When to get solicitors involved?

osaddict

Good morning everyone,

I had an offer accepted on a property yesterday. I'm excited about this, however, I know it's only a very small step on a long road with tons which could mean I don't end up purchasing the house.

The first hurdle for me is when to get a solicitor involved. The two other properties I have had progress with in the past have been chain free so I have engaged solicitors straight away.

This property had people living in it. They are looking for a property now.

I'm a first time buyer with no chain and no dependencies (no renting deadlines etc). What I'm trying to avoid is getting a solicitor engaged and paying for searches only to find the owners decide not to move or something.

Do I have to get a solicitor involved now or can I wait until I know they have had an offer accepted? Of course, that could also fall through for them, but it gives me a bit more piece of mind.

From a survey point of view, I guess the same applies, however, more so, since it's at least double the cost of the search.

Any help or advice much appreciated

Thanks.

rosie383

Find a solicitor who does no sale, no fee. Ours did it for an upfront payment of about £100 but some don't charge up front. I wouldn't pay for searches or anything like that until the chain is complete though.

osaddict

A no move no fee solicitor is what I'm looking for. However, in my experience with the past two cases the first thing they will request is payment for searches. This is typically around £300 and kicks off the process and is the only thing that isn't refundable in the case of a 'no move' situation.

Hoploz

When you've had your quotes and decided which firm you want to use, you tell them the situation, which is completely normal. You are going to use them, get their contact details, they send you their terms of business to sign etc, then you just wait until the chain is complete. You then have a contact to put on the memorandum of sale for circulation by the EA to all parties, but until you give the solicitor the nod, they won't proceed any further, they will just hold on to any paperwork which is sent their way by other parties.

When everything is in place you sign everything and send in your money for the searches. They won't carry out services until you instruct them to do so, so if it never proceeds, you wouldn't have asked them to apply for the searches anyway.

rosie383

Exactly as Hoploz says. We did this. Everything was waiting on the word from the EA that the chain was complete and THEN we instructed them to start searches and got our survey done.

macman

Since either party can withdraw without penalty up until the time of exchange, there is never any guarantee that you might be wasting money instructing a solicitor.

osaddict

Thanks everyone. I've spoken with the solicitors and it seems they can be engaged but wait until I tell them before they take money for searches.

I know it could fall through at any point, however, if the other party at least have an offer accepted it's semi encouraging. Right now I'm thinking they might just decide not to move if they discover properties they want are too expensive or something.

Thanks for the replies