A simple guide to conveyancing

20th November 2018

Conveyancing is an essential part of selling property, but many people simply don’t know what it is. In this blog Maslen Estate Agents will take you through the process from start to finish, answering any questions you might have.


What is conveyancing?

The definition of conveyancing is: “the branch of law concerned with the preparation of documents for the conveyance of property”. In simpler terms, it’s the legal transfer of home ownership from the seller to the buyer. The conveyancing process begins when an offer on a property is accepted and finishes when the buyer gets the keys.


What does the process involve?

Maslen Estate Agents has created a simple, six-step guide to the conveyancing process, taking you through the different stages for a seller.


  1. After the seller has chosen a conveyancer, they will receive confirmation of the work and its costs. The conveyancer will carry out proof of identity checks and ask for information on the property. If it’s a leasehold property, they’ll require additional information.

  2. The conveyancer will get the title deeds. This is a document that shows the chain of ownership of the property. The title deed is registered at The Land Registry, along with details of the amount outstanding on any existing mortgage.

  3. A draft of the contract will be sent to the buyer’s conveyancer. They will review it and raise their enquiries. There is potential for some back and forth at this stage.

  4. The seller and buyer agree on a completion date, and contracts are formally “exchanged”. This means both are legally committed to the transaction. The buyer’s conveyancer will draft a transfer deed to be sent to the seller’s conveyancer.

  5. The seller's conveyancer will check the transfer deed, and send to the seller for a signature. The seller will hand their keys over, and the title deeds and transfer deed will be sent to the buyer’s conveyancer.

  6. Once the transfers have been made, the property has officially been sold!


Who does conveyancing?

You’ll need to hire a solicitor, property lawyer or licensed conveyancer to do it for you. Maslen Estate Agents works closely with a selection of Brighton’s leading conveyancing companies to ensure this process runs smoothly for you. Here’s how:


How long does it take?

On average, the conveyancing process takes between 10 and 12 weeks. A number of variables can affect the time it takes, but at Maslen Estate Agents we keep the process moving and iron out any creases that may crop up along the way.

If you’re thinking about selling your property and would like financial advice, Maslen Estate Agents offer fee-free independent help. Find out what we can do for you.


Testimonials

  • All agents at Maslen were extremely helpful and polite from the beginning to the completion of sale. 

    Mr Johnson Fiveways

  • Brilliant. Well done to Sharon and the Woodingdean team.

    Ms Curtis The Ridgway

  • Excellent Service from start to finish.

    Mr T Mole Cromwell Road

  • Paul was absolutely brilliant. 

    Mrs Tasker Fiveways

  • Sharon was excellent - kept us well informed, thank you so much!

    Ms Waters Cowley Drive

  • A completely painless experience from start to finish. Thank you.

    Mr Woolven & Mrs Bessant-Woolven Lewes Road

  • Great service, always polite and friendly. Excellent contact and info all the way.

    Mr Wells Bishops Road

  • Very, very happy we chose you, felt right from the start! Thank you!

    Miss Blackadder Coniston Court, Holland Road

  • Very impressive - professional and friendly, both Martin Timms and Paula Carter were excellent at keeping in contact with sensible advice based on...

    Mrs O'Connor Hove

  • We were delighted with the service received from all the staff with whom we had contact,

    Dr Crichton The Ridgway

  • A very positive experience - I had most contact with the Fiveways office and they were so friendly and helpful.

    Ms A King Balfour Road

  • Already recommended you! Thank you.

    Mr Edwards The Ridgway

  • Very good service and communication. Paula was excellent.

    Mr & Mrs Scarboro 1 Pevensey Road

  • Maslens as a whole were really friendly and professional. I have to thank and congratulate Paula Carter for being superb at her job and exceeding m...

    Ms Warren Hove

  • Very professional service. Thank you!

    Miss New & Mr Jackson Buller Road

  • From start to finish the sale was dealt with in a thoroughly professional manner.  

    Mr Gibbs Lewes Road

  • The Woodingdean team were very friendly and approachable.

    Mrs Palmer Pitt Gardens

  • Ben and Paula were calm and reassuring throughout a very difficult process!

    Ms Easterbrook Bear Road

  • Sharon was excellent, she kept us informed at all stages and was a really calming objective influence in the process.

