Buying conveyancing process

JamieFa

Hi! 

We are looking to buy a property, our offer was accepted around a month ago and 2 weeks ago (10th May 2021) we received our mortgage offer. 

Our solicitor received the mortgage offer on the next day. We applied for searches at the start of applying for mortgage as we wanted this to be completed asap. 

Our solicitor has confirmed on 11th May 2021 that they have received our mortgage offers and searches have come back fine. They still haven’t raised any enquiries with sellers solicitor. 

How long does it normally take to raise enquiries? I have contacted them 3 times in this 2 weeks gap they kept saying “enquiries will be raised shortly” but nothing has been done yet.

Once the enquiries are raised when can I expect to get a completion and exchange date to be?

Regards 

Thanks

Thrugelmir

What's the status of the vendor and those above the vendor in the chain?  

JamieFa

Thrugelmir said:

What's the status of the vendor and those above the vendor in the chain?  

No chain, we are first time buyers and the vendors are selling this property as they don’t need it any more. It is their second property 

Tiglet2

This is a rough guideline.  There are quite a few steps before you reach exchange.  

1.   Buyer makes an offer on the property, which is accepted by the seller.

2.   Buyer’s Conveyancer instructed on acceptance of the offer.

3.   Buyer arranges a survey on the property, and makes an application for a mortgage (if required).

4.   Buyer’s Conveyancer confirms instructions by letter setting out the terms of business and fixed fee costs.

5.   Buyer’s Conveyancer contacts the seller’s Conveyancer to obtain the contract pack.

6.   Buyers Conveyancer checks the contract pack, raises pre-contract enquiries, carries out the necessary searches and obtains a copy of the mortgage offer.

7.   Sellers’ Conveyancer and seller answer pre-contract enquiries and return these to buyer’s Conveyancer.

8.   Buyer’s Conveyancer reviews and reports to the buyer on the contents of the contract pack, pre-contract enquiries, the result of the searches and mortgage offer. The buyer then considers this report and raises questions on anything that is unclear.

9.   When the buyer is happy to proceed, arrangements are made for the deposit to be paid to the buyer’s Conveyancer in readiness for exchange of contracts.

10.  Seller and buyer agree on a completion date and contracts are formally “exchanged” - meaning both parties are legally committed to the transaction.

11.   Buyer’s Conveyancer prepares a draft transfer deed and completion information form and sends these to the seller’s Conveyancer for completion.

12.   Seller’s solicitor approves the draft transfer deed and a final copy is made. This may need to be signed by the buyer before being sent to the seller’s solicitor for signature by the seller in readiness for completion.

13.    Buyer’s Conveyancer prepares a completion statement, carries out pre-completion searches and applies to the buyer’s mortgage lender for the mortgage loan.

14.   On completion, the buyer vacates the property by the agreed time and buyer’s Conveyancer sends the proceeds of sale to the seller’s Conveyancer.

15.   Seller’s Conveyancer releases the keys to the estate agent (if one was used) and sends the title deeds and transfer deed to the buyer’s Conveyancer together with an undertaking to repay any existing mortgage.

16.   Buyer’s Conveyancer sends the stamp duty payable to HMRC, receives the title deeds, transfer deed and proof that the seller has paid the outstanding mortgage on the property.

17.   Buyer’s Conveyancer registers the property in the name of the buyer at The Land Registry.

18.    The buyer receives a copy of the registered title from The Land Registry. Any documents required by the mortgage lender to be retained by them are sent on by the Buyer’s solicitor.