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Moving house

Our conveyancing service explained, for sale and purchase.

A guide to moving house
What to expect during the conveyancing process when you’re selling your home

  • Confirmation of instructions evidence of identity and money on account received from you.
  • Property Information Form and Fittings and Contents Form received from you completed. 
  • On receipt of above, Contract and supporting documents sent to the buyers solicitors. 
  • Contract sent to you for signature.
  • Redemption figure requested if mortgage on property.
  • Reply to any enquiries buyers solicitors may raise. If any require your personal knowledge then we obtain your replies to the same.
  • When buyer’s solicitors are satisfied, and following a discussion with you, your conveyancer will agree a completion date and exchange contracts.
  • On exchange the completion date is legally binding.
  • Final redemption statement from your lender requested.
  • Your signature to Transfer obtained.
  • Estate Agents account obtained and approved.
  • Your conveyancer prepares the completion statement.
  • On completion you conveyancer receives sale monies. When monies are received your conveyancer then pay the existing mortgage (if any) and pay your Estate Agents account.
  • Pay the balance to you either by cheque or telegraphic transfer (if not buying alternative property).

What to expect during the conveyancing process during your house purchase

  • Confirmation of instructions evidence of identity and monies on account for search fees received.
  • Contract documents received from Seller’s solicitors.
  • Searches submitted. Results reported to you.
  • Plan and initial report forwarded to you for comment.
  • We raise any additional enquiries with the Seller’s solicitors.
  • When mortgage offer received we report to you to ensure you are aware of the general terms.
  • When we are satisfied with responses from the Seller’s solicitors we report to you.
  • When you confirm you are satisfied we will forward to you all documents for signature and request the balance due from you.;
  • We will ask you for a suggested date for completion.
  • Contracts are exchanged when:

1) All parties agree a date for completion

2) We are in receipt of all signed documents

3) We are in receipt of the balance due from you.

  • The completion date is fixed. This is legally binding on both parties.
  • When a completion date is agreed we submit the Certificate of Title to your Mortgagees requesting mortgage funds.
  • On the day of completion we forward the balance to the Sellers solicitors.
  • Once funds are received by the Seller’s solicitors they will release the keys via the Estate Agents
  • You obtain your keys from the Estate Agents.
  • We attend to payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (if applicable).
  • We then register your interest in the property with the Land Registry. We forward a copy of the completed Register to you for you to keep safely.

Suggested check list for change of address notification when you are moving house

Financial
⬜ Accountant
⬜ Bank
⬜ Building Society
⬜ Credit agreements
⬜ Employer
⬜ Independent Financial Advisor
⬜ HM Revenue and Customers
⬜ Life and Home Insurance
⬜ Pension
⬜ Personal Insurance
⬜ Premium Bonds
⬜ Savings and Investments
⬜ Shares
⬜ Social Security / National Insurance
Services
⬜ Gas provider
⬜ Electricity provider
⬜ Water company
⬜ Local authority / council tax
⬜ Internet service provider
⬜ Mobile telephone
⬜ Telephone provider
⬜ Television licence
⬜ Television provider
⬜ Passport office
⬜ Solicitors*
Medical
⬜ GP
⬜ Blood donor service
⬜ Dentist
⬜ Optician
⬜ Private health care
⬜ Vet
Social and education
⬜ Clubs and societies
⬜ Family and friends
⬜ Magazine subscription
⬜ Professional bodies
⬜ Schools
⬜ Sports and leisure club
Transport
⬜ Breakdown organisations
⬜ Car/motorcycle tax/log book
⬜ Driving licence
Purchasing
⬜ Guarantees/service agreements
⬜ Internet accounts
⬜ Store and loyalty cards
⬜ Appliance rental
⬜ Credit card companies
⬜ Catalogue and mail order

*When you are moving house or buying your first home it is vital to make or update your Will. Call our Wills team on 0113 320 5000 for your FREE no obligation consultation.

Client feedback

Excellent job by Michelle with my conveyancing. Clear communication. Rapid responses. Everything you could want.
Graham
Michelle was our conveyancer for our recent house purchase. Her professionalism, thoroughness and quick responses throughout the process made the purchase as easy as possible for us - we are very grateful to her and the rest of the team at Winston Solicitors for their work.
Anonymous
had a great experience with winston solicitor company. The team was professional, friendly, and helpful throughout the whole process. Joe Rawnsley was fantastic. He kept me informed, answered all my questions, and made everything straightforward and stress-free. I’m very happy with the service I received and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy solicitor.
Bijan
They are very quick in replying and clarifying your questions. Also very smooth transaction process overall.
David
I have now used Winston’s for a number of services and highly rate them all round. My most recent experience was of their conveyancing team who have again been helpful from start to finish with the sale of my previous property and new purchase. The new purchase was not straight forward but Winston’s managed this extremely well with even the estate agent noting how helpful they were. I’m very appreciative to Michelle for her all her help with this
Jo
I used this practice for the conveyancing services (Michelle Ayres specifically). I could not recommend this practice more. I was away working outside of England for much of the time my house sale went through and I could not fault the communication, professionalism and advice I was given. Emails were responded to in a timely manner, they were fantastic throughout all negotiation with my buyer, were brilliant in explaining anything “legal speak” offered appropriate advice and really pushed on this process to ensure it moved from offer to exchange and completion. Really couldn’t recommend more.
Miss B
We couldn’t recommend Leasa highly enough. She was absolutely brilliant throughout the entire process of buying our first home.The purchase ended up being a fairly long and complicated process, with a number of delays and issues along the way, but Leasa was incredibly patient, responsive and reassuring throughout. She always took the time to explain things clearly, answer our questions and make sure we understood what was happening, which made a huge difference as first-time buyers.We always felt that she genuinely had our best interests at heart and was working hard to keep everything moving, even when things were outside of her control. Her communication was excellent, and we always felt we could get in touch whenever we needed help or clarification.Buying a home can be stressful, but having someone as knowledgeable, helpful and kind as Leasa made the whole experience so much easier.We’re incredibly grateful for everything she did to help us finally get the keys to our new home. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Leasa to anyone looking for a conveyancing solicitor, and we would absolutely use her again in the future.Thank you so much, Leasa!
Hannah
We used Winston recently for conveyancing, we are a slightly unorthodox and there were changes along the way. They were accommodating and patient with excellent regular comms. Recommended
Lee
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