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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