Wyn Williams, Head of Residential Conveyancing at Harding Evans, explains why getting the legal side started early can make your sale smoother and less stressful.
When you decide to sell your home, your to-do list grows quickly. There are photographs to arrange, viewings to prepare for and, for many people, a new home to find. With all of that going on, it’s easy to assume the solicitor can wait until you’ve accepted an offer. In my experience, that’s often where delays begin.
I regularly see sales stall in the first few weeks while we wait for ID, completed forms or documents the seller has to track down. It’s frustrating for everyone, especially when a buyer is keen to get going. The good news is that much of this can be done before a buyer is even on the scene.
You can instruct a solicitor as soon as you decide to sell
There’s no need to wait for an offer. You can get in touch with a solicitor as soon as you decide to sell, including the day your property goes on the market.
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from one person to another. Some of that work does depend on having a buyer, but a surprising amount doesn’t. Speaking to us early means you’ll know what’s needed and can start pulling everything together at your own pace.
What we can do before you find a buyer
Before an offer comes in, your solicitor can:
- Carry out your identity checks
- Review your title documents, which show who owns the property and any legal rights or restrictions attached to it
- Spot any legal issues that might need sorting out
- Help you complete the property information and fixtures and fittings forms
- Prepare the draft contract and supporting documents
Then, once you’ve accepted an offer and we have the buyer’s solicitor’s details, we can send the contract pack across much sooner.
Why it makes a difference
You’ll feel less pressure once the sale is agreed
Digging out paperwork and filling in forms takes longer than most people expect, especially if you’re buying another home at the same time. Starting early gives you room to breathe, and time to ask questions without feeling rushed.
Problems can be fixed before they cause delays
A missing document or a query about your title can take weeks to resolve. If we find it early, we can advise you and put it right before it holds up a sale you’ve already agreed.
Your sale gets off to a strong start
Once you’ve found a buyer, you’ll naturally want things to move quickly. With the checks and paperwork already done, we can hit the ground running and keep those early stages moving.
What about the cost?
It’s completely understandable to want to know what you’ll be paying before any work begins, particularly when you don’t yet have a buyer.
Don’t be afraid to ask your solicitor what they recommend starting now, what you’d need to pay upfront, and what you’d be charged if you decided not to sell or the sale fell through. A good solicitor will be happy to talk this through so you can decide what’s right for you.
How much time could you save?
Honestly, it depends. Every sale is different, and things like property chains, mortgage offers and the buyer’s enquiries will still affect how long it all takes.
What early preparation does is cut out the time you’d otherwise spend getting your side ready after an offer is accepted. That means a more organised start, fewer surprises and, for most people, a lot less stress.
Thinking about selling?
If you’re planning to put your home on the market, our Residential Conveyancing team would be happy to talk you through what to expect and help you get the legal side under way. Get in touch with the team for a friendly chat about your plans.
