When it comes to buying and selling a property, the quality of your conveyancing could make the difference between a good sale and costly delays. We’re regularly asked how this type of service works, so we decided to share answers to five common conveyancing questions.
1. How much does a conveyancer charge?
In the conveyancing world, it’s worth remembering that you get what you pay for. A cheap online conveyancer might not provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision on your property purchase. Poor conveyancing services can also lead to nasty and costly surprises later down the line for buyers. However, it’s important not to purely base your decision on price. Try to get a recommendation and check reviews before instructing a conveyancer or property solicitor.
Conveyancers and property solicitors will charge a fee for their services based on the property type and size, as well as disbursements. The latter covers any payments that have to be made to a third party, such as property searches. As a general guide, the current average for the East Midlands is around £2,031 (January 2025 - HomeOwners Alliance). However, fees vary and will depend on the property value and standard of service.
2. What does a conveyancer or property solicitor do?
Conveyancing is the legal process that enables the transfer of legal ownership of a property from one party to another. There are a series of important checks and searches that need to be carried out when you buy a property. This detailed process ensures that you are fully aware of any risks before you commit to buying a new home. Your conveyancing solicitor will also negotiate key dates with the seller’s solicitor and get the contract ready for you to sign.
If you are a first-time buyer or you haven’t moved house in a long time, it’s important to understand exactly how the conveyancing process works. Ask your property solicitor to explain each step of the process, as well as the administration and transactional requirements.
3. What property searches are carried out?
Your conveyancer will check the legal title of a property through the Land Registry. This is to ensure it’s good and marketable, both for yourself and for any involved mortgage lender. They will also conduct local authority searches relating to planning permissions and restrictions, as well as environmental, water authority and location-specific searches. For more information, read our blog What searches do you need when buying a property?
4. When will I need to pay conveyancing fees?
There are various stages during the conveyancing process where you will need to pay fees and disbursements, and this will vary depending on the solicitor. Usually you will be asked to pay some money upfront to cover disbursements for property searches.
Your solicitor may ask you to transfer money into an escrow account to ensure they have sufficient funds to pay the deposit when you are approaching completion.
It’s important to make sure you allow enough time to transfer monies to avoid costly delays, especially from providers such as building societies. There have been cases when a party has failed to transfer monies in time, delaying the exchange of contracts. This can incur extra costs such as removal firms’ cancellation fees.
5. How do I choose a conveyancer?
Always check the credentials, experience and quality of any legal professional you are looking to instruct to do your conveyancing. Ask family and friends for first-hand recommendations, and also check online reviews on Google and Facebook.
As an example of what to look out for, please see a testimonial from one of our clients below:
“We just wanted to say a very big thank you to you. As first time buyers with no clue what we were doing and the whole legal process of buying a property, you were really great to work with and made the whole process of purchasing our first home quick, simple and easy to understand. We wish you all the best and look forward to working with you/SHB in the future.”
Once you have shortlisted the property solicitor you wish to use, check whether they are registered on the Solicitors Register. Make sure you use a law firm with a practising certificate from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Never use a legal firm that has been prohibited from practising.
Your trusted property solicitor in Leicester
Moving house is one of the most stressful events we encounter during our lives. By using a qualified and regulated property solicitor, you will have full clarity and peace of mind before you commit to a property purchase.
Salusbury Harding & Barlow has a team of highly experienced property solicitors and conveyancers. We offer competitive fixed fees and provide clear details of our fees before we commence our work. The entire process will be explained in plain English, so you understand what’s involved and any information arising from property searches. Our aim is to help you make an informed decision when it comes to buying or selling your home.
For conveyancing services, get in touch or email: s.swift@shbsolicitors.co.uk to arrange a face-to-face or telephone appointment.
Sources:
https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/questions-to-ask-conveyancing-solicitor/
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