If you’re buying a home, you’re probably excited to get the ball rolling and want a quick conveyancing process. In most cases, the average conveyancing for purchasing a home will take anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks. It could take a bit more or a bit less time depending on the complexity of the situation with the property you’re buying.
When there’s no chain to account for and your house move is looking pretty straightforward it can go much faster than standard conveyancing. Especially if you have gone through online conveyancing. Normally, the smaller the chain, the less likely there is to be a delay as there aren’t as many buyers and sellers involved.
Without a chain, you could possibly complete in as little as 4 weeks, although 12 weeks is still the average, even when the sale is straightforward. This is because you could encounter some obstacles during conveyancing, especially if you’re solicitor isn’t doing their job right. We’re going to look at a few of these problems choosing the wrong solicitor can cause, so you can get a better understanding of what can delay your conveyancing with no chain.
Problems with the seller’s title
The person who is selling a home doesn’t technically need to own it, as long as they can transfer the ownership of title. However, sometimes the buyer’s conveyancing solicitor will find a problem that needs to be sorted before the purchase of the property can be completed.
One example is if the property is being sold by the executor of someone who has passed away, but they have not obtained a grant of probate. Another instance is when the title hasn’t been registered at HM Land Registry and the seller’s title deeds have been lost. In many cases, these types of problems can be sorted fairly easily, but it can take time. At this point your conveyancing solicitor will update you when the problem has been rectified.
Delays in getting seller’s replies to enquiries
It is normal for the conveyancing solicitors who are acting on behalf of a buyer to send pre-contract enquiries to the seller’s property lawyer. Whilst the seller might have already filled in an information form like the Law Society’s TA6 form, further details could be required. Sellers can sometimes take a long time to respond to questions, or they need to gather extra information or copies of documents to provide.
It’s taking time to source information from outside organisations
Much of the local conveyancing process for buyers is making sure they have the right documents in place. The buyer’s conveyancing solicitor will typically need documents such as copies of planning consent, an NHBC warranty, or some details about the home.
If the seller doesn’t have this, it needs to be sourced from elsewhere. This is quite often the case with leasehold properties, where information about the building management needs to be acquired from the freeholder or managing agents.
Most of the time, a fee can be paid, so the seller’s solicitors will need to find out how much the fee is, take payment from their client, and then send the payment to the relevant organisation before the information or document can be accessed, all of which can cause delays. Additionally, some organisations can be very slow to reply with not much that can be done to move them faster.
How to avoid unnecessary delays in conveyancing with no chain
Solicitors understand the stress and excitement that goes into buying a home, and they will always do their best to make sure there aren’t any unnecessary delays.
How long the process takes is one of the most common questions conveyancing solicitors get asked and they have to be open and honest with their clients. Particularly when there are so many variables that can cause hold-ups. Below are some of the ways you can get things moving a bit quicker.
An important question buyer’s often ask is how long the property searches needed for conveyancing take. In these situations, it is helpful for your solicitor to have good local knowledge of the area you’re buying in. As specialists in conveyancing Newcastle, we’re extremely familiar with the local area and can provide buyers with any information they need.
For example, if they are aware that a particular local council will take a long time to return search results, your solicitor might be able to advise an alternative option, like a personal search or indemnity insurance.
Have everything organised and ready
It is also helpful if sellers instruct a solicitor before a buyer has been found for their property. If you’re a buyer as well as a seller, you’ll need to ensure you have done this. Then your solicitor can check that all the necessary documents are obtained and any issues with titles can be dealt with beforehand. This will help the sale to go through as quickly as possible when a buyer has been found for your property.
Contact us
If you’re looking for quick conveyancing services that are reliable and effective in the Newcastle area, contact our team today. Whether you’re a buyer or a seller our local conveyancing team are on hand to make sure the process goes smoothly for all parties involved.