What is conveyancing?
Conveyancing is the process of moving ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer. There are several different steps to the process. Checks are carried out on the legal title to confirm ownership and identify any restrictions.
Searches are also obtained to provide information about the property and its surrounding area, and enquiries are raised to clarify if there is anything unclear in the paperwork.
These initial steps are designed to highlight anything that may not be obvious at first glance, such as rights affecting the property or conditions that need to be addressed before a purchase can go through. Our house purchase solicitors will be able to help throughout this process, making the entire experience straightforward and transparent for you.
Conveyancing also includes preparing and reviewing the contract, working with mortgage lenders and managing the key stages of exchange and completion. Most transactions take around eight to 12 weeks, but timeframes can vary depending on the circumstances. Your solicitor will be able to provide more accurate estimates.
What does a house purchase conveyancer do?
A house purchase conveyancer is responsible for making sure your transaction is handled correctly and efficiently, and that any risks are identified before you become legally committed. They will carefully review the details and make sure you understand anything that could affect your decision to proceed.
They’ll review the contract prepared by the seller’s solicitor, check the legal title and assess the results of searches and enquiries. If anything needs further clarification or raises a concern, they’ll deal with this on your behalf and explain what it means in practical terms. Our team will avoid legal jargon and ensure you understand everything from start to finish.
They will also deal with the transfer of funds at completion and arrange for your ownership to be registered with HM Land Registry. Throughout this process, they’ll be your main point of contact, keeping you updated and making sure everything is in place before anything is finalised.
What’s the difference between a house purchase solicitor and a conveyancer?
In the context of buying a home, a conveyancer specialises in property transactions and knows the ins and outs of buying or selling a home. A solicitor is a fully qualified lawyer, with expertise extending beyond property law. They can help with broader legal matters if they arise during the purchase.
How can FJG support you when buying a house?
Buying a house involves a series of steps. However, it’s not always obvious how they fit together or what comes next. From reviewing documents and conducting checks to responding to enquiries and preparing for exchange, each stage has its own important role in ensuring your purchase can proceed securely.
At FJG, our role is to keep everything moving in the right direction, making sure nothing is missed along the way. We’ll keep track of progress, follow up where necessary and make sure each stage is ready before the next one begins, so you’re never left in the dark.
Managing the process from start to finish
We’ll oversee your transaction from the moment you instruct us through to completion, working with estate agents, mortgage lenders and the seller’s solicitor to keep everything moving smoothly. This enables information to be shared at the right time and ensures that any issues are picked up and dealt with early.
Investigating the property
We carry out a detailed review of the property’s legal title to confirm that the seller has the right to sell and to identify anything that may affect your ownership. This includes looking at matters like access rights or obligations tied to the property, so you have a clear picture before you decide how to proceed.
Carrying out searches
We arrange and review searches with local authorities and other relevant bodies, including environmental and drainage searches. These give you a better understanding of the property and its surrounding area, highlighting anything that might influence your decision or require further consideration.
Providing advice where needed
It’s not unusual for questions or issues to arise during a house purchase. If they do, we’ll always be on hand to talk you through them, explain what it means in practice and outline your options so you can decide how you’d like to move forward. Where needed, we can also work with the seller’s solicitor to help resolve matters.
What about Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)?
We’ll explain how Stamp Duty Land Tax applies to your purchase, including how much you may need to pay and whether any reliefs are available to you. We’ll also take care of preparing and submitting your SDLT return to HMRC within the designated timeframe.
Exchange and completion
We’ll guide you through the exchange of contracts, which is the point where your purchase becomes legally binding. We’ll then coordinate completion, so funds are transferred safely and ownership is passed over to you as expected.
What happens after completion?
Once your purchase is complete, we’ll register your ownership with HM Land Registry, notify your mortgage lender if necessary and make sure all the final legalities are dealt with. We’ll send you confirmation and copies of relevant documents so you can save them for your own records.
Ongoing support
If you need any help after your purchase, you can come back to us. Whether you need copies of documents, advice on remortgaging or support if you decide to move again in the future, we’ll always be here to assist when you need us.
What to know when buying your first home
When buying your first home, you’re bound to see it as a big milestone in your life and have plenty of questions about the process.
You won’t already have a property that you need to sell, which can make the whole process more straightforward, but there are some important legalities that require action. As well as this, you could be eligible for first time buyer Stamp Duty Land Tax relief. This can reduce the overall amount you’d pay on your purchase.
We’ll explain what applies in your circumstances, so you won’t be overpaying.
Our conveyancers work regularly with first time buyers, ensuring this new process feels clear and smooth. We’ll ensure you understand every step before it happens and answer any questions you have.
Why working with a solicitor matters
The process of buying a house involves far more moving parts than just agreeing on a price and arranging a mortgage. There are legal details you may not have even thought of, and it’s not always easy to spot potential issues just by viewing a property or reading initial documents.
Without the right checks in place, issues and legal obligations can come to light further down the line. Problems discovered after a house has been purchased and finalised can be much harder to address, which is why having the right support in place from day one is crucial.
Our solicitors are experienced in handling those details, ensuring they’ve been carefully checked before you commit. We’ll review everything, highlighting anything that needs your attention and we’ll always explain it in a way that makes sense to you. The end goal is seeing that your purchase goes through successfully, so we’ll always be there to point out anything that could cause unnecessary complications.
Why choose Fisher Jones Greenwood?
We’re rated by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, using our breadth of experience and local knowledge to help homebuyers through the home buying process.
Once your offer is accepted, the legal work starts. That’s where we come in. Our team at FJG has helped people across Essex, Suffolk and London buy homes for over 40 years, guiding them through each stage of the process. From reviewing legal details of the property to completion and registration, our solicitors are dedicated to helping you complete your purchase efficiently.
We have offices in Billericay, Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester, Leigh-on-Sea, Sudbury and London, so we’re always on hand to help, whether you’re buying a home locally or you’re from the area looking to move further afield.
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