DIY conveyancing - selling a property

Rosie1980

I'm selling a freehold house, with no mortgage. I've trawled through lots of stuff on the web and these two resources have caught my eye: https://freeconveyancingadvice.co.uk/guides-resources/contract-registered
The book: A Practical Approach to Conveyancing by Mark Richards. An updated version is about to be released.

Has anyone used either of these and could recommend; or have a better suggestion of where to get the necessary information to go it alone? Your comments are much appreciated.

greatcrested

Assuming you are happy to take on the process and documentation, and ensure you receive the funds before handing over the Title (!), the new biggest issue is ID and money laundering checks. Never used to be an issue in my day, but not ie. You'll need to pay to get these done.

And you'llmeet resistance from the other side.

Mark's book, whilst 'practical', is aimed at professionals, not DIY conveyancers. You might consider:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Which-Guide-Conveyancing-Consumer-Guides/dp/085202813X

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conveyancing-Residential-Property-Easyway-Stewart/dp/1847167802/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?cv_ct_cx=diy+conveyancing&dchild=1&keywords=diy+conveyancing&pd_rd_i=1847167802&pd_rd_r=79068a0d-a307-4106-a5f5-8f56b77ba101&pd_rd_w=veKDK&pd_rd_wg=19y8H&pf_rd_p=d9b87ec0-c7c2-464c-b8a6-2e7b5576127a&pf_rd_r=JFN44S51T56A535YJA17&psc=1&qid=1590087941&s=books&sr=1-2-718396de-69ac-46a0-9195-9669ab0086b2

But yes - always check publication date.

otauna

I wouldn’t recommend you do it yourself. Solicitors won’t want to transfer proceeds of sale directly to you without the deeds/signed transfer. 

What if things go wrong? you won’t be covered by professional insurance not to mention the headache it’ll give your buyers solicitor. I’d DIY the estate agent stuff but not the legal bits. 

greatcrested

otauna said:

I wouldn’t recommend you do it yourself. Solicitors won’t want to transfer proceeds of sale directly to you without the deeds/signed transfer. 

What if things go wrong? you won’t be covered by professional insurance not to mention the headache it’ll give your buyers solicitor. I’d DIY the estate agent stuff but not the legal bits. 

Last time I did this, the transaction was completed at the bank. When the bank confirmed receipt of funds, I handed over the TR1.

It could equally be done at the buyer's solicitor's office. You ring your bank to confirm the transfer, and hand over the forms.

But you're right, solicitors are increasingly wary and reluctant.

davidmcn

greatcrested said:

otauna said:

I wouldn’t recommend you do it yourself. Solicitors won’t want to transfer proceeds of sale directly to you without the deeds/signed transfer. 

What if things go wrong? you won’t be covered by professional insurance not to mention the headache it’ll give your buyers solicitor. I’d DIY the estate agent stuff but not the legal bits. 

It could equally be done at the buyer's solicitor's office.

If anybody's working at the office, yes! I'm not hosting a completion meeting in my spare room...

greatcrested

davidmcn said:

greatcrested said:

otauna said:

I wouldn’t recommend you do it yourself. Solicitors won’t want to transfer proceeds of sale directly to you without the deeds/signed transfer. 

What if things go wrong? you won’t be covered by professional insurance not to mention the headache it’ll give your buyers solicitor. I’d DIY the estate agent stuff but not the legal bits. 

It could equally be done at the buyer's solicitor's office.

If anybody's working at the office, yes! I'm not hosting a completion meeting in my spare room...

good point!

Rosie1980

For anyone looking to do their own conveyancing who stumbles across this thread. I can tell you that  https://freeconveyancingadvice.co.uk is a great site for information but do not subscribe or buy anything. Their documents are not the complete Law Society ones. You can buy the documents you need from www.oyezstore.co.uk
I will update this thread once I have completed conveyancing with the resources that helped me get it done.

macman

If you are selling but not buying, then it's perfectly possible to DIY a freehold property. Given the availability of fixed price conveyancing, I'm not sure I'd want to though. The EA earns far more for doing less.

csgohan4

The buyer's solicitor may not accept this and very good reason, what are you going to then? Essentially your trying to piggy back off the buyer's solicitors to get them to do the proof reading e.t.c

Your trying to save money we get it, but it could have other ramifications. As a buyer I wouldn't entertain this and insist on a registered conveyancer/ solicitor with indemnity

Rosie1980

Thank you for your words of caution. I certainly wouldn't be considering doing it if it wasn't that I am selling to my own tenant (so no EA fees), a registered freehold property with no mortgage. Yes, I want to save money, but for me it's more about being able to say "I did it myself", I enjoy bettering myself and I am prepared to invest the time and effort to do so. The buyer is happy with the situation and their solicitor is ok with it too. I am not asking the buyer's solicitor to do any proof reading, I am obtaining all the correct legal paperwork, exactly as a solicitor would do if I had one. The buyer's solicitor has to read all the documents whether from me or a solicitor, that is what the buyer is paying them for!

chalky_white_2

If your tenant requires a mortgage, their solicitor will not be permitted to transfer the mortgage advance as part of the completion funds to you.   They must be remitted to a licensed conveyancer or solicitor.