When to Hire a Solicitor?

tharsos

I made an offer on a property and it got accepted.

However, I will have to wait a week for an appointment with my mortgage adviser to make a mortgage application.

I would prefer not to hire a solicitor at least until I make the mortgage application in case it gets rejected. Am I expected to already have a solicitor at this stage or is it fine to wait? I am a FTB so don't understand completely the whole process (even though I read about it a lot).

kingstreet

Find a solicitor.

Provide details to selling agent and mortgage advisor.

Ask solicitor to open a file and do nothing until you instruct them further. Until they issue you with a welcome letter and you return the signed terms, there isn't a lot they can do anyway.

Process;-

Offer agreed
Solicitors instructed
Sales memorandum issued by agent
Purchaser applies for mortgage
Vendor's solicitor prepares and issues draft contract
Vendor completes seller's enquiry forms and returns to solicitor
Valuation/survey carried out
Purchaser pays solicitor for searches
Searches requested
Renegotiation of price due to survey findings - if required
Mortgage offer issued
Purchaser's solicitor receives seller's enquiry forms and raises any enquiries
Searches returned
Responses to enquiries
Purchaser visits solicitor to go through paperwork, hand over ID and deposit
Completion date agreed between all parties
Contracts exchanged
Completion takes place.

ACG

You will need to know who your using for the application.

Just instruct them but tell them not to do anything until you get the offer. All they will do is open up a file, no costs should be incurred for that.

kwmlondon

Get your solicitor lined up. There won't be any charges until you actually instruct them, but you'll want to have their details ready or the estate agent may tell the vendor your offer isn't serious, or another buyer could come in with their paperwork ready to go and you'll lose out.

amnblog

I would be more worried why you have to wait a week for your mortgage adviser.