Moving House
Moving house can be a very stressful time, for everyone. At Spratt Endicott we fully appreciate this and endeavour to do everything possible to support our clients through their property transactions. This page takes you through the process with guidance on what will happen and what you will be required to do. If you ask us to handle your conveyancing we will work with you every step of the way to ensure you move into your new home as quickly and as painlessly as possible.
There are two parts to the conveyancing process, sale and purchase. In some cases our clients may only be undertaking one or the other, but quite often a client will be selling one home and buying another. Here buying and selling are itemised separately, but if you are doing both we will help you co-ordinate the process. If you instruct Property Logic to handle conveyancing, here’s what will happen:
BUYING
When you have found a property you want to buy we will:
- check the contract and the title deeds of the property
- check the Home Information Pack in respect of the property
- sort out any problems that are revealed by our checks
- make sure all relevant documents are signed and held by us
- make any other necessary searches not included in the HIP
- keep you informed of progress
Your mortgage lender will:
- carry out a valuation of the property
- send the mortgage offer to you and instructions to us
You will need to:
- have the property surveyed (to be sure it is structurally sound)
- arrange provisional building insurance (it will need to be effected at exchange of contracts)
- raise any concerns you have about the property (or neighbouring properties) with us
- make provisional removal arrangements
When the contracts are exchanged we will:
- fix the completion date
- send the deposit to the seller’s solicitor
- request the mortgage funds from your lender
- conduct the final searches
- provide you with a completion statement (financial summary) of the transaction
You will need to:
- confirm your building insurance
- confirm your removal arrangements (now that you have a definite moving date)
- arrange for meter readings to be taken (on the day you move in)
- notify your change of address to all relevant parties, including banks, building societies credit card companies, insurance companies, DVLA, doctors, dentists, Post Office and Council Tax Office etc.
On completion we will:
- send the purchase money to the seller’s solicitor and collect the deeds and documents of your property
- pay any Stamp Duty Land Tax payable on the purchase price
- register your ownership with the Land Registry
- send you a copy of the title deeds of your property when registration is concluded
You will be able to collect the keys from the estate agent (at an agreed time) and move into your new home.
SELLING
As soon as you decide to sell your property you will need to:
- instruct us to prepare a Home Information Pack in respect of your property
- forward to us all relevant title deeds and documents in respect of your property
When you accept an offer to sell your property, we will:
- obtain your title deeds
- prepare a contract and send it to the solicitor acting for your buyer
- deal with any negotiations or queries raised by your buyer’s solicitor
- make sure you have signed the contract and it is held by us
You will need to:
- complete and return the Seller’s Property Information Form and fixtures and fittings list supplied by us
- allow access to the buyer’s surveyor
- make provisional removal arrangements
When contracts are exchanged we will:
- fix the completion date
- receive the buyer’s deposit on your behalf
- request a final repayment figure from your lender
- prepare a completion statement (financial summary) for you
- make sure you have signed the Transfer document and it is held by us
You will need to:
- make arrangements with the buyer for the handover of your keys (usually via your estate agent)
- confirm your removal arrangements (now that a definite moving date is fixed)
- arrange for meter readings to be taken (on the day you move out)
On completion we will:
- receive payment for your property from your buyer’s solicitor
- deal with the repayment of your mortgage
- pass the title deeds to the buyer’s solicitor
- repay your mortgage on your behalf
- pay the estate agent’s fees on your behalf
- pay you any sum remaining (these funds may be used in your purchase of another property)
You will need to:
- vacate the property on the day of completion at an agreed time
- cancel your building insurance