Residential
Buying a home
Prepare for the legal work between an accepted offer, exchange and completion.
Property
See the whole transaction, not just the moving date.
Map the title, finance, searches, enquiries, contract and completion dependencies around a home or commercial property.
Property transactions
Several parties may be working toward one fixed date.
A property matter can involve buyers, sellers, lenders, estate agents, surveyors, landlords, tenants and linked transactions. A legal adviser needs to understand both the title and the commercial or personal objective.
The exact work depends on the property, tenure, funding, chain and transaction terms. Keep legal due diligence separate from a survey or valuation: each answers different questions.
Property services
Choose the transaction you are planning.
Each route has its own preparation checklist and questions to raise.
Residential
Selling a home
Understand the title, contract pack, enquiries, exchange and transfer stages.
Commercial
Commercial property
Organise the premises, transaction structure, lease terms and due diligence.
The transaction map
Title, finance and timing move together.
For a typical sale or purchase, legal work may include checking identity and funds, reviewing title, preparing or reviewing a contract pack, carrying out searches, raising or answering enquiries, reporting, exchange and completion. Leasehold property and new builds usually add further information and parties.
An accepted offer does not itself transfer ownership. In England and Wales, the parties are generally not legally bound until contracts are exchanged.
- Property address, tenure and agreed price
- Estate agent and other side's conveyancer, if known
- Mortgage position, gifted funds or related sale
- Target dates and anything that makes timing important
Costs and scope
Ask for assumptions as well as a headline figure.
A useful estimate should explain the legal fee, VAT where applicable, payments to third parties, likely transaction stages and assumptions behind the figure. Additional work may arise if the title, funding, lease or transaction structure is more complex than first described.
A regulated provider advertising residential conveyancing must publish specified price and service information. This prototype does not publish invented fees; verified operator pricing is a launch requirement.
Questions to clarify
Common questions before the first conversation.
These answers are general orientation for England and Wales, not advice on a particular matter.
Is conveyancing the same as a property survey?
No. Conveyancing addresses the legal transfer and title-related work. A survey considers the physical condition of the property; a lender valuation is for the lender's purposes.
When should a conveyancer be approached?
Many people compare providers before making or accepting an offer so identity checks and initial information can begin promptly. The right timing depends on the transaction.
Can one timeline be guaranteed?
No responsible general guide can guarantee a completion date. Timing depends on the parties, title, searches, funding, enquiries, chain and readiness to exchange.
Official starting points
Check the current source.
These official links support general orientation only. They do not replace advice about a particular matter.
Prepare the first conversation
Turn the property transaction into a concise, useful brief.
Collect the people, dates, documents and practical outcome before contacting a regulated legal provider. Do not include confidential information in this prototype.