Buying a house involves many complex processes from beginning to end. Local real estate markets are tricky to navigate if you don’t have the right professionals at your side. At the beginning of your home buying journey, one of the most important positions you should fill is your conveyancer.
What Is Conveyancing?
Conveyancing is the catch-all term for the complex legal and administrative process of transferring ownership of a property. A licensed conveyancer or a conveyancing solicitor carries out this process for all parties involved. While it is possible to go through the real estate process yourself, most mortgage lenders require home buyers to instruct a solicitor.
Your choice of conveyancer will largely determine how smoothly the home buying process will go. The conveyancer secures the property title and all the rights of the land, and will continue to work with you until you receive the keys to your new home.
Here are five important facts you need to know about the conveyancing process:
Fact #1: Your Conveyancer Is Important
As a home buyer, you carry a lot on your plate bye juggling many things at once: finalising your budget, looking through endless house listings, getting all your documents together, and many more. These are all crucial aspects of purchasing a house, and it can be very stressful. This is why your choice of a conveyancer is important.
The right conveyancer will take care of all legal and administrative processes involved in purchasing a property. First of all, they will make sure your chosen property is ideal, with a clean title and properly registered paperwork. Second, they will inform you of any red flags that come up during the title search. If there are inconsistencies regarding property records, they may advise you against going through with the purchase.
Fact #2: You Can Choose Your Own Conveyancer
Your estate agent or mortgage provider may push you in the direction of a specific conveyancing solicitor or agency, but you don’t have to say yes automatically. As a home buyer, you are free to look for a conveyancer who fits your needs and budget.
You should do your own research regarding a solicitor’s specialisation and related conveyancing costs. You may find that online conveyancing services are more affordable and practical for your situation.
Fact #3: You Can Ask for Multiple Quotes
Your search for a conveyancer is much like looking for the best tradesperson to paint your home or service your car. Feel free to do as much research as you want and ask for multiple quotes from conveyancers around your area. You will make a more informed choice if you have a good idea of what’s out there,
When you meet with potential conveyancers, ask as many questions as you want regarding the process and their experience. Since you will be working closely for several months, you should pick someone you are comfortable with.
Fact #4: Property Searches Are Complex
The conveyancing process involves a series of searches to ensure that you are buying the ideal property. Conveyancing searches include:
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Title register and title plan – These documents prove that the seller is the property’s legitimate owner.
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Environmental search – This will give you information about contaminated land, landfill sites, ground stability issues, flood predictions, and other critical environmental details.
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Water authority search – This confirms your water source and if there are any public drains nearby.
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Local authority search – This determines if the property is covered by any local authority restrictions (conservation area, planning permissions, tree protection, etc.)
Fact #5: A Conveyancer Legitimizes Your Offer
It’s best to hire a conveyancing solicitor at the very beginning of your home buying journey. One of the best ways to prove to a seller that you are serious about your offer is to include your conveyancer’s details. It shows that you will get the ball rolling as quickly as possible so you can close the deal in a timely fashion. Otherwise, the seller may prioritise other buyers.
Now that you know more about the conveyancing process, it’s time to bust some common misconceptions. Hopefully, this list will help you look past what many people are saying and focus on the truth about conveyancers.
Myth #1: The Cheaper, the Better
A common myth in just about any industry is that you just need to find the cheapest service provider to minimise expenses. This is never true, especially for incredibly complex services.
Conveyancing is a drawn-out legal and administrative process that requires years of training and thorough knowledge of the industry. So while you should shop around for reasonable fees and appropriate contract terms, don’t make the price your first priority. Instead, focus on professional experience, word-of-mouth reviews, and how they respond to your queries.
Myth #2: You Need a Local Conveyancer
This may have been true a decade ago, but conveyancing from a distance is easy and can often be more convenient in the digital age. When you do your research, you may find that you will get the best value for price if you opt for online conveyancing services. All crucial real estate processes can be accomplished online, so don’t limit your choices to local conveyancers.
Myth #3: You Should Grab Your Estate Agent’s Deal
Most estate agents partner with conveyancing agencies, and they offer clients a special two-for-one deal. It can be very tempting to just go with the conveyancer they suggest instead of exerting a lot of effort in finding one for yourself. However, their suggestion may not be the best fit for you. More importantly, you will likely pay hidden conveyancing costs such as referral and processing fees.
As previously mentioned, it’s in your best interest to do your own research. Get quotes from three or four other conveyancers and compare them with what your estate agent is offering. It’s essential to arrive at an informed decision on your own.
Myth #4: Conveyancers Are Difficult to Contact
Conveyancers work with multiple clients simultaneously, but they have an obligation to be available for all of them. If you’ve chosen well, your conveyancer should be able to answer your inquiries in a timely fashion. There’s no reason to settle for a conveyancer that is difficult to contact during one of the most important phases of your life.
Myth #5: Conveyancing Takes Too Long
One of the most frustrating aspects of buying a house is the amount of bureaucracy involved. However, all of these complicated steps are necessary to ensure that you are getting an ideal property for the right price. You don’t want to rush the process, only to find out in five years that there are problems with the property records. As the new owner, you will be financially and legally liable.
On average, the conveyancing process can last between 8 to 12 weeks. Remember that this extended period is worth it for your peace of mind as a homeowner.
Conclusion
The legal aspect of buying a property is incredibly complex, which is why home buyers need conveyancing services. Professional conveyancers make sure that the property title is clean and that there are no problems that may come up five years after closing the deal. It’s worth investing time and effort in finding the best conveyancer for you.
Are you looking for conveyancing solicitors in Pembrokeshire? Conveyancing Calculator is here for you. Our experienced conveyancing advice team can help you find the right conveyancing solicitor for your move. We also provide instant online residential conveyancing quotations. Contact us today!
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