Fast conveyancing solicitors

What does a licensed conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor do? 

Conveyancing solicitors and licensed conveyancers, such as the experts Homeward Legal work with for your conveynacing services, are there to take care of paperwork and processes on your behalf to help you complete your transaction as quickly, and with as little stress, as possible.

The exact role of your Homeward Legal conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor will depend on the type of your transaction, whether you're buying or selling a property. 

 If you're buying a property, the primary role of residential conveyancing solicitors is to:

• Confirm your identification documents and ask to see a mortgage offer (if you are purchasing with a mortgage)
• Request searches that will provide information on the property and surrounding areas
• Agree a completion date between the parties involved
• Exchange contracts with the sellers
• Transfer funds on completion day and liaise with parties involved for the collection of keys
• Register you as the new owner with Land Registry and pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (in England) or Land Transaction Tax (in Wales) on your behalf

If you're selling a property, the role of residential conveyancing solicitors is to:

• Draft up the sale contract and let the buyer know what is included in the sale
• Confirm with the buyer's residential conveyancing solicitor that funds are in place ready for completion
• Agree a date for exchange of contracts and ensure everything is in place ready
• Pay off any outstanding mortgage once the sale is complete
• Deduct their fees before sending the remaining funds to you

Can conveyancing be fast tracked? 

Yes, if everything is straight forward with your property purchase or sale, and there isn't any reason to delay the transaction, it is possible - with the help of a solicitor or conveyancer with experience of working on pressurised, or time critical cases - to fast track your conveyancing. 

For quick conveyancing, it's important that everyone involved in the transaction is prompt with anything they've been asked to do or provide. You can find out more about how you can help to speed up the conveyancing process further down this guide. 

Are there any risks with quick conveyancing? 

If you attempt to speed up, or rush through, anything as important - and usually quite time consuming - as conveyancing, there is always a risk involved. 

With quick conveyancing, there's a chance that you may feel tempted to rush through the forms and paperwork you're required to read and complete for your conveyancing, which could in fact delay the process rather than speed it up. 

And, with any conveyancing process, you're relying on the other side doing their bit for you too. So, if you're trying to work toward a completion date that isn't typical of most transactions, there's a risk you may end up disappointed that things aren't or haven't progressed as quickly as you hoped.

Will using the estate agent's recommended solicitor make conveyancing faster?

In short, no. Estate agents will often have an affiliation with firms and companies, and will therefore recommend them on that basis. Not with your best interests in mind. 

Affiliated solicitors may be more expensive, as there are usually referral fees to pay to the estate agent they work with. Such solicitors are likely to have a heavy workload too, dealing with referred cases, potentially affecting the level of service. So in fact, there is every chance the conveyancing process may take longer.

Most importantly though, when working with a conveyancing solicitor for your transaction, it should be a solicitor you have chosen because you trust them, their skills and knowledge and feel confident that they'll be able to complete your conveyancing in an efficient, yet careful and detailed manner. 

Why are there sometimes delays in conveyancing?

The speed of a property transaction, whether you're buying or selling a property, the conveyancing involved and completion of your purchase or sale is at the mercy of everyone being able to do what's required of them efficiently and correctly. 

Unfortunately, in some cases - and this may be caused by issues out of anyone's control - there may be delays in some of the processes, which in turn delays conveyancing and completion. 

What are the most common reasons for delays in conveyancing?

• One side does not have a conveyancing solicitor in place at the start
• Forms or documents are not returned in good time
• Missing warranties or building control certificates
• Hold up in property searches information, often caused by lack of staff at the local authority
• No mortgage offer in place or hold-up in securing deposit
• Slow return on building survey or mortgage valuation
• Missing title deeds
• One part of the chain pulling out

Does conveyancing take longer if I am in a chain?

If you're in a chain, which means there are a number of other transactions and people involved in your own property transaction, it is likely that your conveyancing will take longer, depending on the size of the chain. 

This is because you're relying on everyone in the chain doing everything they need to quickly, efficiently and correctly, within their own conveyancing process, and because any change in circumstances within the chain - i.e someone's purchase or sale falls through - can break the chain. 

As previously mentioned, it is common - all being well - that conveyancing takes around 12 weeks, as long as everyone involved in any chain completes everything they need to in a timely manner.

What can I do to speed up conveyancing? 

While the speed your conveyancing may rely on the efficiency of everyone within your chain, you can do your bit to ensure the process is as quick and as smooth as possible by: 

• Making sure you return all forms and other information as soon as possible
• Responding quickly to any requests from your solicitor
• Getting your mortgage and other finance in place early
• Chasing the lender regularly to ensure there are no delays in releasing the funds
• Keeping in touch with the estate agent to iron out any kinks that might be appearing in a smooth chain

What can my solicitor do to speed up conveyancing? 

Similar to what you can do to speed up conveyancing, your solicitor can help the process be as quick, as smooth and as stress free as possible by being efficient in their work and their duties to you and your transaction. 

To help achieve quick conveyancing, your solicitor will need to carry out all their necessary processes, and obtain all required paperwork, in a timely manner, to help prevent unnecessary delay. 

Therefore it is important that, when choosing your conveyancing solicitor, you can trust that they're going to do all they can for you, in a professional and prompt way.

How much does quick conveyancing cost? 

The cost of any conveyancing service is dependent on your individual circumstances, requirements and the value of the property involved, whether you're buying or selling. 

For quick conveyancing it is no different, but you can be assured that the quote we provide for your quick conveyancing needs will be clear and without any hidden costs. Plus, you can be assured that our expert solicitors will do everything they can to make your conveyancing process as quick, efficient and stress-free as possible.