25 So you’ve made that decision to move Not a decision taken lightly by any of us, your home is usually your biggest financial asset; but nonetheless you have agreed that the time has come to place your property on the market whether you’re moving up, down or relocating entirely the process of selling needs careful handling from day one. How do you get things started Choose your estate agent wisely, make sure they are going to work with you not just through the sale but they are going to be there throughout the whole transaction. Jubilation Now you have accepted an offer and perhaps also secured a property you wish to buy. By the time you appoint a solicitor we know that you may have already been through a rather stressful time. Always try to appoint a local firm and obtain an estimate before instructing your solicitor, this will save time and is far more convenient. That first call is so important, like everything else, first impressions count and you will quickly know if the conveyancer is someone you will enjoy working with and will look after your best interests. There are six distinct stages of your transaction:- 1. Instructions - confirmation of instructions to your solicitor to act on your behalf and of course the mandatory Identity regulations - another benefit of using a local firm, you can attend the office and provide the necessary ID swiftly and easily. 2. Pre-exchange work - involves submitting or receiving a contract pack; if you are selling, the solicitor will obtain official copies of the title from the Land Registry to your existing home, supply you with protocol documents i.e. Property Information Form and Fixtures and Fittings Form for your completion, as these form part of the contract pack. Planning permission and building regulation consents should be produced where work has been undertaken by the seller. If you are buying a property, your solicitor will receive a contract pack, approve the contract and raise any enquiries that are necessary. 3. Searches - usually only applicable to a purchase, these are generally a Local Authority Search; Drainage Search; Environmental Search and a Chancel Check. Some of these searches are discretionary. Your solicitor will report to you on the results of all these searches. 4. Mortgage Instructions - only relevant on a purchase of course, your solicitor can’t proceed until they have received a copy of your mortgage offer and instructions from your lender and have complied with all the mortgage conditions. 5. Exchange of contracts – Yippee! - this is the legally binding part, now you can prepare for completion day, confirm removals and organise those change of address cards! 6. Completion your moving day - stay in touch with your solicitor and agent – all systems go! After completion your solicitor will have some registration work to do and we will look after this for you. Lastly and most importantly... The Moving Process Made Easy! Editorial Credit: Marsha Marriner, Partner, Whitehead Monckton Law Firm ...settle in and enjoy your new home! Editorial Credit: Marsha Marriner, Partner, Whitehead Monckton Law Firm
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjEwMzM=