How to speed up conveyancing: 10 essential steps

The conveyancing process is the legal work needed for buying a property. This process can take a lot of time and can often be stressful. From the time your offer gets accepted to when you finally receive the keys to your new home, there are many tasks and checks to complete. In this article, you'll find our 10 essential time saving steps, so you know how to speed up the process to help you save time, reduce stress, and possibly save money too.

In this article we explore:

Understanding the conveyancing process

Conveyancing is the legal process that helps transfer ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer. A smooth conveyancing process depends on checking legal documents, doing property searches, and arranging finances to ensure everything is correct for everyone involved.

The conveyancing process includes many steps, such as checking titles, doing property searches, getting mortgage approvals, and negotiating contracts. Many people are involved, like solicitors, lenders, estate agents, and local authorities. To keep things moving smoothly, it is important to have good coordination and clear communication. It is also helpful to understand the main stages and possible delays in the conveyancing process to manage it well.

The role of conveyancers and solicitors in property transactions

Whether you pick a solicitor, a licensed conveyancer, or a specialist conveyancing firm, these legal experts are key to your property transaction. Once you hire them, preferably as soon as your offer is accepted, they will give you a conveyancing quote. This quote will show their fees and any expected costs for searches and other services.

It’s a smart idea to compare conveyancing quotes from different providers. This way, you can find the best mix of experience, service, and reasonable costs for what you need. The professional you select will work with several parties such as the estate agent, the seller’s legal representative, and your mortgage lender.

Your conveyancer will manage important parts of the process. They will do property searches, write and check contracts, handle mortgage paperwork, and manage the transfer of money, and deal with the legal details to ensure your property purchase goes smoothly and on time. They will also communicate with others involved, like the seller’s solicitor, your mortgage lender, and estate agents.

Having an experienced professional to help you through what can be a tricky legal process not only gives you peace of mind, it also helps protect your interests during the property purchase.

Beginner’s guide to speeding up conveyancing

Going through the conveyancing process for the first time can seem like a new language. However, knowing the key steps can help you stay on track and make your property transaction faster.

If you are proactive, organised, and a good communicator, you can greatly reduce the chances of common delays. This way, you can have a smoother and quicker move to your new home.

Step 1: Instruct your conveyancer early

When it comes to buying or selling a property, acting quickly is very important. Instead of waiting for your offer to be accepted, think about hiring a conveyancer as soon as you decide to make a move. By hiring your conveyancer early, they are able to start working as soon as your offer is accepted. This can save you valuable time during those important early moments; letting them start the initial formalities, like anti-money laundering checks and gathering important information, without slowing down the conveyancing process.

Remember, being proactive in the conveyancing process can really help avoid unnecessary delays.

Step 2: Secure your mortgage in principle

Before you start looking at properties, it’s smart to get a mortgage agreement in principle (AIP). This is also called a decision in principle or a mortgage promise. You can get this document from most mortgage lenders or through a mortgage broker. It acts as a pre-approval, letting you know how much money a lender is ready to give you based on your financial situation.

An AIP helps you know your budget. It removes doubts about how much you can borrow and can speed up the mortgage application process once you find the home you want.

Plus, it also makes you a stronger buyer. Sellers and estate agents will see you as serious because your finances are ready and can out you in a stronger position for negotiating a better price on the property you wish to buy.

Step 3: Utilise online conveyancing tools

In today's world, technology is changing the way we handle conveyancing. Picking a conveyancer who uses an online conveyancing system can help make the process faster and better, as it reduces paper communication, speeding up the overall timeline by days or even weeks.

Online conveyancing tools also let clients get real-time updates, track their progress, upload and sign documents online, and communicate safely with their conveyancer - all from home. At My Home Move Conveyancing, we work conveyancers that have online conveyancing journeys so you can be kept up to date with the progress of your case. Get your free online quote today.

Step 4: Submit property information forms promptly

Your conveyancer will give you property information forms. If you are selling, you will get the TA6 (Property Information Form). If you are buying, you will receive the TA10 (Fittings and Contents Form). These forms are important because they help gather detailed information about the property. They cover many topics like boundaries, disputes, changes, and what's included with the property.

It is very important to fill these forms out correctly and on time. Doing this helps avoid delays later on. When you provide thorough and quick answers, your conveyancer has everything they need to work efficiently and answer any questions from the other side.

If you do not return these forms quickly, it could slow down the whole process. Make sure to carefully review, complete, and send these forms back to your conveyancer as soon as you can.

Step 5: Arrange your property survey early

While lenders usually do a mortgage valuation, it is advisable to get an independent property survey. A valuation mostly checks how much the property is worth for lending. On the other hand, a survey will give you a detailed look at the property's condition. It can find any problems, defects, or maintenance needs in the property before you sign on the dotted line.

Hiring a surveyor early, maybe even before you make an offer, lets you take your time to look at the findings. You can address any worries and even change the purchase price based on what you find out in the survey.

