Do I need a solicitor?
It is a good idea to use a solicitor of conveyancer when you are buying a house. You can do it yourself but it is complicated and you risk doing something wrong. A solicitor will handle the legal side of purchasing your new home and will deal with transferring the ownership. Some of the things they may do include:
- Running local searches
- Checking boundaries
- Negotiating dates in the sales process
- Dealing with the exchange of contracts
- Legally completing the sale
Who should I use?
We work with a panel of experienced solicitors so we can recommend one or you can use your own. We recommend using a solicitor who has experience of dealing with the purchase of new build homes as this can make the process a lot smoother for all parties involved.
How long does it take?
We aim to get you from reservation to exchange in six to eight weeks although sometimes it can take up to twelve weeks. Legal completion will usually take a few more weeks after that. This is where the process of purchasing a new build varies from buying a second-hand home.
What does a solicitor do?
Draft and Check Contracts
Initially, the seller’s solicitor drafts a contract. Your solicitor then verifies the price, deposit amount, and title deeds (which include registered property and ownership details) in the contract. After this, they send you a copy of the draft contract for review. This contract includes items such as a property information form, copies of previous ownership documents, and a fixtures, fittings, and contents form.
Conduct Searches
Your solicitor will conduct standard searches to ensure there are no issues with property ownership and access. They will also conduct local authority searches for potential changes to roads, housing, or shops. These routine checks provide you with all the necessary information about your new home so you have all the information you need to proceed with the purchase of your new home.
Finalises contracts
The final contracts are good to go when:
- You and your solicitor are happy with all the answers to the asked questions
- The solicitor has received the surveyor’s reports and has taken any needed action
- You’ve got a formal mortgage offer in your hand
- You’ve sorted out the payment for the deposit and agreed on a completion date
When your contract is ready, you and the seller will each sign a copy and contracts are exchanged!
The road to completion
Once the contracts have been exchanged, there are a few more tasks which your solicitor must carry out in order to finalise the purchase process. Among these necessary steps, they will need to conduct a final series of searches. These searches are crucial to ensure that no unforeseen issues arise that could affect your ownership of the property.
In addition to these searches, your solicitor will also prepare a formal document which serves to transfer the ownership of the property from the seller to you. This document is crucial, as it legally confirms your new status as the property owner.
Your solicitor will also take steps to ensure that the funds from your mortgage are readily available and properly allocated for the completion of the sale. This is a vital step in the process, as it allows for a smooth and efficient completion of the transaction.
Your mortgage lender releases the money to pay for tour new home. This is when you pay other costs such as stamp duty and fees.
You solicitor receives the title plan for your new home. They are now able to register the transfer of the land ownership with the Land Registry.
Once the ownership has been transferred and funds have been paid, it’s time to pick up your keys and the unpacking can begin!
Is there anything else I should be doing?
