House Offer - Solicitor

shell88

Hi All,

Just been to view a house which we love and will potentially make an offer on. The estate agents mentioned that to make an offer we needed to have a solicitor in place? I was under the impression that we needed a DIP, which we have got, and a solicitor came once we proceeded with the application? I'm very confused now!

Any help would be much appreciated!

ThemeOne

I don't think you need a solicitor in place in order to make an offer - obviously you can make an offer at any time. Estate agents prefer you to have one lined up, as if your offer's accepted it speeds things up a bit, that's all.

And you do have to find the solicitor yourself - though the estate agent will no doubt recommend one to you - they get a commission payment from that solicitor, and for the agent it eases the transaction as it's a solicitor they have a relationship with. But it's entirely up to you which solicitor you use.

comeandgo

She'll, are you in Scotland? If so you do need a solicitor to make your offer.

smallholdingsister

Finding a decent conveyancing solicitor is a challenge.

shell88

Nope not in Scotland. I was just a bit confused as I've been reading lots of the process as it's our first house but not heard this before..

anselld

It is worth having a (local) solicitor lined up to potentially speed things up but also to stop the EA pushing their recommends on you.

However, don't let them proceed with any work and indeed don't pay for anything else until you offer is accepted (obviously) *and* the rest of the chain is complete to the top. Otherwise as a FTB you are the first to spend and the first to lose out if the chain falls through.

shell88

Thanks all for your speedy responses!

We'all make a few calls to find a solicitor before putting offer in. Need to move quickly I think!

Mickygg

I have put all my offers in without having solicitor appointed. The solicitors need to know the value of the property.

Seems silly appointing a solicitor before offer accepted. What if your offer is declined and you don't see another house for a year or more.
Sounds to me like the EA is a pain or the sellers may have requested it.

illusionek

There is no need to have a solicitor in place to view houses or place offer but it would be handy to have already one in mind. I guess EAs wants to make sure you are in position to move quickly if your offer is accepted. They cannot issue memorandum of sale without solicitor details. Also you will not be able to go ahead with mortgage application without having solicitor details. I can see why they would be asking for a solicitor if the property is chain free or you are the one completing the chain. However still there is nothing stopping you from placing an offer and them accepting it.