Completed the sale of my flat in Stafford last December yet the purchaser is calling daily to say his lawyer is waiting to hear from myconveyancer. What are the post completion sale formalities following completion?

Following your disposal your conveyancer should send the transfer documentation and all additional paperwork to the buyer’s solicitors. Where appropriate, your lawyer must also evidence that the home loan has been repaid to the purchasers solicitors. There are no post completion steps just for conveyancing in Stafford.

I am planning to acquire a house and need a conveyancing solicitor in Stafford who is on the Barclays solicitor. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a conveyancing firm?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Barclays in certain locations such as Stafford. We dont recommend any particular firm.

I have been told that property searches are the primary reason for hinderance in Stafford house deals. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released conclusions of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature within the top 10 causes of hindrances in the conveyancing process. Local searches are unlikely to feature in any delay in conveyancing in Stafford.

I am purchasing a new build house in Stafford with a mortgage from HSBC Bank. The builders would not move on the amount so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The property agent advised me not inform my solicitor about this deal as it may put at risk my loan with the lender. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

New build sellers have recommended to me a property lawyer and I've sought an estimate from them. It's nearly £250 less expensive than my preferred Stafford property lawyer. What's the catch?

Builders frequently have lists of conveyancers who are quick and who know the seller’s paperwork and property lawyer. As many developers offer an inducement to choose their approved solicitor for this reason, any increased cost can be avoided and a developer will not recommend a conveyancing factory and run the risk of having the transaction stall when they demand an exchange within a tight deadline. A counter-argument for not agreeing to use the recommended lawyer is that they may prove reluctant to fight for your interests at the risk of upsetting the sellers. If you worry that this may be the case you should stick with your high street Stafford lawyer.