Question about searches during conveyancing

jamielutz1987

Hi,
We have the conveyancing for a purchase in progress and have just been told that the conveyancer can order searches only after they receive the draft contract pack from the seller's conveyancer. Is that correct?

Maybe I'm misremembering (or confusing it with a remortgage) but last time I did this I'm quite certain that searches were ordered straight away after the offer was accepted, I made a payment on account and gave them the go ahead.

jamielutz1987

Sorry this is the wrong board. I'll post on the house buying one.

roosterpotatoes

Yes that is correct although most will want payment for searches upfront before ordering them.  We always advise to wait for your offer to come through from the ender before paying for searches because should you not receive the offer you cannot get your money back for searches.  I believe some solicitors can be quite pushy with payment for searches before any offer is produced.  With a remortgage the solicitors do not need to do searches. Hope that helps 

Thrugelmir

Solicitors prefer to be holding cleared funds for the searches in order that they are immediately able to action once a mortgage offer is received. Searches can take weeks to obtain. A key part of the process. 
Little point in wasting several hundred pounds if the purchase doesn't proceed.