WHAT’S TOP OF
YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST?
Sarah Barnes, head of residential property at Napthens, offers the following advice to help you move your house purchase along more quickly, in time for putting up the Christmas lights
Christmas is on its way and as one of the busiest times of the year, preparation is key. In most situations good preparation not only helps things move more smoothly, but it also helps you to feel more in control. The prepared approach can also benefit you when it comes to buying or selling a property.
Not everyone likes to make a to-do list but they do act perfectly as little reminders and can really help you to stay focused on the task in hand.
Firstly, ask the estate agent how long the chain is. Is your seller buying and what are their circumstances?
If your sellers are separating or divorcing, then be prepared for your purchase to take longer, as their lawyer may have to communicate to the sellers separately due to their circumstances.
Are you having a survey undertaken, and if so what type? Speak to your surveyor about when the visit to the property will be made and what you can expect the turnaround time to be for the report. If you delay instructing your surveyor, this could have a negative impact on the time your purchase will take.
Contact your lawyer straight away to discuss your purchase in detail. It is always best to provide as much information up front.
Ask your lawyer to notify you when the contract papers from the seller’s lawyer arrive. Your lawyer will then be able to begin the legal work once the documentation arrives. Note that it can take between eight to twelve weeks from receipt of the paperwork to a moving date.
Once you are happy with your survey and have checked the plan to the property, ask your lawyer to send out your searches. Your lawyer will know roughly when they are due back, so ask for this time frame, as this will help you organise.
If you have applied for a mortgage or any other financial assistance, check with your lender regarding the timings for the issue of the mortgage offer.
Do not book your removals until you have exchanged contracts. As until this point, you and your seller are not bound to proceed on a specific date. You could then find yourself cancelling the booking and incurring fees.
Keep in regular contact with the estate agent to request an update on your progress and see if they will help push matters forwards with your seller.
Your lawyer will usually send information to you on an ongoing basis to check you are happy with the details regarding the property. If you are not receiving information, just ask for it. Ask to view the plan to the property, whether there are any obligations affecting the property which you need to be made aware of. Also, ask to view the search results in advance.
Keep asking questions as the more knowledge and understanding you have of your own purchase will assist you and help plan your move. Christmas is just around the corner – I hope your move is too and we wish you every success with it!
Sarah Barnes is a partner and head of residential property at North-West law firm Napthens
www.napthens.co.uk
