Buying a house is likely to be the biggest purchase that most of us will make in our lifetimes. As a first time buyer, the conveyancing process may seem confusing, with many important things to consider.

There are a few tips we can give you to try and make sure your conveyancing goes as smoothly as possible:-

Get a mortgage in principle.

The worst thing would be to find the “house of your dreams” and then find you can’t afford it.  Speaking to a mortgage advisor to guide you on your borrowing capacity is so important before you start your property search. Be realistic before you go on the hunt for that dream home!

Choose the right conveyancer.

Clearly, we are going to say that should be us! Buying your first home is sometimes overwhelming so we really want to make the process as straightforward as possible. Check that you are using a professional and qualified conveyancer. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulator Authority (SRA) and proud members of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS).

We would always encourage you to compare a few conveyancers so you know you have a good picture of costs and also that you are content that you have chosen a reputable firm to take care of you. Low prices more often than not end up being too good to be true with hidden fees and often large-scale service providers which often pay no personal attention to your transaction. We pride ourselves on offering one to one client contact with your designated Lawyer who you will speak to in person throughout your transaction.

Instruct a surveyor at an early point of the transaction.

It is always “buyer beware”, and so important that you have the property you are buying independently surveyed so you know exactly what condition the property is in.

Make sure you complete and sign your paperwork promptly and raise any questions as soon as you have them to avoid delays.

There are a number of regulatory requirements we are expected to comply with which may seem cumbersome, but we cannot proceed until you have provided the information we request for ID and source of funds. So, the sooner you provide, the sooner we can progress for you.

Lastly, ask as many questions as you like!

There is a lot to take on board and we don’t expect you to understand every part, so questions are what we would want to see so we know you are understanding what we have provided you with or discussed with you. We aren’t looking to trip you up with legal jargon and want you to be fully aware of the process and what we are doing for you and why.

We are confident that we can offer you a bespoke service that will help support you in your first property purchase so get in touch to speak to one of us, have a chat, feel comfortable that we are the right lawyers for you.