Buying and selling freehold and leasehold property

In very broad terms, the work of a conveyancer to buy or sell property involves the following steps:

To buy a property:

  1. We obtain all the necessary information about the property and ownership of it from your seller.
  2. We check that the seller has good title.
  3. We submit any necessary searches for further information about the property, such as a local authority search, a drainage & water search and an environmental search. For example, an environmental search is necessary because the owner of a property may have to pay for decontamination of land, even if he was not responsible for the contaminating activity. In addition, there will also be major implications for the value and marketability of any property affected by contamination.
  4. We agree the terms of the Contract for the purchase.
  5. When everyone is ready and the moving date agreed, we exchange contracts. This is the stage at which you are committed to your purchase.
  6. We make the pre-completion legal arrangements and checks.
  7. We get the mortgage money from your lender and any we will need from you.
  8. On the moving day, we complete the purchase by receiving the legal documents to transfer ownership and releasing the money.
  9. We register your ownership at the Land Registry.
  10. We also act for your lenders to make sure that their interests are properly protected.

To sell a property

  1. We obtain your title deeds.
  2. We prepare a draft contract and supporting documentation for submission to the solicitors acting for your buyer.
  3. We agree the terms of the contract for the sale and answer any enquiries that the buyer’s solicitors may raise.
  4. We exchange contracts when you and your buyers are ready and a completion date has been agreed. This is the stage when you are committed to your sale.
  5. We obtain redemption figures from your mortgagee (if applicable)
  6. We complete your sale on the date arranged by releasing the document transferring ownership, in exchange for the money.
  7. We redeem your mortgage.
  8. We settle your estate agent’s commission account (if applicable).

Nowadays, the seller must provide a Home Information Pack containing documents about the property and title. We can advise you about HIPs and their contents, whether you are a buyer or a seller.