Willusing a Northfield conveyancing firm make my purchase more efficient?
Generally conveyancing lawyers in your neck of the woods will enjoy good relationships with your local authority, which can assist with the Northfield conveyancing searches that your conveyancer will inevitably need. It also helps if they enjoy strong rapport with the Local Land Registry Office your area Northfield, other lawyers in the location and Northfield selling agents.
Why do I have to pay up front for my conveyancing in Northfield?
If you are buying a property in Northfield your lawyer will request that you to provide them with monies to cover the search fees. This will be the total of the cost of the conveyancing searches. If any down payment is as part of the purchase price then this will be needed shortly in advance of exchange of contracts. The closing balance that is needed should be transferred shortly before completion.
My wife and I purchased a terraced Georgian property in Northfield. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Virgin Money. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the exact same address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?
You need to review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Northfield and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also enquire as to the situation with your conveyancing solicitor who carried out the work.
How does conveyancing in Northfield differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Northfield approach us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is finished. This is because builders in Northfield usually acquire the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Northfield or who has acted in the same development.
Should I instruct a Northfield conveyancing practitioner who is local to the property I am purchasing? I have an old university friend who can carry out the legal work however his firm is located 300miles drive away.
The primary upside of using a high street Northfield conveyancing practice is that you can pop in to execute paperwork, present your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local knowledge which is a benefit. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust used your friend and on the whole were impressed that should trump using an unfamiliar Northfield conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being local.