Conveyancing, explained
Buying or selling a home comes with a lot of new words and a lot of waiting. These guides explain what's happening, how long it takes and what you can do to help, in plain English.
Guides
How long does conveyancing take?
The stages from offer to keys, how long each one usually takes, and what slows a move down.
6 min read ReadWhy is my conveyancing taking so long?
The usual reasons a move stalls, how to find out what you're waiting for, and what you can do to unstick it.
6 min read ReadWhat does a conveyancer actually do?
Everything your conveyancer does behind the scenes, from checking the title to moving the money, and why it can go quiet.
6 min read ReadWhat are conveyancing searches?
Local authority, water, environmental and mining searches: what each one checks and what it can turn up.
6 min read ReadConveyancing enquiries explained
Why the buyer's conveyancer asks so many questions, the ones that come up most, and how to answer them quickly.
6 min read ReadLeasehold vs freehold
What you actually own, what ground rent and service charges are, and why lease length matters.
7 min read ReadFirst-time buyer checklist
Everything to sort from getting a mortgage in principle to picking up the keys.
7 min read ReadSelling a house: getting started with conveyancing
What to do as soon as you decide to sell, the forms you'll fill in, and the documents worth finding now.
6 min read ReadExchange vs completion
When a move becomes legally binding, when you get the keys, and what happens in between.
5 min read ReadCompletion day: when do I get the keys?
What happens on the day you move, how the money travels, and why the keys sometimes take until the afternoon.
5 min read ReadWhat happens when a chain breaks?
Why property chains collapse, what it costs you, and the options for getting your move back on track.
6 min read ReadWhen something goes wrong
Down valuations, survey surprises, missing paperwork and title problems: what each one means and how it usually gets sorted.
7 min read Read
