Buying a new home can be an exciting time. But there's a lot for you to think about as well. And if you're also selling a property, things can start to become a little more complicated.
That's where Homeward Legal can help with moving conveyancing. By finding our most trusted solicitors for moving house to act on your behalf, your move will be in the best possible hands.
What is the moving conveyancing process?
What is the moving conveyancing process?
The moving conveyancing process is more or less the same as if you were just buying or selling a home. The main (and obvious) difference is that, by combining both sides of the deal process, there's twice as much to consider. That's what your solicitor or licensed conveyancer is there to help with. Here's an at-a-glance look at what happens once your offers are accepted.
For your sale
- You'll be sent a Property Information (Protocol) Form to fill out
- Your solicitor will draft an initial sale contract, which is issued to the buyer's solicitor
- Your solicitor will respond to any enquiries received
- Terms are agreed and a date is set for completion
- Contracts are exchanged
- The sale is completed
For your purchase
- You'll need to complete ID and instruction forms
- Your solicitor will receive contracts from your seller's solicitor
- If you have any questions, your solicitor will raise them on your behalf
- Searches are carried out on the property you're buying
- Terms are agreed and a date is set for completion
- Contracts are exchanged
- The sale is completed
For your solicitor or licensed conveyancer, the aim is to make sure that both processes can take place at the same time and pace. If this isn't possible for whatever reason however, there'll be no need to worry. The solicitors for moving house that we work with will keep things moving as fast and as much as possible to avoid any unnecessary delays in moving you to your new home.
What can a moving conveyancer do for you?
Each sale and purchase is unique. The work that needs to be done by your solicitors for moving house can depend on several factors such as the type of property you're selling or buying, or whether you're using a government home ownership scheme.
The bottom line is that your solicitor or licensed conveyancer deals with all the legal aspects of your sale and purchase. This includes preparing all the paperwork that you need for both parts of the process. But they'll also make sure the finances are in place and contracts are drawn up.
In addition, your solicitor or licensed conveyancer is there to liaise with the individuals or firms who represent the other buyer and seller involved in the process. When it's time to complete a sale and purchase, your moving conveyancer will then transfer the funds and ownership.
Shoud I use the same conveyancer for buying and selling?
For many people, it makes sense to use the same licensed conveyancer or solicitor for moving house. Both the sale and purchase processes involve a lot of paperwork and finances. This can make things complicated. Using the same person or firm to deal with it all can make the entire process much more efficient.
Your solicitor will aim to stick to the same systems and timeframes for both sides of a property transaction. As such, this can help save you time and ensure your home move goes faster. You may also be able to save some money by instructing the same solicitor for moving house.
When should you instruct a moving conveyancer?
When should you instruct a conveyancer for buing and selling?
It's not essential to instruct a conveyancer or solicitor for moving house before you've made or received an offer on a property. But it can often be a good idea for you to appoint someone as soon as you put your home on the market.
This means your conveyancer or solicitor can get to work on some of the tasks that take up the most time. From sourcing deeds to your home to getting you to fill out the Property Information (Protocol) Form, early instruction can help speed up the whole process.
There are also benefits to instructing a conveyancer or solicitor before your offer is accepted on a new home. Again, this can help make the process go faster. It can show potential sellers that you're serious about buying. And it means all the necessary ID checks can be done in advance.
What are solicitors' fees for buying and selling a house?
What are the conveyancing fees for buying and selling a house?
The value of your home, the value of the property you're buying and the type of property you're selling or buying. These are just three factors that could determine a solicitor's fees for buying and selling a house. The fees can also vary if either property is freehold or leasehold.
Your conveyancer or solicitor's fees for buying and selling a house in the UK will include all legal costs and disbursements, as well as VAT.
By choosing Homeward Legal when you're looking for a solicitor for moving house, will quote you a Fixed legal Fee that will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs - so you'll know exactly what's what.
