You will have access to all the information online via our case tracking system meaning that you can keep up to date with progress 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There is no need to take time out to attend meetings as we will deal with your transaction using post, email and telephone as appropriate.
You will be given a direct telephone number and email address for the person dealing with your transaction when you instruct us.
How long will my transaction take?As every transaction is different it is impossible to give an exact time frame but an average transaction usually takes between 6 - 8 weeks. However some cash transactions can be completed within a matter of days where full cooperation is given by the other parties conveyancer.
Do I need a survey?If you are obtaining a mortgage then your lender will obtain a valuation report however this does not consider the condition of the property in detail. As the buyer the onus is on you to be completely satisfied as to the state and condition of the property - "let the buyer beware". It is advisable therefore to obtain a more detailed Home Buyers Report or even a structural survey where the property is old or you have concerns about its condition.
When do I need to arrange buildings insurance?Unless the building insurance is being arranged by your mortgage lender or it is a leasehold property and insurance is put in place by the freeholder you must ensure that the property is insured from exchange of contracts. Houses should be insured not necessarily for the price paid but for the estimated cost of rebuilding which will be estimated by your valuer.
How much deposit will I need to pay?On exchange of contracts you will need to pay a 10% or less deposit to the sellers solicitors as part payment of the purchase price. If you decide to pull out of the transaction between exchange and completion then the Seller has a right to keep whatever deposit you have paid. If less than 10% they may sue you for the balance up to 10% and then sell the property to someone else. If you are selling and buying then we can use your buyers deposit as the deposit on your purchase so you will not have to raise your own deposit. If you are obtaining a 100% mortgage then you will not have a deposit available and we will have to inform the seller's solicitors to provide confirmation that this is acceptable before exchange of contracts takes place.
Do you charge extra to act on behalf of my mortgage lender?The legal fees you have been quoted include acting for any mortgage lender, provided we are on their panel, and we will not make any additional charge in this respect. We are on the great majority of lenders' panels.
What if my transaction falls through?We can offer you a "No Completion, No Fee Guarantee" at an additional cost of £34 + VAT (£39.95), which will cover you for any legal fees, should this happen (you will, however, be liable to cover the cost of any disbursements paid out on your behalf up to this point, for example, the cost of searches). It is a premium paid at the beginning of the transaction and is non-refundable. If you do not take out the Guarantee, you will be charged legal fees in accordance with how much work had been undertaken up to that point, but this will not exceed the fixed fee agreed.
