services,
from expert conveyancing to wills and probate aid, visit
our website
or get in touch with one of our advisors on
0115 955 6555.
