Do I need a solicitor to buy a house?

Solicitor or conveyancer

Transferring ownership of property from one person to another is often referred to as conveyancing. Typically, there are two professionals that can conduct conveyancing, a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer.

If you’re buying or selling a residential property, we recommend using a licensed conveyancer. They are generally experts in all things property, can offer advice on legal issues involving your sale/purchase, and tend to be cheaper than a solicitor.

However, if you are buying/selling a large commercial property, you might find the services of a solicitor, or property lawyer, more beneficial. Conveyancers typically don’t deal with properties with a value over £2 million.

What will a conveyancer do?

Every property purchase is different and comes with its own unique set of challenges for the conveyancer. However, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect the following procedures to be undertaken during the conveyancing process:

Surveys and searches – A conveyancer will conduct searches around the property and the local area. They will look for things such as planned roadworks, or developments, and bring these to your attention. Your conveyancer will also be able to advise you on the results of a property survey.
Legal documents – A conveyancer will liaise with the seller’s conveyancer to acquire the property’s deeds and contracts.
Advise – Your conveyancer will review the legal documents mentioned above and raise any queries or areas for concerns. They will then advice you of these and discuss with the seller’s conveyancer.

It is worth noting that these are only a few of the procedures carried out by a conveyancer. The entire conveyancing process can differ largely depending on your unique circumstances. Call Mr Homes today on 02920 204555 to discuss your individual requirements and we'll put you in contact with an experienced conveyancer.

Can I do it myself?

It isn’t a legal obligation to hire a solicitor, so you are within your rights to attempt the conveyancing process yourself. However, we highly advice NOT to do this!

Even the most experienced person, with an abundance of time on their hands would not find the conveyancing process a walk in the park.

How much will a conveyancer cost?

A conveyancer’s costs will vary depending on a number of factors. For instance, the location of the property can largely influence a conveyancer’s fees, this is because the local authority searches may require extra attention if the property is located near a floodplain.

Generally, conveyancing fees tend to fall between £500 and £1,500, this figure does not include the cost of disbursements.

What will they need from me?

If you’re using a mortgage to secure your property, before beginning with the conveyancing process, you should have secured a mortgage offer. This is crucial as your conveyancer will likely want to review this offer.

Aside from this, your conveyancer is unlikely to require much from you. During this time you should remain contactable and can keep in touch with your conveyancer to ensure everything is running smoothly

There are other obligations you will be relied upon to fulfil as part of the house buying process, to find out more refer to our informative blog how to buy a house.

How do I find a conveyancer?

Choosing the right conveyancer is incredibly important, after all, a good conveyancer can help guide and support you during what is likely to be a very stressful process.

You shouldn’t base your decision solely around price, the cheapest may not be the best! Remember, your conveyancer will be dealing with the legal work surrounding your property purchase, any mistakes they make could end up costing you.

At Mr Homes, we work with only qualified and experienced conveyancers, ensuring your conveyancing process is as painless and straightforward as it possibly can be.

Use our free conveyancing tool and get instant quotes from local, professional conveyancers in as little as 2 minutes. You can also call us directly on 02920 204555, to discuss your individual requirements.