Moving House: Questions to Ask Your Solicitor
When buying a house, you not only have to think about your deposit and mortgage, but you also have to pay legal fees to your solicitor.
Buying a house for the first time is a massive milestone for anyone, whether you’re looking to start a family, a new job or simply start a new chapter. However, when buying a house, you not only have to think about your deposit and mortgage, but you also have to pay legal fees to your solicitor.
While I wish it were a simple process, there are actually a lot of things you’ll need to consider when speaking to a solicitor about moving house. Even if you’ve bought a new place before, it’s a good idea to make sure you’ve covered all bases to make sure you don’t get caught out later by something you’ve forgotten to double check.
Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. As an experienced estate agent and mortgage adviser, I know the property buying and selling process like the back of my hand. As part of my set of guides on moving house, whether that’s for the first or fiftieth time, I’ve put together a few of the main things you’ll need to ask your solicitor:
How much will you charge me?
On top of the legal fees that cover local searches, land registry and disbursements, your chosen solicitor will charge you for their time. How much this is depends on the solicitor, so it’s a good starting point to find out how much you’ll need to pay.
You’ll need to consider any additional fees you might not have known about, meaning it’s a good idea to triple check with the solicitor exactly how much you’ll be paying. Getting this right could mean a bit of extra money in your pocket for decorating!
If you’re looking to move home and don’t want to get caught out by additional fees, read my guide on all the extra costs you’ll need to consider when purchasing your next property.
What happens if my purchase falls through?
Your purchase could fall through if your seller decides to change their mind on selling the property, or if they decide to go for a higher offer. This is a situation you definitely don’t want, but you’ll need to make sure you know what the process is for your solicitor if this happens.
If you choose a solicitor with a “no completion, no fee” rule, you can save yourself the hassle of paying legal fees on a house you won’t own. It’s likely you’ll still need to pay the solicitor for their time, but it’s a huge chunk off the final bill if the worst was to happen.
How long will the process take?
The whole process of getting the legal stuff sorted can take up to 12 weeks, give or take. It’s always worth asking your solicitor if there’s anything you can do to help speed up the process, whether that’s avoiding common delays by paying early or getting your documents signed and sent off by a specific date.
Are you a first-time buyer? Make sure you’ve got an accurate budget for finding the first step on the property ladder. Read my guide to the costs you’ll need to factor into the purchase, as well as your deposit.
Are you regulated?
It might sound far-fetched, but one of the last things you want when buying a house is a dodgy solicitor.
When choosing one, make sure they’re regulated by a professional body such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority. These regulators give you extra peace of mind that the solicitor or firm you’ve chosen is reputable, and gives you a clear pathway if you ever need to make a complaint.
How often will you keep in contact with me?
This is a big one – there’s no use having a solicitor if they don’t keep you updated!
Speak to your solicitor about how you’d prefer to be contacted, as if you miss important calls or emails for days on end you could delay the entire process, meaning it takes longer for you to get the keys for your new home.
You could ask your solicitor to give you regular updates, or if you’re not too fussed, you could always ask for them just to update you at important points of the process.
How Can I Help You?
It might seem like a lot of extra work to pay for legal fees and shop around for solicitors, but if you get it right, it can make a world of difference. I’m Gareth (also known as Big G), and as an estate agent and mortgage adviser, I’m super experienced in the home buying process.
If you’re looking to get the ball rolling on buying your next home, you can talk to me about finding the best solicitor to move things along. Just give me a call on 01905 426000 and we can go over the whole process.
Written by Gareth Evans, Mortgage Adviser & Director