The process of buying and selling residential property has many processes and paperwork involved. Often, many delays occur when going through requirements and legalities. These delays are always between the buyers, sellers, the property purchase solicitor, and even the lender.
Delays may equal lost money, time, and opportunities in the market. You can take control of these processes by knowing the steps involved and being proactive through each step. Our guide below will outline the basic processes in buying and selling properties and what you can do to maximise processing times.
The Seller’s Priority Paperwork
If you are a seller, begin the long process of minor and major paperwork right away once your property is on sale. Collect all important information for your documents and get everything ready. When a buyer engages and negotiates a deal, it will be easier to accomplish these first steps.
The buyer’s solicitor will receive a seller’s draft contract and other paperwork. The buyer must complete these documents and hand them over to the seller’s conveyancer. Conveyancers cannot proceed if the papers haven’t been completed. By checking with a conveyance calculator site, you can confirm the conveyancing costs to avoid disputes that can delay the sale.
The solicitors may request details and paperwork about the property at this point. It includes utility safety certificates for gas and electricity, National House Building Council documents, and other paperwork.
Other Additional Paperwork
There are other documents needed when you have a property up for sale. The TA6 Property Information Form, TA10 Fittings and Contents Form, and the TA7 Leasehold Information Form are three major documents on previous property use. These papers detail the state of the property up to the point of sale.
Preparing these documents when your house goes up for sale and before engaging with a buyer can speed up the process by weeks. Once you’ve come to an agreement with a buyer, you can immediately exchange paperwork and go through the process.
In the case of a leasehold property, a seller needs to provide leasehold management documents through their managing agent. It details the property’s history before the buyer acquires it, including planned work, insurance details, disputes, and other ground rental information. The buyer will rent the property while the leaseholder or landlord owns the land for a specified time.
Seller Considerations During the Selling Period
Selling your property at the right timing will help you sell it faster. Spring and a few months before autumn and winter are when buyers are most interested in purchasing homes. The spring season is also an optimal time for the proper presentation of the house. These factors will help make buying decisions faster.
Sellers will usually go through different types of buyers. Each will present possible challenges during the buying process. In general, two types of buyers have the least amount of difficulty.
Cash buyers don’t have to go through mortgage complications since they can pay directly. Chain-free buyers, usually first-time homeowners, don’t have other transactions dependent on the sale, making it complication and delay-free
However, negotiations may still happen before closing the deal. It may happen if there are minor issues in the house, such as undeclared damage or conditions. This may affect the final pricing after communicating with solicitors. Make sure to communicate with the buyer and be firm. You can even compromise on repairs based on the condition of the house.
Streamlining the Buying Process
Buyers have to be prepared when scouting the market for a new home. Having the funds ready or fulfilling the initial steps of the mortgage process will also speed up the process.
Cash buyers usually encounter fewer issues in the buying process. Aside from the paperwork and legal formalities required, they don’t have to deal with the process of mortgages.
Before undertaking a mortgage, do preliminary research on the most suitable lender and loan that matches your finances. Buyers who use a mortgage can speed up the process by using a DIP or Decision in Principle. It’s an assessment of what the lender can do for you outright, including the loan amount. It will also take care of skipping over the credit and affordability checks.
Requesting a DIP from the mortgage company will help buyers go through the seller’s markets easier. This mortgage agreement provides a price range and a certificate from the lender detailing the important mortgage information, further speeding up the process.
The Right Solicitor is a Key Decision
Buyers need to understand that their property purchase solicitor must be among the lender’s approved panel. Their work must be in accordance with the regulations and terms of their lender. It will also speed up the process. Otherwise, your lender will assign a different solicitor to aid in the process, which can delay the process even more.
Check if your solicitor meets the standards of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme and has Lexcel accreditation. Consult their track record of work in the field and read any available reviews to get an idea of their services.
Once you have a proper solicitor, you can start the initial actions to get your home purchase ready. You should receive their welcome pack within two business days. Once you receive their identification documents and contact details, forward them to the estate agent along with the sales memorandum.
Discuss matters regarding the property with your solicitor directly. You may still need some requirements, such as a validation survey or a gifted deposit document if a family member helped with the financing.
Possible Issues With Your Solicitor
Conveyancing is a complicated role involving property technicalities and paperwork. Things may not work out if the conveyancer does not prioritise your case. You may contact your practice manager and request to move on to a different conveyancer who can duly prioritise your case and get the purchase and processes done sooner within reasonable limits.
Regular communication and updates are key to always being on the same page. Both of you know where you are in the process and how far along it will go.
Make sure that in your initial communications with your solicitor, prioritise communications through email and phones to skip over delays. Make it a rule not to rely on sending anything by post. As much as possible, accomplish processes through emails, including physical paperwork. Advise agents and solicitors to scan, sign, email, and CC or carbon copy all important communications and documents to keep everyone in the loop.
In Conclusion
Many processes are involved in conveyancing. When you know these steps, you can avoid delays by being proactive and making the right decisions. These steps will help the work go by faster, bringing you closer to your dream home. They can help you avoid legal hassles and penalties, even if you’ve already bought or sold the property.
We at Conveyancing Calculator aim to make these processes faster and easier. Our website will help you compare conveyancing quotes from authorised conveyancing professionals, whether you’re a buyer or seller with certain conditions. Know prices and processes beforehand, and get the upper hand in your buying and selling transactions. Consult with us today!
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