    Ms Frederick Channel View Road

  • In February 2016 I was looking to buy and sell very rapidly. Competition among buyers at the time was very high. Sharon @ the Woodingdean branch sh...

    Ms Helen Lyons Woodingdean

  • Compared to your rivals, your service was excellent

    Ms McGrigor Milner Road

  • We cannot recommend Maslen's estate agents enough.

    Many thanks to Paul, Donna, Janette and the...

    Linda & Les Wigmore Close

  • Harvey was helpful and easily reachable at the beginning of the process and Sharon kept us informed and was always happy to help.

    Ms Murch & Ms Mapa Ticehurst Road

  • Very pleased with the experience. I would definitely recommend you and use you again.

    Ms D Edmonds Horton Road

  • The team worked very hard over a long period to ensure my sale went through - excellent service!

    Mr Patrick Gladstone Terrace

  • Best Agents in Brighton.

    Mrs Field Tarner Road

  • Thank you Paul and Archie, you gave an excellent service, as well as Kelly. I look forward to working with you again. 

    Mr White Fiveways

  • Best Estate Agents ever experienced - professional, approachable, competent and exemplary. 

    Mr & Mrs Guest Riley Road

  • I would recommend Maslen to anyone. 

    Mrs Tripp Woodingdean

  • A good team at Woodingdean helped us through a stressful time.

    Mr & Mrs Penton Sycamore Close

  • Quality advice about when and how to sell, which was spot on. Thank you.

    Miss Coleman Buller Road

  • The whole team were very committed from start to finish.

    Mr Pilgrim Lewes Road

  • Many thanks to Nick. It was an easy process thanks to you! I'm extremely satisfied with how the sale went, great job.

    Ms Mayanobe Aymer Road

  • All the staff I dealt with were excellent. Sharon worked really hard to complete the sale.

    Mrs Bent Falmer Gardens

  • Extremely efficient. Nick and Paula are excellent. The weekly phone calls were much appreciated. 

    Ms Gray Lewes Road

  • Paula's role was brilliant. Having someone office based and available was so appreciated and her promptness an impressive service - every Estate Agent...

    Ms Wynn-Jones Baxter Street

  • We were very impressed with the Nick from start to finish. 

    Mr & Mrs Smith Lewes Road

  • Cannot express our appreciation enough of all the efforts made by the Woodingdean team - they were fantastic.

    Mr John Mogridge Woodingdean

  • Superb service as usual, I would always recommend you.

    Ms S Hike Blackthorn Close

  • The sale was dealt with swiftly, professionally and successfully. Thank you Maslen!

    Mrs Lincoln Hove

  • First class service from a first class team.

    Mr & Mrs English The Ridgway

  • Very happy with the service we got from you guys, everyone we dealt with was extremely friendly, professional and helpful. Thanks!

    Mr Brown Titian Road

  • Very impressed with the efficient and friendly service, the staff were a pleasure to deal with. 

    Mr & Mrs Gill Lewes Road

  • Sharon was amazing! She kept us up to date the whole way through the process. We cannot fault Sharon or the rest of her team. 

    Mr & Mrs Ashley Woodingdean

  • Sold within 2 weeks for asking price "excellent!"

    Mr Grundy Bishops Road

  • I was new to the area and viewed a lot of properties with a lot of different agents. Maslens were by far the best I came in contact with, so when i...

    Mr & Mrs Heer Lewes Road

  • Our local office manager, Sharon Wareham was warm and friendly and kept us up to date at all times.

    Mr Hope The Brow

  • Hugely impressed with Ben & his team.

    Mrs Mead Upper Lewes Road

  • I wish we had used you to sell our property! Nice to meet honest people, who are genuinely interested in helping. Very pleased.

    Mrs Porter Taunton Road

  • Nick and Paula are total stars! They were incredibly supportive and present throughout. Thank you!

    Miss O'Haire Hove

  • Please thank Paula at Lewes Road - Excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Nuthall Lewes Road

  • Paula was absolutely amazing!

    Mr & Mrs MacKay Lewes Road

  • Very pleased with the excellent service throughout. Professional, friendly, efficient and no hard sell. Achieved above asking price. Thank you!

    Mr Witten Lewes Road

  • A really good experience.

    Mr Tibble Lewes Road

  • It was a long, drawn out process that the people at Maslen helped me through, without the impression that it was a chore. So extremely professional...

