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Buying or Selling a House Solicitors

Buying a house or a flat is probably the single biggest financial outlay you'll ever make. No wonder that the process is often described as being one of the most stressful things you can do in life. 

As a seller, it's likely that you'll be involved in a chain where the pace of your move is dictated by how fast or slow everyone else goes.   You can be confident that Glanvilles will act quickly on your behalf and resolve any possible barriers that may get in the way of a speedy outcome.

Glanvilles property team will do everything possible to minimise that stress and look after your best interests throughout the transaction.  We'll ensure your purchase is carried out as quickly as possible and will keep you advised of progress at all times.

A personal conveyancing service

The Glanvilles service is tailored around you and your requirements. Our priority is you and therefore we will always keep you up to date with your matter as well explain each step of the process. Although the process can be stressful, it doesn't need to be with our on-hand tailored advice. 

Providing protection

You want confidence and certainty in your house purchase which is why we focus on achieving exchange of contracts as quickly as possible.  Once you've exchanged contracts you are then fully protected and can be confident of moving into your new home.

Fixed fee costs

As with any transaction, you'll want to keep the costs of selling your home to a minimum. Glanvilles LLP's transparent pricing policy helps you plan your finances with certainty by giving you a fixed fee conveyancing estimate up front so you know exactly what costs are entailed. To see our Residential Conveyancing Pricing webpage click here.

Cutting-edge communications

Where a chain is involved, communication between all parties is essential to make sure things go smoothly. Glanvilles LLP have invested in the very latest systems to ensure efficient lines of communication. We'll keep you informed with regular phone calls, email updates and letters confirming progress. Our service implements the very latest technology so we're available and on-hand when you need us and continually advising you of progress. 

Key Steps in the Conveyancing Process

1. Instructing a solicitor:

Once you have instructed a solicitor, conveyancer or legal executive the process of transferring a property begins. The solicitor acting for the seller will prepare a legal information pack which will include:

  • A draft contract: This includes the names and addresses of the buyer and seller, the purchase price and the property address.
  • The Legal Title to the property: A register of title and plan will be ordered from the Land Registry. Your solicitor will check the title of the property to ensure that it can be legally sold.
  • A fixtures, fittings and contents form: This is completed by the seller and states which items the seller intends to leave or remove from the property on completion. This includes items such as kitchen units, lights or curtains.
  • A Property Information Form: This is also completed by the seller. The form provides information about the property. It is a standard form with a series of questions which includes information about boundaries, disputes with neighbours, works done to the property and any guarantees which benefit the property.

2. Searches and Enquiries:

When purchasing a property your solicitor will conduct several different searches, such as:

  • Local Search: This will provide information held by the Local Authority involving the property, including any prospective plans for nearby developments or roads, who is responsible for maintaining the roads and paths adjoining the property or a tree preservation order affecting the property.
  • Water and Drainage Search: This confirms whether the foul and surface water drains to a public sewer, whether the property is connected to a mains water supply or if a sewer pipe is within the property boundaries.
  • Environmental Search: This will confirm if the property is built on or near contaminated land or water or near an old landfill site. If the property is affected by flooding or subsidence.

During this time the purchaser should make any enquiries of their own, such as instructing a surveyor as solicitors cannot advise on the physical condition of the property.

With the information provided by the sellers forms, the title documents and the searches the buyers solicitor will raise additional enquiries to find out further information about the property. If the buyer has anything that they wish to know about the property they should inform their solicitor so that these can be included.

3. Pre-exchange:

When the purchaser’s solicitor has received the results of the various searches and the replies to the enquiries they have raised, they report to the buyer with a contract report containing a contract to sign. This report also notes the rights benefiting and affecting the property and the covenants affecting the property.

4. Exchange of contracts and completion:

Once the purchaser and seller have signed the contracts and the purchaser is happy with all matters affecting the property the solicitors will look to ‘Exchange Contracts’. At this point completion date is agreed between all parties, and the agreed deposit is transferred to the seller’s conveyancer. The property transaction is not legally binding until exchange of contracts takes place.

The completion date is when you will actually get the keys which are usually held by the Estate Agent selling the property. The purchaser’s conveyancer updates the Land Registry with the purchaser’s details and undertakes other post= completion formalities, such as submitting stamp duty land tax return. 

This is a very basic guide to the Residential Conveyancing process in its most simplistic form and sometimes there may be other specific considerations which vary from property to property. 

Get in touch with our property solicitors in Chichester, Fareham and Havant

If you would like further advice about buying or selling a house, please do not hesitate to contact one of our offices in Chichester, Fareham, Havant or Petworth. Our approachable understanding and expert team would be very happy to help.

Alternatively, please feel free to email us at hello@glanvilles.co.uk or fill in our simple online enquiry form for a quick response.