This careful approach can help you avoid delays from unexpected issues. It gives you peace of mind about the property's condition and can help you save money on repairs in the future. Get a quote for your survey.

Step 6: Keep your documentation ready and organised

The paperwork is very important in conveyancing. You need to keep all your property-related documents organised and make sure you have copies of key papers like your mortgage agreement, proof of identification, proof of funds, and any messages from your estate agent or solicitor.

If you can access these documents quickly, it saves time and shows others that you are efficient. Having everything in order helps your solicitor do their work easier and answer questions fast, keeping your property transaction on track.

Think about using digital folders to save electronic copies of your documents. This way, you can find and share them easily when you need to. It reduces the stress of looking for lost papers and helps everyone communicate better.

Step 7: Communicate efficiently with your estate agent

While your solicitor takes care of legal matters, your estate agent can be vital for communication and keeping progress on track. It’s good to talk openly and regularly with your estate agent. Ask for updates about the sale or purchase.

If you have questions or concerns, reach out to them. Make sure they have your current contact details. Estate agents often know about possible delays before they happen and can help fix them quickly.

Their knowledge of the local market, possible buyers, and the overall process is very helpful. They also coordinate with other people involved. Keep in mind, your estate agent wants to see a successful and timely completion just like you do.

Step 8: Understand insurance requirements before exchange

Before you exchange contracts, your conveyancing solicitor will explain your insurance responsibilities. It is a legal rule that you must get building insurance for your new property. This insurance needs to start on the day you exchange contracts. This way, you are protected in case of any unexpected damage or problems.

Also, many mortgage lenders want proof of building insurance before they give you the money. Start looking for and comparing building insurance policies early to avoid last-minute rushes.

By taking care of your insurance needs ahead of time, you can stop delays at the end of the conveyancing process. You will also feel better knowing that you are completely covered when you exchange contracts. Find out more about home insurance.

Step 9: Regularly follow up for updates

The conveyancing process can seem confusing. Don't hesitate to ask your conveyancer and estate agent for regular updates. Plan to check in with them by email or phone. This will help you know how your transaction is going.

For a smoother and faster conveyancing experience, it's important to keep an open and regular line of communication with everyone involved.

Step 10: Be ready to act quickly on queries and requests

Throughout the conveyancing process, your conveyancer will probably ask questions or request more information. Answering these questions quickly can help speed up the timeline. Delays can happen when you take too long to respond, causing issues in sharing information.

Make sure to check your emails and phone messages often. A fast conveyancing process relies on both you and your conveyancer responding to messages as soon as possible. If you need to collect any documents or information, do it as soon as you can to avoid slowing things down.

Acting quickly shows that you care about a smooth transaction. It also helps your conveyancer continue with their work without delay. Keep in mind that every day you save in responding could help you get the keys to your new home sooner.

Overcoming common conveyancing delays

Even if you plan well and have good intentions, the conveyancing process can face surprises. There can be issues with property titles, last-minute mortgage problems, and slow replies from others involved. These unexpected delays can happen at any time. By knowing what can cause these delays and finding ways to deal with them, you can keep your transaction on track.

Identifying potential holdups and how to address them

Conveyancing delays can happen for many reasons. These can include problems with the property title, unexpected survey results, or slow replies from local agencies. Knowing about these possible delays helps you take proactive steps to reduce their impact.

Good communication with your conveyancer is very important. Let them know right away if you find out about any problems that could cause delays. This could be issues with your mortgage application or changes in your situation, or if the property has a complicated past, like previous changes or extensions without the right planning permission. They can help look into and fix any legal issues that may come up.

How to deal with slow solicitors or conveyancers

While you need to be organised and quick to respond, it can be frustrating when solicitors or conveyancers are slow. If your transaction feels like it’s dragging on, there are some good ways to handle it.

First, keep your communication with your conveyancer open and polite. Let them know your worries about how slow things are. Ask for simple explanations for any delays and ask for regular updates about your progress. Make sure to explain your timeline and why timely completion is important to you.

By choosing a good conveyancer should be giving you regular updates about the progress of your case and will act in your best interest.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average time frame for conveyancing in the UK?

The average time to finish conveyancing in the UK is usually 12 to 16 weeks. This timeline can change based on a few factors; including the complexity of the property transaction, how efficiently the people involved work, and if there is a chain involved.

Are online conveyancing services reliable?

Yes, many online conveyancing services are safe and trustworthy. A tech-based service can make the conveyancing process easier, offering good communication, clear tracking, and easy management of digital documents and ultimately making property transfers smoother. Get your free online conveyancing quote today.

What should I do if I encounter delays with local searches?

Delays with local authority searches often slow down the conveyancing process. If you face this issue, talk to your conveyancer. They may suggest a 'personal local authority search.' This could speed up the property transaction, but be aware that it might cost more.