My fiancee and I are purchasing our first house. The solicitor has texted usto ask if we wish to purchase extra conveyancing searches. As novices we have no idea as to what's recommended for conveyancing in Knutsford

The number and type of Knutsford conveyancing searches depends entirely on the premises, the location, the probability of any of these risks, your knowledge of the region and risks, your overall appetite to risk. What is important is that you adequately understand what information the searches could provide. You may then decide if you consider that you need that search. Should you be in doubt, ask the solicitor to explain.

My wife and I purchasing a terrace house in Knutsford. We would like to convert the garage to a playroom at the property.Will legal work on the property include enquiries to determine if these works were previously refused?

Your conveyancer will review the registered title as conveyancing in Knutsford can on occasion identify restrictions in the title documents which prohibit categories of alterations or necessitated the permission of another owner. Certain works need local authority planning consent and approval in compliance with building regulations. Many areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or impact extensions. It would be wise to check these things with a surveyor before you commit yourself to a purchase.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Knutsford off the council. I have a mortgage offer with RBS. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with RBS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the RBS conveyancing panel.

After weeks of negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment in Knutsford. My mortgage broker recommended their conveyancers. I paid an advanced payment of £200. A few days later, the lawyer called me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Leeds Building Society panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

I have todaydiscovered that Arc property Solicitors have been shut down. They conducted my conveyancing in Knutsford for a purchase of a leasehold apartment 18 months ago. How can I check that my home is in my name in the name of the former proprietor?

The quickest method to check if the property is registered to you, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Knutsford conveyancing specialists.

I am purchasing my first flat in Knutsford with a loan from Godiva Mortgages Ltd. The sellers refused to move on the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The sale representative advised me not reveal to my conveyancer about this extras as it would put at risk my loan with Godiva Mortgages Ltd. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

We're first time buyers - had an offer accepted, yet the selling agent informed us that the vendor will only proceed if we use their chosen lawyers as they are insisting on an ‘expedited deal’. We would rather use a local conveyancer used to conveyancing in Knutsford

We suspect that the owner is not behind this demand. Should the owner require ‘a quick sale', alienating a motivated buyer is is going to put the whole deal at risk. Try to communicate with the owners directly and make the point that (a)you are motivated purchasers (b)you are ready to progress, with finances in place © you have nothing to sell (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you will continue to appoint your own,trusted Knutsford conveyancing lawyers - as opposed tothe ones that will provide their negotiator at the agency a commission or meet his conveyancing figures set by HQ.