You’ve found your dream home and had your offer accepted – congratulations! But what happens next? 

As purchasing a house is likely to be the biggest investment you’ll ever make, it is important to ensure that the right legal processes are followed in order that you can move in as soon as you can, with as little problems as possible.

1. Preliminaries

You will be asked by the seller’s estate agent who your solicitor is. It is important that you have researched who you wish to represent you. Getting quotes and talking to the people who will be looking after you is very important; you need to feel comfortable and confident in your choice.

2. Initial Paperwork

A memorandum of sale is drawn up by the selling agents which gives details of all parties involved in the transaction.

The seller’s solicitor should then provide a contract package to your legal adviser for consideration. This package includes a draft contract for approval, Land Registry entries and official plan of the property Title, Property Information form and Fittings and Contents forms which have been completed by the sellers.

3. Investigation of Title

Your solicitor will then raise technical enquiries concerning the property you want to buy to the seller’s solicitor. Additional enquiries will be made to the local drainage and environmental authorities on your behalf, once you have received confirmation of your mortgage offer, if applicable.

This process is absolutely necessary to ensure there are no underlying problems with the property. It should be the motto of any property solicitor that ‘a home is bought to be sold.’

If all necessary enquires are made before you are the legal owner (and providing you do not create any potential problems during your ownership!) the sale of the same property should be relatively straightforward.

4. Mortgage Offer

During the above process an offer of mortgage may be produced by your lender which will be sent to you and your solicitor. This will allow your legal representative to request mortgage funds, secure your agreement to the mortgage and to provide documentation back to the lenders offices, once registration of the property has been completed at the Land Registry.

Your offer of mortgage may also enclose a valuation / surveyors report. If not, you may have instructed your own independent survey.

In either case it is advisable for you to provide this report to your solicitor. 

5. Signing the Contract

Once all enquiries have been answered, all searches and financial arrangements are in place; your solicitor will invite you to attend their office with a view to signing the contract, if you are happy to proceed with the transaction. 

At this stage the agreement is not binding. 

6. Exchange of Contracts

When all parties in the chain are ready to proceed a date will be set when you can move into your new house. This needs to be agreed by all parties in the chain, now you are legally bound to purchase the property.

7. Completion

Once you know the completion day, you can begin to book removal firms, inform utility companies and other interest parties of your change of address.

 On completion day, your solicitor will forward the full amount of the purchase price to the seller’s solicitors by way of bank transfer. 

Once received, you have completed the transaction and you will be the proud owner of your new home!

At Jackson Lees we will act in your best interests, helping you every step of the way to ensure your home move is completed on time. 

For a no-obligation quote, please give us a call on 0151 282 1700, requests a callback at your convenience or message us your enquiry.