What To Ask Your Conveyancing Solicitor

When purchasing a property, you want to make sure to choose the right conveyancer to handle the proceedings. Having a bad conveyancing solicitor could add time to the process, and can even result in some costly errors. So not only will choosing the right solicitor make you feel more secure, but they will also keep you updated with the process and speed the whole thing along.

You can make sure to choose a good conveyancing solicitor by asking the right questions. This is especially important for first-time buyers as they have no previous experience, so knowing what to ask is vital. We recommend asking the following to your solicitor before making any final decisions.

How Much Do You Charge?

Fees always depend on the type of property you’re purchasing, so it’s always worth asking around and finding a couple of quotes to compare before making a decision. There is usually a lot more paperwork involved with these types of properties, meaning the basic fees are higher:

  • Leasehold
  • New-build
  • Right to Buy
  • Buy to Let
  • Help to Buy
  • Shared Ownership

Therefore, your conveyancer should always ask about the type of property you’re buying before supplying you with a quote. If not, make sure to check the terms and conditions to uncover any hidden costs.

Choosing a fixed-fee is usually the best in order to know exactly what you’ll be paying. A good firm will never hide costs and will always be upfront about how much you should expect to pay.

How Long Should It Take?

When asking around, it’s a good idea to find out how long you should expect the process to take. It will usually be between 8 – 12 weeks, but some firms can be quicker than others. If you’re in a rush, it’s handy to know which firm will be able to complete the process the quickest.

You can also ask if there’s anything you can do on your side which will help speed things up and they can let you know any potential scenarios that can cause delays. You can then prepare for these just in case.

How Often Will I Be Updated?

There’s nothing worse than being kept out of the loop during an already stressful process, so it’s important to find out how often you can expect to be in touch with your conveyancer. A good conveyancer will be in regular contact, updating you as they go, but you should make sure this is the case beforehand. You should ask how they usually prefer to be contacted, whether that’s over the phone, email or if they have an online system you can use.

You can also discuss whether you would like to be kept in the loop for the whole process or whether you would only like to be updated on big, important developments.

What Happens If the Sale Falls Through?

Property purchases can fall through all the time as sellers can accept higher offers or simply change their minds, leaving purchasers with big solicitor costs and no property.

To avoid this, always try to work with a conveyancing firm that offers a ‘no fee’ deal just in case your purchase doesn’t go through. By doing this you won’t have to pay legal fees if the sale doesn’t go through to completion. You will still have to pay any expenses that have been made on your behalf, however.

In addition, working with conveyancers who offer this no fee means they will have all the more reason to try and make sure the sale goes through for you.

Do I Need a Survey?

It’s recommended to get an independent survey completed before purchasing a home, you can ask your conveyancing solicitor for a good local surveyor to complete this for you. This will provide peace of mind that the property you’re about to buy is in good condition and will uncover any potential problems with it.

When taking out a mortgage, your lender will have a valuation done on the house but this is for their benefit not yours, so it is still key to sort out your own survey.

Start The Process

Choosing a good conveyancer you can trust is key to getting the property purchase on the right track. Asking these types of questions will put you in a great position when it comes to deciding who to go for.