You’ve finally found a buyer for your house and you’re ready to move onto pastures new-but then what? Well first the solicitor who is doing your conveyancing will obtain the title deeds for the property and the documents relating to Land Registry. They will then provide you with two forms which you will need to complete: ‘Property Information Form’ and a ‘Fixtures, Fittings and Contents Form.’ You will also need to provide any other documentation relating to the property but are not held with the deeds, such as timber reports.
Once your solicitor all the correct documentation they will then, on your behalf, prepare a draft contract, which is then sent to the buyer’s solicitors. Once they receive it they will carry out the searches and raise any queries they may have.
You may need to assist your solicitor in answering these queries, and once the other party are satisfied, you and the buyer will need to sign and exchange contracts. Upon exchange of contracts the sale becomes legally binding, a completion date will be agreed, and the buyer will pay the deposit.
Then on the completion date your solicitor will receive the sale price balance and hand over the deeds to the Buyer’s Solicitors. They will then payoff any outstanding mortgage, take their legal fees and then forward the balance on to you- sale completed.
If you’re on the other side of the fence and have found your dream home and are ready to buy then the process starts once your solicitor receives the pr-contract package from the seller’s legal team. After this has been received they will carry out several searches, including the Local Authority search.
Should there be any queries relating to this or any of the documentation, then your solicitor will raise these with the other party and gain answers/resolution, and once all queries are satisfied they will construct a property report for you.
From here the contract will be produced, which you will be asked to sign, and then this will be exchanged with the seller and their solicitor- making the purchase legally binding. Then the completion statement is drawn up, you pay the balance to your solicitor and the property is then transferred into your name.
Upon completion, the balance of the funds is transferred to the seller’s solicitor and they pass on the deeds.
For professional Chester legal services when buying or selling your home, head to Oliver & Co. With years of experience in areas such as conveyancing, motoring, family law, commerical and asbestos claims, whatever your problem they can help.