Purchase

Our aim at HCB is to make purchasing a property as easy and stress free as possible. 

We therefore set out below our main stages of the purchase process and timescales we follow when helping you in your matter:

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a freehold residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below are the standard steps we take throughout an average conveyancing matter:

1. Take your instructions and give you initial advice

2. Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed
3. Receive and advise on contract documents
4. Carry out searches
5. Obtain further planning documentation if required
6. Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
7. Give you advice on all documents and information received
8. Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
9. Send final contract to you for signature
10. Draft Transfer
11. Advise you on joint ownership
12. Obtain pre-completion searches
13. Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
14. Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
15. Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
16. Complete purchase

Following your purchase there are a few other items we deal with on your behalf. These are called Post Completion tasks and include:

• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Timescales

For a Freehold property the time it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. However, the average process takes between 10 - 12 weeks**.

For a leasehold property, as there will be more work involved in dealing with third parties, this can take longer but on average takes around 12 - 14 weeks**

There are a number of factors which can affect the time taken to complete your purchase including things such as:

• Number of parties in a chain - linked sales and purchases which will happen at the same time as your purchase
• if you are a first time buyer
• If you are purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle

If you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 6 - 8 month.

Costs

Please click here to receive an instant, no-obligation quote from our online generator.

Our online quote generator assumes the following:

• This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction

• This is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease

• The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise

• All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation

• No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

If you decide to move forward with the quote given, a member of the team will contact you to review the quote and advise if there are any other costs which may occur so you can make an informed decision. We will also answer any questions you may have about our conveyancing process. This will of course be under a no-obligation basis.