    Mr McLagan Lewes Road

  • Graham Griffin provided us, and continues to provide us, will all-round excellent advice. We trust his knowledge and expertise.

    Mr Blackmore & Ms O'Sullivan Financial Services

  • Paula was fabulous and we felt really informed and supported. 

    Mr & Mrs Walker Lewes Road

  • Paul Wilkinson was extremely helpful and efficient. The only problem was the vendors solicitor and Paul warned me of this. A good transaction all r...

    Mr Lavender Fiveways

  • The whole team were excellent, each one of them felt like family. Sharon had a lot of sorting to do at times but coped very well, a true profession...

    Mr Vernon Woodingdean

  • All very professional, kept updated throughout. Very pleased - Would recommend. 

    Mrs Hammond Hove

  • Very comprehensive and professional. Nice people to work with and highly recommended. 

    Mr Alderton Ladysmith Road

  • Service exceeded my expectations overall at all stages of the process - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. Thanks. 

    Ms Greene Lewes Road

  • Sharon, Harvey and James were all excellent - very professional. Totally opposite to what I have experienced with other agents. Maslen have restore...

    Ms Lyons Woodingdean

  • Very impressed with the service. Sharon Wareham works tirelessly, very professionally and is always there for advice. 

    Miss Matthews Kipling Avenue

  • Excellent service from the Lewes Road branch. Martin Timms secured a quick sale & at a good price & Paula Carter worked really hard to secure...

    Ms Schulte Bear Road

  • Very impressed with all dealings with Maslen. Paula Carter was in particular very knowledgeable and helpful. 

    Mr McBlane Hove

  • Fantastic service. By far the best agents we have ever used, I cannot recommend you highly enough.

    Mr Field Mafeking Road

  • Thank you Maslens, you were all excellent!

    Miss Jasper Taunton Road

  • Sharon and her team could not have done more in what was a difficult sale. 

    Ms Daly Woodingdean

  • Thanks David, all very professional.

    Mrs Flowers Foxdown Road

  • You were amazingly helpful throughout - a real pillar of strength with a very difficult sale.

    Mrs Parkin Fiveways

  • Exceptional service throughout the process - should we decide to sell in the future we wouldn't hesitate to use your agency. You're a cut above the...

    Ms Windels & Mr Barham Fiveways

  • Excellent communication and advice throughout. It felt very reassuring to be in good hands.

    Mrs Brooker Buller Road

  • Ben was particularly enthusiastic and helpful. Martin, Paula, Sam and Will are all hard workers.

    Ms Goodey Franklin Road

  • I found the service to be courteous, friendly and efficient.

    Mr Upton Buller Road

  • Very helpful and patient team.

    Mrs Shea Selborne Place

  • We were very pleased with services provided by the Fiveways office.

    Mr & Mrs Sawyer Shaftesbury Road

  • Thank you for everything!

    Ms Tucker Willow Close

  • Thanks for an excellent service. 

    Mr King Hove

  • An efficient, professional and friendly service. Helpful and a pleasure to do business with.

    Mr Beddington Brading Road

  • As always, an excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Field Lewes Road

  • First class service. Friendly and professional.

    Mr Thorne The Avenue

  • Good team. Straightforward. No nonsense.

    Mr Standing Newmarket Road

  • Paula is amazing!

    Ms Aspnall Gladstone Place

  • The staff were very helpful, an excellent service. I would recommend you to others.

    Miss Hockly Fiveways

  • Excellent service as always

    Mr Field Ringmer Road

  • I have bought and sold 7 properties, and this was the best experience of an estate agents services I have found.

    Mrs Shepherd Hertford Road

  • Excellent customer service throughout. I will definitely recommend you, and use you again. Thank you.

    Ms Longley Kingsbury Street

  • It was an amazing experience, everyone involved were fantastic. 

    Mr & Mrs Knight Woodingdean

  • A very committed team who made the sale process very easy.

    Ms Rees Ticehurst Road

  • Outstanding service from Sharon. James is an asset to Maslens & Harvey was so helpful and polite.

    Ms Cianchetta Selhurst Road

  • Very pleased with the service. Many thanks to Sharon and the boys!

    Mr Flynn Woodingdean

  • Thank you. We found all the staff knowledgeable and really pleasant to deal with. 

    Ms Ansloos Lewes Road

  • Very thorough & very informative.

    Mr Michnowicz Waldegrave Road

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