What is conveyancing?
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one party to another. Whether you are buying or selling a property, understanding the key stages and timescales involved can help set realistic expectations and reduce any potential stress. At Symes Bains Broomer, we are dedicated to guiding you smoothly through each of these steps with professionalism and clarity.
Why is Conveyancing Important?
Conveyancing is what protects you when you buy or sell. Done properly, it confirms the seller genuinely owns what they are selling, uncovers anything that could affect the property, from boundary and access issues to planning problems or outstanding charges, and makes sure ownership passes to you cleanly and legally.
Get it wrong, or rush it, and those problems become yours to deal with later. Our job is to spot them early, explain what they mean for you in plain English, and put them right before you commit.
Key Stages and Timescales
Instruction and Initial Stages
Once you instruct us, our conveyancing solicitors begin by gathering all necessary details about the property and your specific circumstances. We will provide you with a clear breakdown of all the legal fees and disbursements involved. During this phase, we also confirm our instructions and objectives with you, setting the foundation for a successful transaction.
Conducting Searches and Due Diligence
Our team conducts a series of legal searches to uncover any issues that might affect the property’s value or your enjoyment of it. These include local authority searches, environmental searches, water and drainage searches, and others depending on the property's location and type. This stage is crucial for identifying any potential legal impediments before you proceed further with the transaction.
Reviewing and Negotiating the Contract
Upon receiving the draft contract from the seller’s solicitor, we meticulously review all terms and conditions to ensure your interests are protected. This stage may involve negotiating certain terms of the contract such as the completion date, fixtures and fittings to be included, and any other special conditions.
Mortgage Arrangements
If you are buying a property with a mortgage, we will liaise with your mortgage lender to ensure that your mortgage offer is in place and that all the lender's conditions are met. We handle all necessary communications between the mortgage lender and other parties involved.
Exchange of Contracts
Once all enquiries are satisfied and the contract is agreed upon, both parties sign final copies and exchange them. At this point, the agreement becomes legally binding, and a deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price) is paid by the buyer. We coordinate this process to ensure that everything is legally compliant and secure.
Completion
Completion is when the remaining funds (usually 90% of the purchase price) are transferred from the buyer to the seller. The keys are handed over, and the buyer officially becomes the owner of the property. We manage the financial transactions and ensure that all necessary legal documents are submitted to register the property with the Land Registry.
Post-Completion
After completion, there are still a few formalities to handle such as paying Stamp Duty Land Tax and dealing with the submission of the title to the Land Registry. Our team takes care of all post-completion procedures to ensure that nothing is left outstanding.
What are the costs of conveyancing?
Please see our Conveyancing Pricing page for a full breakdown of our procing. You can also use our Conveyancing Fees Calculator to get an instant online quote




