Buying a home means thinking about lots of different things. You need to be able to trust the person who is advising you and acting for you. A professional can oversee and advise you on things like:

  • valuations
  • mortgages
  • surveys
  • searches
  • stamp duty land tax (in England) or land transaction tax (in Wales)
  • contracts and other legal documents such as transfers
  • money transfers.

When it comes to conveyancing, when might I need to go and get some advice? 

The process of conveyancing can be quite tricky to navigate if you haven't got much experience of it. Normally, when you put an offer in at the estate agent, that's normally the time that you might need a solicitor. The estate agent might have some recommendations, but you are free to choose who you wish. You might know a friend who's used a good solicitor. You might have already been on the law society's website to search for a local solicitor. But normally, when you put your offer in, if you have a solicitor ready, that's the normal time you'd need to instruct somebody.

Your choice

Conveyancers and solicitors can help you to buy a home. Licensed conveyancers and CILEX Conveyancing Practitioners are specialist property lawyers. Solicitors offer a wider range of legal services. If you think your purchase is going to involve an issue like a boundary dispute, try to find out if the adviser you plan to use has experience with this type of work. There are some matters which your legal adviser can’t advise you on themselves. These matters need specialist advice. This is most true of financial matters such as valuations, surveys and mortgages

Online conveyancing services have become more common in recent years. Clients deal online, by email and by phone with legal professionals acting for them in a house purchase. While online options can be cheaper, they may not offer the level of personal service that some people expect.

Contact is key

Buying a home can take a long time. It can also be confusing and will involve a lot of questions that need to be answered. Having the help of a legal professional can make a big difference. They can explain things clearly to you when you need it.

Make sure you’re comfortable talking to whoever you choose to handle your house purchase. You need to know how and when you can get hold of them. You need to know what to do if your named contact is not around. Ask them if they have an online system you can use to track how everything is going.

Ask around

Mortgage advisers might put forward the name of a legal adviser to handle your house purchase. But make sure you talk to people you know well like friends, family and people you work with. They might have had legal professionals acting for them in a house purchase before. They could point you in the right direction.

Your estate agent may also mention a legal adviser they use on a regular basis. It’s wise to make checks before deciding who to use. And many legal professionals are now the subject of online reviews.

Check with your lender

If you need a mortgage to buy a home, choosing a legal adviser who is on your mortgage lender’s approved panel might save you time and money.

Local know-how counts

Legal professionals who know the local area well may be better able to help you with your house purchase than someone based elsewhere. Local advisers will know about recurring local legal issues. That could speed up the whole process. This is most true when it comes to knowing what searches should be ordered.

What about fees?

House purchases can take a long time. Knowing how much you will be charged for conveyancing fees up front is important, however long the process takes.

Make sure that whoever you choose to act for you in your purchase gives you a full breakdown of their charges at the outset. They should also give regular cost updates throughout the process. 

Conveyancing fees are split into two parts:

  • legal fees. What the legal professional charges
  • disbursements. What third parties charge (search and application fees, land tax etc.)

There are different fees for sellers and buyers.

Conveyancing fees vary. This might be because of where the property is. If the property is near a river, special checks might be needed before a buyer can understand the risks of buying the property. Fees for buying leasehold properties such as flats are often higher as they may involve more paperwork (management packs) from both the managing agent and the freeholder.

Some advisers work for a fixed fee. Others charge a percentage of the property’s value. If you do decide to use a lawyer for your conveyancing services you might compare quotes from different providers.

There is a guide to how much conveyancing fees should be on the HomeOwners Alliance website

How long will it take?

The conveyancing process starts when you make or accept an offer on a property.

The main steps in the process are:

  • pre-contract work
  • mortgage offer
  • draft contract
  • exchange of contracts
  • pre-completion searches
  • completion

The process normally takes around 12 weeks but can take longer. This is most true when there is a leasehold property

The most common delays are caused by people being slow to respond to questions. This is most true in a housing chain. A single transaction in the chain can delay everyone.

Find out more about what happens in conveyancing

More help

More on finding a legal adviser