Frequently Asked Questions
I do not live near to your office. Can you still act for me?
Certainly. Our clients are based all over the country and in the past we have represented clients as far a field as the USA. There is no need for personal meetings; communications between you and your conveyancer can take place by email, letter or telephone.
Who will be dealing with my conveyancing?
Unlike many practices, we do not operate through call centres. After instructing us you will receive our client care letter, which will provide the direct dial number of the individual who will be handling your case. This person will be responsible for the conduct of your conveyancing and your first point of contact.
How long will my conveyancing take?
The million-dollar question to which there is no definitive answer. How long the matter takes will depend upon a number of different factors for example, how long the chain is, the type of property you are purchasing, whether people have new mortgages to obtain, how quickly searches are received and most importantly, how quickly information is provided by the other side. You may wish to review our “what to expect guides” which provide an overview of the standard types of conveyances for further information.
Is there anything I can do to help speed matters along?
Communication is the key. It is always helpful to have an early indication of the date or timeframe in which you wish to complete your conveyance. You may also wish to ask your estate agents about the length of the chain involved and the personal circumstances of those involved, for example, it would be useful to know whether the person you are purchasing a property from is moving into rented accommodation or whether their sale to you is dependant upon the purchase of their own new property.
How much will I be charged?
If you have not already done so you can get a free, no-obligation quote right now by going to our instant online calculators for buyers or sellers.
Are your costs fixed?
The quote that you have been given has been calculated considering the information that you have provided us about the transaction and is made on the assumption that yours is a normal and straightforward conveyance with a reasonable number of updates by email, letter, and telephone. The firm reserves the right make an additional charge where the nature of the transaction or the frequency of the updates varies from this assumption.
If it becomes apparent that further work leading to additional charges will be required, we will of course notify you immediately and seek your authority before proceeding.
What will I be charged if my conveyance does not go ahead?
If for any reason the transaction does not complete you will be charged for the abortive work that has been carried out.
I am selling my home. Do I need a Home Information Pack (HIP)?
Unless your property is falls into an exempt category you will be require a HIP. For further information, please consult our designated Home Information Packs page.
Are there any hidden charges?
Your instant quote will contain a full breakdown of our charges. There are no hidden costs. Occasionally additional charges may occur, for example if an additional document is required on a sale (for example your buyer requests a copy of an early conveyance for your property containing covenants held at the Land Registry) or a specialist search on a purchase (for example, your property is in an area which may be affected by previous coal mining activity). We would not know about such things at the beginning of the transaction but if this should occur we will of course advise you.
I have obtained a quote and would like to instruct you to act. Can I do this now?
Yes. Just click on instruct us and enter your details.
Do I need to pay anything up front?
If you are purchasing a property we will require money on account for your searches. We currently ask clients for £250.00. If it transpires that the property you are purchasing has the benefit of a home information pack, it may be that the searches we are required to carry are limited however the money we hold on account will be retained and deducted from your final bill.
If you are selling a property, we will request £30.00 on account from you to cover the cost of our initial disbursements.
