Pinto Potts Conveyancing Solicitors can help anyone looking to buy a property, our office is based in Fleet, Hampshire which means we can help anyone looking to purchase a home throughout much of Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and beyond.
We keep regular contact with our conveyancing clients and the person handling your property purchase will provide you with their direct telephone number and e-mail address to ensure you have an open line of communication at all times.
At Pinto Potts Conveyancing Solicitors we can help with the purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties, if you would like to find out more about how we can help you, simply complete the online enquiry form on the right hand side.
Advice When Buying a Property
- The principal of “buyer beware” applies. This means it is the buyer’s responsibility to investigate any defects there may be. You purchase the property, as seen, with all it’s hidden defects and faults. Your conveyancer will only raise enquiries of a legal nature and therefore should you have any non-legal enquiries you wish us to raise then please notify us as soon as possible.
- You are strongly advised to instruct a structural, boundary and drainage survey on the property (as recommended by your surveyor) as this may reveal defects which could adversely affect the value, or your enjoyment of the property. The mortgage lender will normally carry out a valuation, however this is very basic and looks to protect the lenders interest in the property and not yours and therefore you cannot rely on this report. We recommend you instruct a Homebuyers Survey or a Full Structural Survey rather than rely on the valuation report. You should discuss with your surveyor the best survey for your requirements.
- Your conveyancer will carry out a Local Authority Search, Drainage Search, Environmental Search and Chancel Repair Check together with any other necessary searches dependant on the location of the property.
- You must arrange buildings insurance, or accept the mortgage lender’s buildings insurance, on the property and must provide us with details before exchange of contracts (unless you are buying a leasehold property and the landlord arranges the insurance). You should place your building insurance on risk from the date of exchange. We also strongly recommend you take out contents insurance and life insurance.
- You will need to pay a deposit to the seller on exchange of contracts and the balance of the purchase price together with your lawyer’s fees and all other disbursements (e.g. stamp duty, land registration fees) on completion. Please bear in mind we must receive from you cleared funds prior to exchange of contracts/completion respectively. Payments can be made in the following ways:
- Telegraphic Transfer (or CHAPS) – A bank to bank transfer which normally clears the same day the payment is instructed
- BACS – A bank to bank transfer which takes 3-4 working days to leave your account and arrive in the destination account but is cheaper than a Telegraphic Transfer
- Bankers Draft – A cheque issued and guaranteed by the bank. This is accepted as cleared funds.
- A Personal Cheque/Building Society Cheque – Normally requires up to 7 working days to clear
- Once contracts are exchanged then there is no turning back. You are obliged to purchase the property on the completion date agreed.
- The purchase is not guaranteed until contracts are exchanged. Therefore you should try to avoid making commitments until this has occurred (for example do not book removals until you have exchanged contracts and a completion date set).
- Once you have completed you will need to contact service providers and arrange for connection to any necessary services (e.g. gas, electric, telephone etc.)