A conveyancer, also known as a conveyancing solicitor, is a specialist property lawyer. Appointing one is an important part of your house purchase or sale, as the job they do is not usually one you can do yourself. In this blog, we look at what conveyancers do and why you need to appoint one when you’re buying or selling property. 

Why do I need a conveyancer?

Most of us make purchases every day, even if it’s just milk or a newspaper. We can cope with bigger transactions too, like a paying for a holiday or a new car. So why don’t we buy flats and houses in the same way? 

The answer is that property transactions are complicated. They usually deal with larger sums of money than the average person has access to, and involve all the people in the property chain. 

Failing to carry out every step of the process in the right order will not only disrupt your property transaction, but that of everyone else in the chain. Mistakes and delays in property sales often come with a hefty price tag. This means that, on balance, it’s cheaper to pay conveyancers’ fees and also feel confident that your transaction is being correctly handled. 

Conveyancers are also regulated. This means that you can complain and be compensated if your conveyancer drops the ball. Most mortgage lenders require that you buy your property through a conveyancer – this is because the lender will not lend money to buy a risky property. 

What do conveyancers actually do? 

Conveyancers follow all the steps in the property sale, and hold all the details of everyone else in the chain and their solicitors. 

One of their key responsibilities is gathering and checking information relating to the property. They usually start by carrying out local authority searches. They will find out whether the property you’re buying has ever breached building regulations, for example, or whether the local authority is planning to compulsorily purchase it. They will also look at the local environment, gathering details of flood plains, coastal erosion, trees, sink holes and other potential problems. 

Your conveyancer will also receive full property details from the seller, including fittings and contents of the house or flat, and details about the lease if it’s a leasehold property. 

Having received all this information, the conveyancer then goes on to check it all. Their job is to query discrepancies – for example, the local authority might say the house has a loft conversion while the property details suggest that it’s never been extended. The paperwork may also show the property is a bad investment because, for instance, it’s on unstable ground. In cases like these, it’s the conveyancer’s job to find out the truth. This can take time, but it’s worth it, and saves nasty surprises later. 

Once all the details have been ironed out and the sale is definitely going ahead, your conveyancer will send you all the paperwork for your signature. They’ll also organise the deposit payment and agree the completion date with everyone else in the chain. After completion, you’ll pay the conveyancer’s fees and they will authorise the estate agent to give you the keys. Lastly, they’ll register the change of ownership with the Land Registry, so that there is a public record of your owning your new property. 

Choose a conveyancer when you’re selling property in Guildford

We have connections with some great conveyancers and are always happy to make a recommendation. However, if you already have a conveyancer in mind, that’s absolutely fine – the Cobbles team would never pressure a client into using a certain firm. 

If you’re ready to sell your property, Cobbles would love to help! Get in touch today on 01483 457000 to find out more.