Drafting contracts, At the heart of any property transaction is the contract, which lays out the terms and conditions of the sale which will be agreed upon by both buyer and seller. An experienced conveyancing solicitor is needed to draft such a contract, as well as checking it thoroughly on the buyer’s side. There may also need to be negotiation and compromise on the terms of the contract before an exchange of contracts can take place

Conducting searches and checks, If you’re purchasing a property, you’ll need a trained legal professional to conduct certain searches and checks on your behalf. These include Local Authority searches which investigate the property’s boundaries, rights of way, planning constraints or permissions and any disputes. Other searches include environmental, water, drainage and land charges, as well as any other checks you may wish to have carried out.

Property surveys, A conveyancer can advise on valuation surveys, homebuyers reports and full structural surveys that may need to be carried out on a property you plan to purchase.

Exchanging contracts, When everyone’s happy with the terms of the contract, conveyancing solicitors on both sides will set a date to exchange contracts. On this date, both parties are committed to the transaction.

Equity Release, An equity release mortgage allows you to take the equity out of your property without the need to sell it. There is an eligibility test attached to these mortgages and typically you need to be a UK homeowner aged between 55 and 95.