When are solicitors' fees paid when moving house?
When are solicitors' fees paid when moving house?
For the new home you're buying, your conveyancing quote will include additional items known as disbursements.
In some cases, you may be asked for some payment up front to cover these costs.
But it's likely that you'll pay your conveyancer or solicitor's fees for buying and selling a house upon completion. At Homeward Legal, our friendly team makes sure that you're fully aware of the fees that you'll need to pay your solicitor or conveyancer - and when to pay them.
How long does conveyancing take?
The conveyancing process typically takes between 8 to 12 weeks on average, although this can vary based on individual circumstances.
Factors influencing the duration include the chain of transactions, local searches, mortgage approvals, and any legal complexities that may arise during the process. It's essential to communicate effectively with your conveyancer and other parties involved to expedite the process as much as possible.
You can also check our guide on how long the conveyancing process takes.
Why choose Homeward Legal solicitors for your moving conveyancing?
We've established an excellent reputation you can trust and helped over 30,000 customers in the past 13 years.
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Fixed Legal Fee policy
No hidden costs - the legal fee you get quoted is definitive.
No-Completion, No-Fee policy
You won't pay any legal fees if your move falls through for any reason.
Search & survey protection
You won't pay for your next search and survey if your transaction falls through.
Complete support
Dedicated customer service from start to finish. We are open 6 days a week.
Local knowledge
Solicitors with offices across England and Wales.
Simple & straightforward
No confusion with legal jargon - just plain and simple English.
Our residential conveyancing solicitors are regulated under the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Get in touch for your moving conveyancing quote
If you're looking to buy and sell a property and need a solicitor, get in touch with us today.
Call us on and our friendly team will be happy to help.
Alternatively, you can fill the form below to get an instant quote.
Frequently asked questions...
Yes, you can use the deposit from your sale to fund the deposit on your new property, provided both exchanges happen on the same day. However, if your new home costs more, the required deposit may be higher than what you receive. In such cases, your solicitor might negotiate with the seller's solicitor, but if this isn't possible, you'll need to arrange additional funds. It's a good idea to ensure you can cover this before proceeding.
When selling a leasehold property, the length of the lease can impact the buyer's mortgage options. Most lenders won't approve loans for properties with less than 70 years on the lease, and some require 80 years or more.
Shorter leases can also reduce property value and increase the cost of extending the lease.
If your lease is nearing the end, consider extending it before selling to make your property more attractive to buyers. For more details, check out our guide on leasehold conveyancing and lease extensions.
There a few common problems that can happen when selling a buying a property at the same time.
- Buyer or seller backing out - This is a frequent issue when someone changes their mind.
- Mortgage delays or rejection - Delays in mortgage approval can cause significant setbacks.
- Gazumping - A seller accepting a higher offer from another buyer can leave you back at square one.
- Chain delays - Delays in any part of the chain can affect the entire process.
- Survey issues - Problems discovered during surveys can lead to delays or even cause the chain to collapse.
Yes, you can sell your shared ownership property and buy another, though the process may vary depending on the specific terms of your agreement.
You'll need to inform your housing provider and follow the required steps for selling your share. Additionally, you can use any proceeds from the sale towards the purchase of a new home, either through shared ownership or other schemes.
It's important to seek advice from your solicitor to understand the full process and requirements.
No. With Homeward Legal's panel of conveyancing solicitors, when you get a quote for conveyancing services from us, the legal price we quote you is the price you'll pay.
You should be aware, however, that some property solicitors do not give accurate quotes, only estimates, often putting standard conveyancing fees in the small print, possibly to make the headline offer seem far more attractive. The final bill you receive may then be much more than you budgeted for as a result. With Homeward Legal, we offer Fixed Legal Fee conveyancing quote with no hidden charges and with our No-Completion No Fee.
If in the unfortunate event that your property transaction falls-through you will not be liable for any of the conveyancer's fixed legal fees for the work completed.
