Moving house can be an exciting time, but it can also cause a great deal of stress. There’s so much to think about and so many logistical issues to navigate, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the whole process. However, protecting your property should be your number one priority.
When it comes to moving house, enlisting the services of a solicitor is absolutely essential. A solicitor will help you through what can be a tricky process and can prevent you from falling into the traps and pitfalls that come with it. Read on to learn more.
What Kind of Solicitor Do You Need?
If you’re buying or selling a home in Scotland, the legal aspects of the process must be handled by a solicitor.
Solicitors who specialise in the buying and selling of property are known as conveyancers. They are trained professionals with lots of experience helping people buy and sell their homes. Using a conveyancer is the most effective way of protecting your property during a move.
What Do Conveyancers Do?
Once you have chosen a conveyancer to help with your move, first you will meet with them to discuss the process and what your next steps should be.
Conveyancers are there to guide you through the process and serve as a point of contact should you have any questions or queries. They can advise you about mortgages, making or accepting offers and dealing with insurance.
A conveyancer is also there to handle the legal aspects involved in the process. They will fill out all of the necessary forms and documents required to ensure your move is above board and legal.
The Home Report
One of a conveyancer’s primary responsibilities is to help with the Home Report. Home Reports are a legal requirement in Scotland and must be completed by anybody looking to sell their home. They are designed to offer potential buyers details on a property and to help them make a more informed decision.
Home Reports are made up of three sections, the single survey and valuation, the energy report and the property questionnaire. A solicitor can help you complete a Home Report, and they are required to complete the single survey and valuation section. This section details the home’s condition and whether it requires any work, as well as the value of the property.
If you are thinking about buying a property, the seller must provide you with the Home Report within nine days of you making the request.
Price Negotiations
Buying or selling a home can be a long, drawn-out process that involves lots of back and forth between involved parties. A solicitor can act as a middleman between buyer and seller, handling communications and negotiating prices to ensure you get a fair deal.
Once an offer is accepted between buyer and seller, additional details are hashed out between solicitors through a series of letters known as missives. Once the missives have been agreed, your solicitor will begin the process of transferring ownership of the property.
Inspecting the Deeds
If you are buying a home, inspecting the property deeds is absolutely crucial for protecting your property. This is one of the final duties of a conveyancer; they will go over the deeds in minute detail to ensure there are no red flags that could end up causing you trouble.
Through studying the deeds, your solicitor will confirm that the home actually belongs to the seller and that there are no conditions or limitations in place that could affect you in the future. Additionally, the deeds will confirm that the mortgage on the home will be fully paid before you take ownership of the property.
Settlement
The final step in buying or selling a home is the settlement. This is when the deal is completely finalised, and the buyer moves into their new property on the pre-agreed date.
Your solicitor will be there to receive your financial contribution towards the purchase of the home, for which they will give you the keys in return, and to confirm to your lender and the authorities that the property is now in your name.
Conclusion
Protecting your property is incredibly important. If you’re moving home, enlisting the services of a solicitor is paramount. They can help you navigate the process and ensure everything is handled correctly and goes smoothly.
