As a Buyer or mover, what you have to do once you instruct the Conveyancer

I. Initial Steps After Instructing Your Conveyancer

Once you've chosen your conveyancing solicitor, the ball starts rolling almost immediately. Here are the first things you'll need to tackle to get the process off to a flying start.

• Complete and Return Initial Paperwork: Your conveyancer will send you a welcome pack containing a client care letter, their terms of business, and some initial questionnaires. It's vital to fill these out accurately and return them as quickly as possible. These documents outline the scope of their work, the costs involved, and gather essential information about you and the property.

• Provide Identification and Proof of Funds: To comply with anti-money laundering regulations, you will need to provide certified copies of your identification, such as a passport or driving license, along with recent utility bills as proof of address. You'll also need to show where the money for the purchase is coming from. This could be a combination of savings, a gift from family, or the sale of another property. Be prepared to provide bank statements and any relevant documentation.

• Pay for Initial Searches: Your conveyancer will need to carry out several searches on the property to uncover any potential issues. These include local authority searches, environmental searches, and water and drainage searches. They will ask you for money on account to cover the costs of these searches, so it’s a good idea to have these funds ready.

II. Key Responsibilities During the Pre-Exchange Stage

This is the busiest part of the conveyancing process, where most of the legal work takes place. Your active involvement is key to keeping things on track.

• Review and Sign the Contract Pack: The seller's solicitor will send a draft contract pack to your conveyancer. This includes the draft contract, the seller’s property information forms (TA6 and TA10), and the title documents. Your conveyancer will review these and raise enquiries, but you should also read through them carefully. Do the fixtures and fittings listed match what you were expecting? Are there any specific details you want to question? Now is the time to raise any concerns.

• Organise Your Property Survey: A mortgage valuation is not a survey. The valuation is for the lender's benefit, to ensure the property is worth the amount they are lending. An independent property survey is for your benefit, to identify any potential structural problems or issues that could cost you money down the line. It's highly recommended that you arrange for at least a HomeBuyer Report or a full structural survey for older properties.

• Secure Your Mortgage Offer: While you may have a mortgage in principle, you need to get your formal mortgage offer. Work with your mortgage broker or lender to finalise your application. Once issued, a copy will be sent to you and your conveyancer.

• Review and Sign Mortgage Documents: Your conveyancer will receive the mortgage deed and other legal documents from your lender. They will check the conditions of the mortgage offer and send the mortgage deed to you for your signature. This needs to be signed and witnessed correctly.

• Arrange Your Deposit: You will need to transfer your deposit funds (usually 10% of the purchase price) to your conveyancer's client account. Make sure you do this in plenty of time before the proposed exchange date, as bank transfers can sometimes take a few days to clear.

III. The Exchange of Contracts

This is the moment of truth! Once contracts are exchanged, the transaction becomes legally binding, and you are committed to buying the property.

• Confirming the Completion Date: Before you can exchange, a completion date (your moving day) must be agreed upon by both you and the seller. This date will be written into the contract. Be realistic about how much time you'll need to organise removals and other logistics.

• Final Pre-Exchange Checks: Your conveyancer will carry out some final checks, such as a bankruptcy search and a pre-completion search at the Land Registry, to ensure nothing has changed with the property's title since the process began.

IV. Between Exchange and Completion

The hard work is almost over, but there are a few practical matters to attend to before you get the keys.

• Arrange Buildings Insurance: As soon as you exchange contracts, the property is your responsibility. Your mortgage lender will insist that you have buildings insurance in place from the date of exchange. You'll need to provide proof of this to your conveyancer.

• Book Removals: With a fixed completion date, you can now confidently book your removal company. It's a good idea to get quotes from a few different firms.

Inform Utility Companies and Other Services: You'll need to let your current utility providers (gas, electricity, water), council tax department, broadband provider, and other services know your moving date. You'll also need to register with the utility providers for your new home and take meter readings on completion day.