We're in Victoria Park, FTBs buying with a mortgage (lender is Bank of Ireland , and our solicitor is on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.
When it comes to lenders such as Barclays, do Victoria Park conveyancers incur an annual charge to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are not aware of any lender fees to register on their panel, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
We expect to receive a OIP from Aldermore this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Aldermore recommend any Victoria Park solicitors on the Aldermore conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?
You will need to appoint Victoria Park solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Aldermore through the process.
I'm in the throws of looking at apartments in Victoria Park and I am about to put in an offer. Is it best to have my solicitor on ‘stand by’? I will be getting a home loan with Kent Reliance.
It would be advisable to commence your search sooner rather than later. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their contact information on to the EA. Given that you are getting a mortgage with Kent Reliance, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel.
How does conveyancing in Victoria Park differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Victoria Park come to us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is finished. This is because house builders in Victoria Park typically buy the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Victoria Park or who has acted in the same development.
I was advised by numerous selling agents in Victoria Park to choose a conveyancer on your site. Is there a financial advantage for Estate Agents to promote your site over and above a competitor’s?
We refuse to give any referral fee for sending work our way. We found it would be just too difficult a fee as members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.
My father has encouraged me to appoint his lawyers for conveyancing in Victoria Park. Should I find my own solicitor?
No doubt it’s preferable to select a conveyancing practitioner is to seek referrals from friends or family who have previously instructed the solicitor you're contemplating using.
We are soon to buying a home in Victoria Park. Conveyancing is not yet done but we would like have our transaction price a secret from sites such as Zoopla. How do I make sure this is not disclosed?
HM Land Registry are legally bound to specify price sold data on the official title for domestic properties nationwide including premises in Victoria Park. The register of title is an open document, so HM Land Registry would be breaking the law excluded certain homes such as your one in Victoria Park.
In essence you can ask HMLR to withhold the amount paid entry but the response will be a No.