Should conveyancers ask for money up-front when it comes to conveyancing in Watchet?
If you are buying a property in Watchet your lawyer will ask you place them with monies to cover the the cost of the conveyancing searches. This will be the total of the cost of the Local Authority Search. If any down payment is as part of the purchase price then this should be required immediately ahead of exchange of contracts. Any further balance that is needed will be payable a few days prior to the completion date.
Have just purchased a probate house at auction in Watchet. Conveyancing is necessary. What happens now?
Having exchanged you should instruct a conveyancing practitioner soon as you will have a tight deadline in which to complete the conveyancing. Every auction property will have a bespoke legal pack. This will likely include the copy title deeds, local authority and drainage searches. In the case of leasehold premises the auction pack may include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing documentation specific to leasehold premises. You must give this to your appointed conveyancing solicitor ASAP. Do make sure that your finances are organised to complete on the date specified in the contract.
We had chosen conveyancing lawyers located in Watchet on the Nationwide solicitor panel. They have just billed me a supplemental fee for the legal aspects of the Nationwide mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Nationwide?
Provided it is contained in their Terms of Engagement or estimate then yes your conveyancing practitioner can levy a fee for this. The fee is not set by Nationwide but by your Watchet solicitor. Some firms on the Nationwide panel will quote an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
I've read lots of mortgage guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Watchet solicitor - who is on the Barclays conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?
Barclays will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Barclays will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your conveyancer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Watchet postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Barclays, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Watchet.
My partner and I are planning on selling our house in Watchet and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. A high street Watchet conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the buyers used an online conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Watchet. Having lived in Watchet for six years we know of no issue. Should we contact our local Authority to obtain clarification that the buyers are looking for.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing solicitor currently acting for you. What do they say? You must check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same sickness)
I opted to have a survey done on a property in Watchet in advance of appointing conveyancers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. The surveyor has said that some mortgage companies will not issue a loan on this type of premises.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Lloyds has different instructions from Nationwide. Should you wish to call us we can investigate further with the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Watchet. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.
My uncle has encouraged me to appoint his conveyancers in Watchet. Should I choose my own solicitor?
Much as we are happy to recommend a Watchet conveyancing lawyer the best way to select a conveyancing solicitor is to seek referrals from friends or relatives who have used the firm you're are thinking of instructing.