If you’re planning to sell your property, you will be undergoing the process of conveyancing. This is the process wherein you legally transfer the ownership of the property to the seller. Conveyancing begins when you accept the offer of the buyer and ends when the buyer has legal ownership of the property. The whole process takes anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks.
It’s crucial to have an idea of how the process goes before you start selling your home or building. This will ensure that everything goes smoothly and that you can prepare what you might need throughout the undertaking.
Decide Who Will Do the Conveyancing
Before you even get an offer, you can decide on who will do the conveyancing. You may opt to do it yourself, but consulting the help of licensed conveyancers or solicitors is generally recommended. This takes a significant amount of work off your shoulders and helps you better deal with any problems that may arise.
Conveyancing specialists will have sufficient knowledge in the legal aspects of the process, and they will also be in charge of organising the finances. The buyer will also likely enlist the help of a conveyancing specialist, and your conveyancer will be dealing with them to ensure that everything in the contract is fair.
Choose a Real Estate Agent
Hiring a real estate agent can relieve most of the stress of selling your home. They know the best prices and are well-versed in negotiating. Estate agents can also take care of some of the paperwork for you. In many cases, your conveyancing specialist will get you set up with a real estate agent and ensure that you’re not being overcharged.
Fill Out Property Information Forms
Your solicitor or conveyancer will provide you with some detailed questionnaires about the property and everything included in the sale. This involves the Property Information Form (TA 6), a general questionnaire that contains information on boundaries, building works, utilities, sewerage, and disputes. The Fittings and Contents form (TA 10) is also included, and this will contain information about the fixtures and fittings you want to include in the sale.
Your conveyancer may also give you a Leasehold Information Form (TA 7) if the property is a leasehold. You will also need to provide a copy of the lease if this is the case. As early as possible, it’s also a good idea to request the Management Information Pack from the freeholder or managing agent. This can take a few weeks to complete.
When filling out these forms, you need to answer the questions with all honesty. If you provide false information, you risk jeopardizing the sale or being sued for compensation. The conveyancing specialist can assist you in filling out the forms, and you can finalize some items when you get an offer.
Contact Your Mortgage Lenders
It’s best to contact your mortgage lender or broker that you’re planning to sell the property. Ask them about your outstanding balance and if you have to pay for an early redemption penalty.
Once you’ve requested a redemption figure from the mortgage company, you can just pay off the remaining balance when the sale is complete. However, you may also opt to port your mortgage. This means that you can take the current mortgage with you to the next property you buy.
After Accepting an Offer: Draft and Send Contracts
Once you’ve accepted an offer, your conveyancing specialist will write a draft contract. In drafting the contract, they will use the information you have provided in the standard property information forms, along with the prices accepted and other relevant information.
The conveyancing solicitor will be in charge of negotiations, and you will need to agree with the buyer on a variety of matters regarding the exchange of contracts and the sale. This includes the fixtures and fittings, how much the buyer will pay for those fittings, warranties, and a provisional date of completion.
Have the Property Surveyed
Your buyer will likely hire a surveyor to visit and inspect the property, so you will have to provide them with access to do so. The surveyor or valuer will identify any potential issues and points for negotiation, such as unfinished repairs. The buyer may negotiate with you or ask you to have any necessary repairs done.
Exchange Contracts and Sell the Property
Once you and the buyer have settled on your negotiations, your conveyancers or solicitors will exchange contracts. This formal exchange typically happens through a recorded telephone call between your respective legal representatives. It can only happen when everyone in the housing chain is ready to proceed with the sale.
Before this exchange, both parties are free to withdraw at any time without penalty. When the conveyancing specialists have completed the exchange of contracts, you and the buyer will be in a legally binding contract. The sale must be completed at this point, and you cannot accept any other offers for the property.
You will be receiving the buyer’s deposit after the exchange. The deposit is typically 10% of the property’s full price. If you decide to withdraw after the exchange of contracts, the buyer can sue you. Likewise, if the buyer pulls out, you can legally keep their deposits and will be able to sue them.
Move Out of the Property
You don’t have to move out immediately after your conveyancers exchange contracts. This is because you legally own the property until the sale is completed at a set date. Typically, the period before completion is two weeks. Even so, it’s advisable to move out at least a few days before completion to avoid any delays.
Complete the Sale
The conveyancing process comes to its termination when you hand over the keys to your property to the buyer. Your real estate agent will typically be the one responsible for giving them the keys, and any spare keys you have should be left on the property.
On the day that the sale is completed, your conveyancer will receive the outstanding balance and transfer the deed to the buyer’s conveyancer. After completion, you will then have to pay the fees for the conveyancer and real estate agent.
Make the Conveyancing Process Easier
The conveyancing process can be complex to navigate through, especially as a seller in an equally complicated landscape. Thankfully, there are ways to make the process a little easier, so long as you know where to look. We hope that this post serves as your ultimate guide through the entire conveyancing process. As such, you now have a clear blueprint that ensures you avoid any pitfalls that could affect the outcome of the sale.
It also pays to enlist the help of experts and digital tools, so never hesitate to ask for help! In a sea of never-ending real estate change, going through the sales process entails grit, determination, and support.
That said, Conveyancing Calculator can offer you support throughout the conveyancing process in the UK through advanced tools and reliable professionals. Designed to help you get accurate quotes, our online conveyancing calculator aims to make the process a little less complicated for you. See for yourself—get a quote today!
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