Find a Conveyancing Solicitor for Selling Your Property

Selling a property often marks the end of an era and can be an exciting if not daunting and stressful experience.

With an experienced conveyancing solicitor on your side, you can have confidence that your experience will smooth and as stress free as possible.

What's the process of selling a property?

The sale of your property essentially means the transfer of legal ownership to your buyer in return for the price agreed. This is a legal process is known as conveyancing.

When you have instructed your conveyancing solicitor (or licensed conveyancer) to do the conveyancing, the selling agents will send the sales details to your solicitor and to your buyer’s solicitors. The legal work can then begin.

The essential steps of a typical property sale are:

1. Your solicitor will send you a 'client care' letter setting out the terms and conditions on which they will act for you. This will include itemising the costs agreed between you, the complaints procedure, and other handy ‘house-keeping’ information.
2. You'll need to provide proof of identity to your solicitor before the conveyancing can begin.
3. You must give all relevant information to your solicitor about the property and your ownership, for example, whether there are any mortgages on the property and if anyone else occupies the property. Your solicitor will request redemption figures from any lender which has a mortgage or financial charge secured on the property.
4. You'll be sent a property information form and a 'fixtures, fittings and contents' list which you will complete and return to your solicitor. If the property is leasehold you will also be asked to complete an additional form giving leasehold-related information.
5. Meanwhile, your solicitor will obtain a copy of your legal 'title' to the property (proof of your legal ownership) from HM Land Registry. If the property is still unregistered, you must give your solicitor the original title deeds and documents.
6. Your solicitor will draft the sale contract and send it, along with the forms you've completed and any other relevant information and documents, to your buyer's solicitors who will carefully check the documents.
7. Your solicitor will answer questions and clarify any issues (within reason) raised by the buyer's solicitor. This is important as the buyer needs enough information about the property to decide whether or not they wish to continue with their purchase.
8. When the buyer is ready to proceed, a completion date can be arranged and the solicitors can prepare to exchange contracts. You will be asked to sign the contract in preparation for exchange of contracts.
9. When both solicitors are ready, contracts are exchanged and your buyer's solicitor will send the agreed deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price) to your solicitor. Both you and the buyer are now legally bound by the contract to complete the transaction on the agreed completion date.
10. Your solicitor will obtain an accurate, up-to-date redemption figure from your lender/s (if the property is mortgaged) and will inform the buyer's solicitors of the final amount required on the completion date.
11. Your solicitor will check the transfer deed which has been drafted by the buyer's solicitor. You will sign it and have your signature witnessed.
12. On the completion date, you must leave the property by around lunchtime (or when agreed) and hand the keys to the agents. Your solicitor will tell you when they have received the balance of the purchase price from the buyer's solicitors. They will also 'release' the keys to the buyer. Completion has now been achieved.
13. Your solicitor will then:
    • send to the buyer's solicitor the transfer deed and all other documentation relating to the property;
    • pay off any mortgage and any other charges on the property;
    • pay your estate agents and their own legal fees; and
    • send any balance of money left over to your bank account.

If you have any questions about the sale process, your conveyancing solicitor will be able to explain things to you in more detail.