Simplifying the conveyancing process for buyers

If you're a new kid on the block or an old hand at buying property, the conveyancing required to complete a sale can seem baffling. Searches, contracts, deeds - all can induce bewilderment in lay people but are very much grist to the solicitor's mill.

The good thing is you don't have to know the ins and outs of conveyancing - that's what the professionals are for. However, it's always good to have some idea of what your solicitor is talking about when they get in touch.

The solicitors who work with Homeward Legal are experts in their field. Their job is to put together the building blocks of conveyancing so the transaction process is completely as smoothly and snag-free as possible for the buyer.

Much of the work they do won't require your involvement and they will always be in touch when they do require your consent or signature on any documentation.

So, what are a solicitor's main tasks when representing a buyer in a property purchase?

• Liaise directly with your financial adviser, mortgage adviser, estate agent and builder (where appropriate) and manage your case from start to finish.
• Commission important searches via the local authority and other agencies, including planning, water and drainage, environmental checks, mining, flood and chancel searches. You can find more information on the types of searches required here.
• Ask pertinent questions of the seller about the property and its deeds, particular any that arise from any building survey that is carried out.
• Check your mortgage offer and prepare a Mortgage Deed for your signature.
• Prepare all contracts and other paperwork required for the sale.
• Arrange for your signature on all contracts, including a Stamp Duty Land Transaction Return if stamp duty is payable on the purchase.
• Exchange contracts with the seller, including a Transfer Deed that puts the property into your name. At this stage you will have to provide a deposit, usually 10 percent, that may not be returned to you if the transaction is then not completed for any reason.
• Liaise with your mortgage lender to ensure the funds are in place for the purchase via a form called a Certificate of Title, which confirms the property is acceptable as security for their loan. Your solicitor will also ask you to transfer any outstanding balance so the seller can be paid and the sale completed.
• Submit the stamp duty form to HMRC and pay any outstanding duty before registering the property in your name with the Land Registry.

Homeward Legal works with a nationwide panel of specialist property solicitors based across England and Wales. Each member of our panel is committed to delivering fast, low-cost conveyancing services to buyers. All quotations come with a guarantee that this is the price you will pay with no hidden extras. All disbursements and fees are outlined from the start.

Start your journey to a new home by calling our expert sales team on or get an instant, no-obligation quote here.

If you're a first-time buyer, check out Homeward Legal's comprehensive First-Time Buyers' Hub where every topic related to purchasing for the very first time is covered in detail.