The Conveyancing Process

There are three main stages involved in the conveyancing process and we set out below a summary of what is done at each stage:

Stage One: Sale Agreed

Seller's advocate

• Obtains copies of your title deeds (abstract of title) and asks you to fill in enquiry forms
• Prepares a contract and draft deed of conveyance and sends this to buyer's advocate with other relevant papers

• Answers any additional enquiries buyer's advocate may have

• Negotiates the moving (completion) date

Buyer's advocate

• Asks you for money on account of expenses
• Receives contract and other papers from seller's advocate and asks additional enquiries if necessary
• Carries out searches
• Receives mortgage offer
• Reports to you with contract for signature and requests deposit (or uses deposit from sale - if any)

Stage Two: Exchange of Contracts

Seller's advocate

• Receives the buyer's deposit
• Obtains a settlement figure for your mortgage
• Prepares the transfer deed and arranges for you to sign it

Buyer's advocate

• Prepares mortgage deed for you to sign
• Hands contract and deposit to seller's advocate
• Arranges final searches
• Prepares final accounts and requests balance for funds from you
• Approves the transfer deed

Stage Three: Completion

Seller's advocate

• Receives balance of purchase price and hands over deed
• Pays off the mortgage
• Sends you the balance or uses this towards purchase (if any)

Buyer's advocate

• Sends balance to seller's advocate and collects deeds
• Pays registry fees and registers purchase at Land Registry
• Reports to Bank or Building Society (if any)