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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- The legal work can be done via post and online - so you can manage it at your convenience. This also means there are no time-consuming meetings, but you still get a high-quality service.
- You can track the progress of your move online whenever you want. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- It’s free to contact our financial advisor, who can help you with a no-obligation quote.
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.
