Why Getting a Proactive Conveyancer is Your Most Important Move

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of choosing the right property or envisioning how you'll arrange your furniture. But there's one crucial aspect that can’t be overlooked: the legal side of the transaction.

A proactive conveyancer makes sure your purchase goes smoothly, avoiding costly mistakes or delays. Here's why having the right one on your side is essential.

Title (proof of ownership) investigations

A conveyancer’s job begins with ensuring the person selling the house has the legal right to do so. This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many problems arise from unclear ownership records.

Your conveyancer will check the Title Register at HM Land Registry to confirm the seller’s ownership, as well as the Charges Register. This crucial step ensures there are no hidden owners or unresolved financial issues attached to the property, like an ex-spouse or business partner claiming a stake later on. Without it, you could unknowingly inherit someone else’s debt or be caught up in a legal dispute that makes your new home a headache.

Mandatory property searches

A property might look perfect on a viewing. But what about what you can’t see? A proactive conveyancer will conduct several vital searches, including local authority, water & drainage and environmental searches.

These should help to uncover any hidden issues. You could stumble across potential deal-breakers like a planned high-speed rail line running through your garden or even a public sewer beneath the foundation. If you’re in the North West, expert conveyancing solicitors in Manchester should be particularly familiar with local developments in the region.

Searches protect you from future surprises that could cost a fortune to fix or make your new home unsellable. It’s far better to know about these things before you sign on the dotted line.

Contract drafting & negotiation

The draft contract is the blueprint of your purchase. It covers all the terms, from the price to even the finer details, like who gets the garden shed. The seller’s solicitor will initially draft this contract, but it’s the buyer's conveyancer who goes through it with a fine-tooth comb.

This is where a proactive conveyancer makes a real difference – they ask questions and raise enquiries to close any potential loopholes. For example, if the seller claims the roof was replaced in 2024, your conveyancer may demand the building regulation certificates. If the seller can't provide them, your conveyancer might advise negotiating a lower offer.

Handling the ‘domino effect’ of the chain

Many home buyers and sellers are often part of a chain – several transactions that depend on each other to proceed. The challenge is that one hold-up can affect the whole chain.

Your conveyancer (along with estate agents and other parties) manages this delicate process, acting as the primary coordinator between all the different solicitors, your bank and the estate agents. They ensure that the ‘exchange’ (when the sale becomes legally binding) and the ‘completion’ (when you get the keys) happen in sequence for everyone in the chain.

Without a proactive approach, you’re more likely to find yourself in a position where you're ready to move, but your seller or another party in the chain isn't. This is stressful and can even leave you legally bound to a contract or temporarily homeless. It’s important to note, though, that your conveyancer can’t control this process.

Final funds & legal registration

Once you get the keys, the work isn’t over. There’s a mountain of post-completion admin to navigate. A skilled conveyancer will handle things like paying your Stamp Duty (SDLT) to HMRC and ensuring your name is correctly registered at the Land Registry as the new owner. If this registration isn’t done right, you don’t legally own the property.

Additionally, failing to pay your Stamp Duty within 14 days (in England and Northern Ireland) could result in hefty fines. Your conveyancer ensures every detail is taken care of and that you're fully compliant with the law.

So, do you fancy getting a decent conveyancer now? They do much more than handle the paperwork. The right professional can safeguard your interests and save you from unnecessary risks along the way.