Choosing the right solicitor for your home move is crucial. The legal aspects of property transactions can be stressful and time-consuming. At Harrison Homes Brackley, we partner with a national panel of over 70 regional solicitors who specialize in conveyancing to ensure you receive top-notch service.
We understand the importance of collaboration between solicitors and estate agents, which helps to minimize delays and complications during the process. Our conveyancing services are competitively priced, featuring fixed legal fees through our movewithus program, and we operate on a no sale, no legal fee basis to provide you with the best value.
You can access our services through your preferred method, whether by phone, email, online, or post. Our online platform keeps all parties informed with real-time updates and allows you to track the progress of your transaction to ensure it meets your timeline.
What Happens During Conveyancing: A Practical Guide for Brackley Movers
Conveyancing is the legal work that transfers ownership of a property from one person to another. For most people in England it follows a broadly similar path, and knowing the stages in advance makes it far easier to spot where a transaction might slow down and what you can do to keep it moving.
The main stages
- Instruction and identity checks. Once an offer is agreed, buyer and seller each instruct a conveyancer. Expect to provide proof of identity and, if buying, evidence of where your deposit comes from, as anti-money laundering rules require it.
- Draft contract and property information. The seller's conveyancer prepares the contract along with forms covering the property's boundaries, fixtures and fittings, and any known disputes or works.
- Searches and enquiries. The buyer's conveyancer orders local authority, drainage and environmental searches and raises questions about anything unclear in the paperwork. In and around Brackley, it is worth asking about planning history and nearby development, since the town has seen considerable new building in recent years.
- Mortgage offer and survey. Lenders carry out their own valuation, but many buyers also commission an independent survey, particularly for older stone properties near the town centre.
- Exchange of contracts. At this point the deal becomes legally binding, the deposit is paid and a completion date is fixed.
- Completion. Funds are transferred, keys are released and the buyer's conveyancer registers the new ownership and deals with any Stamp Duty Land Tax return.
How to avoid common delays
Most hold-ups come from missing information rather than legal complications. Sellers can help by gathering documents early: guarantees for windows or damp treatment, building regulations certificates for extensions, and, for leasehold homes, details from the managing agent. Buyers should respond quickly to requests from their lender and conveyancer, and avoid changing jobs or taking on new credit before completion.
Leasehold and new-build purchases often involve extra steps, such as reviewing service charges or confirming that roads and drainage will be adopted, so allow more time for these. If you are part of a chain, keeping in regular contact with your agent helps everyone see where each link stands.
If you are still at the start of your move, our guides to buying and selling in Brackley explain what to prepare before an offer is agreed. For specific legal questions about your own circumstances, always speak directly with a qualified conveyancer or solicitor.
