Conveyancing Guide - if you're just buying

When it comes to buying your own home, ignorance is NOT bliss. It can be a stressful time, and not knowing what happens next only adds to the worry. To help with this we always make a point of keeping you informed throughout the transaction. This guide should help some more by giving you an overview of the main steps in a purchase.
If you move your mouse over any of the "Jargon" words (in pink) an explanation of what they mean will pop-up. Please feel free to print out the guide and give it to your friends. Please do not copy it for commercial gain.

We will ask you to let us having £250 so that we can order a pack of searches upon your behalf. This contains the local authority and water searches. If the property is in a mining area we'll have to request a mining search as well. Searches are simply a list of questions about the property that are sent to the local council, the water authority and the Coal Authority. We'll also request the Sellers solicitor to let us have a copy of the title deeds, a contract, and questionnaires completed by the seller (including fixtures and fittings) and any documentation in support..

The only other thing we will need before we can proceed is a copy of your mortgage offer (if applicable). Once we have all of the relevant documents, we will ask you to sign the contract. If you are just buying then we will ask you to for a deposit as well (you will be told how much is needed), but if you are buying and selling then this will generally not be needed.

We will go through all the above documents with you (either in the office or by preparing a plain english report for you to read at your leisure) and explain any problems there may be with the property. Once you are satisfied that there are no major problems, then you are ready to exchange contracts.

Once the buyer and the seller are ready, a Completion Date (the "moving date") is agreed. We then exchange contracts (this means swapping the contract signed by the seller for one signed by the buyers - together with a deposit provided by the buyers). Once contracts are exchanged the contract is binding and neither party can withdraw without incurring massive expense.

On the Completion Date, we hand over to the seller's solicitor the remainder of the purchase money and in return receive the transfer document and the title deeds.

We must then within twenty-eight days arrange for the payment of stamp duty (if appropriate) and, within two months of the completion date, apply to register the buyer's ownership at the Land Registry.