A guide to conveyancing for first-time buyers

In 2019, first-time buyer numbers reached an estimated 353,436, the highest level since 2007.

First-time buyers made up over half (51%) of all homebuyers in 2019.

As a first-time buyer, it is only natural to be unsure of what lies ahead in the process of purchasing a home.

That is often especially true for the conveyancing process, where first-time buyers are unaware of what to expect from their conveyancer.

At Farnworth Rose, we break down the conveyancing process and offer advice on buying your first home.

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the process of transferring the legal ownership of a property from one person to another.

Your conveyancer will handle all the legal aspects of your move, including making sure the seller has the legal title to sell the property, organising searches and liaising with estate agents and other solicitors on your behalf.

What to look for when choosing your conveyancer

Choosing the right conveyancer to handle your move is one of the most important steps in the home buying process.

There are a few things you should take into account when choosing your conveyancer:

• Look for a regulated solicitor – choosing a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority will mean that you will be covered by the firm’s insurance should anything go wrong.
• Look for a fixed fee quote – budgeting for your house move is difficult enough without getting nasty surprises on the cost of legal fees. Look for a fixed fee conveyancing quote which includes the cost of searches (often referred to as ‘disbursements’).
• Choose a specialist conveyancer – the conveyancing process can be complicated so it is important to have a specialist on your side. Here at Farnworth Rose, our team of conveyancers have over 90 years’ combined experience helping people with their move.

At what point in the process do you need a conveyancer?

For many people, appointing a conveyancer can be something of an afterthought in the moving process.

However, at Farnworth Rose, we would always encourage you to choose your conveyancer as soon as possible in the process. By doing this, you can start the legal process as soon as your offer has been accepted by the seller(s).

What will your conveyancer do?

The role of your conveyancer is to make sure that the legal process of your move runs as smoothly as possible.

This will include:

• Ensuring the seller has a legal title to sell the property
• Organising searches such as local and coal searches
• Making sure the property has the appropriate Planning Permissions and/or Building Regulations, if necessary.
• Raising enquiries with the seller on issues such as boundary responsibilities
• Advising on any restrictive covenants which could affect how you can use your home.

How can clients help the conveyancing process?

As a client, the easiest way to help the conveyancing process run smoothly is to communicate with your conveyancer.

This means if you have any concerns about the property, no matter how big or small, you should let your conveyancer know. They can then act to prevent any unnecessary delays.

If you are purchasing your property with a full or part gifted deposit (using money from parents or other relatives) you should also let your conveyancer know straight away so they can carry out all the necessary checks and get you moving as quickly as possible.

Get your conveyancing quote from the experienced team at Farnworth Rose

To receive your conveyancing quote today, call the expert team at Farnworth Rose today on 01282 695 400.

Or, you can even receive your conveyancing quote online by clicking the button below and completing our online quote calculator.