Why use GGP Law for your conveyancing?
Your home is likely to be the biggest financial commitment you will make during your lifetime. At GGP Law we understand that moving home can be stressful. Whether you are a regular house mover or a first time buyer we can guide you smoothly through the process every step of the way.
As a High Street firm with offices in Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Blackwood we offer a localised personal service. You will have the same dedicated conveyancer from start to finish assisted by an experienced legal clerk or conveyancing secretary. We appreciate communication is key to a smooth stress-free transaction and we will correspond with you by whichever method you prefer whether it be email, telephone, text message or even calling into our office for a face to face update.
In today’s busy world experience tells us that an increasing number of people prefer to handle their sale or purchase entirely by email and phone. Many of our clients find this more convenient, because it means you can manage the entire process from home or work without the need to take time out of your day to visit us in person.
We offer the same level of service to every conveyancing client, so whether you deal with us face-to-face, over the phone or by email, you will still get the same high quality conveyancing service.
Our conveyancing department proudly holds the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Mark. This demonstrates the quality of our conveyancing service, giving you peace of mind that all of the legal issues will be handled correctly and to the highest standard. We are also Lexcel accredited by the Law Society, meaning our practice management has been assessed as meeting the highest standards in legal practice.
Our comprehensive conveyancing service includes:
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Buying and selling residential property
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Residential leases (including lease extensions)
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Equity release
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Transfers of equity
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Re-mortgages
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Commercial property leases
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Buying and selling commercial property
Our Fees and Costs
We offer fixed fees on the majority of our residential conveyancing services. We aim to make our fees fair and transparent and we will give you a complete breakdown of costs and disbursements at the outset with no “hidden extras”. In the majority of cases, the price we quote at the outset is the same as the final fee you pay – the only exception to this is where an unexpected problem occurs which we could not have anticipated and which requires significant extra work.
What is involved in the conveyancing process?
There are various steps in the conveyancing process that your conveyancer will handle for you. Exactly what is required will depend on whether you are a buyer or seller , whether you are transferring, re-mortgaging and the type of transaction.
Typical tasks a conveyancer will carry out include:
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Drafting or reviewing the sale contract and associated documentation
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Checking the title deeds to ensure the seller has the legal right to sell the property
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Carrying out searches to ensure there are no issues affecting the property such as coal mining or ground contamination you need to be aware of
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Handling the exchange of contracts – the process which makes the transaction legally binding
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Handling the transfer of funds
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Paying Stamp Duty or Land Transaction Tax on purchase transactions
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Registering the property with the Land Registry
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Dealing with your mortgage lender and complying with their mortgage instructions
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Discharging mortgages on sale transactions
What searches do we carry out?
What searches we carry out will depend on the type and location of the property but as a general guide the routine searches we carry out include:-
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Local searches– to check whether the roads abutting the property are publicly maintained, whether there are any public footpaths crossing the property, whether planning permissions and building regulation approvals exist for any extensions etc.
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Water and Drainage search – to check if the property connected to mains sewers and water supply and whether any public sewer runs through the boundaries of the property
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Coal Mining search – to check whether any mine entries are close to the property, whether the property is in an area of past, present or future mining etc.
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Environmental Search –to check whether the property is affected by contaminated land, at risk of flooding or ground subsidence etc
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Land Registry searches– to check the seller has the legal right to sell the property, to check the property boundaries on the land registry plan
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Bankruptcy searches– if you are having a mortgage this search must be undertaken on behalf of your lender
Exchanging Contracts
One of the most important parts of the conveyancing process for buying or selling a house is the exchange of contracts. Early in the conveyancing process, the seller’s solicitor will draft a contract of sale and send this to the buyer’s solicitor for their approval. The buyer’s solicitor will identify any potential issues and raise any necessary enquiries with the seller’s solicitor.
Once all parties are happy with the contract and the buyer’s solicitor has carried out all checks and searches, the exchange of contracts can take place. This involves the buyer’s solicitor and the seller’s solicitor going through the contract over the phone to ensure all terms are agreed and then confirming the time and date when completion (i.e. the actual moving date) will take place. Each party then sends the other party their signed Contract, thus “exchanging contracts”.
Once exchange of contracts has taken place, the sale becomes legally binding, meaning neither party can withdraw without risking serious legal and financial consequences. Exchange of contracts usually takes place a week or two before completion. On completion the balance of the sale price is paid and the property officially changes hands.
How long does the conveyancing process take?
Exactly how long a conveyancing transaction takes depends on many factors. For example a chain of transactions where one or more parties are selling and buying tend to take longer than a transaction where there is no chain and one person buys off another. Similarly a cash purchase tends to be quicker than those where a mortgage is required. However, in most cases the Conveyancing process can be completed within around 6-8 weeks. We will give you a realistic estimate of how long the process will take at the start and will keep you updated throughout of any issues that could affect the timeframe for your conveyancing.
Our highly experienced Conveyancers know the common issues that can cause delay in a transaction and can endeavour to resolve these the fastest way.
For further information or to obtain a quotation on buying or selling a property please contact our friendly conveyancing team on 01685 371153 or email [email protected]
