Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one person to another when buying or selling a home.

A solicitor or licensed conveyancer handles the legal work involved in the transaction, including preparing and reviewing contracts, checking property ownership, carrying out searches, raising legal enquiries and arranging the transfer of funds. They also oversee the exchange of contracts and completion of the sale or purchase.

The conveyancing process helps ensure that the transaction is legally sound and that buyers and sellers understand their rights and obligations before proceeding.

At Skitts, we work with a panel of experienced conveyancing specialists across the West Midlands who can guide you through the legal process, provide clear information about costs and help make your move as straightforward as possible.

Conveyancing costs typically range from around £800 to £2,000 in legal fees, although the amount will depend on the property’s value, whether you’re buying or selling, and the complexity of the transaction.

Additional expenses may include property searches, Land Registry fees, bank transfer charges and other disbursements. Leasehold properties can involve additional legal work and higher costs.

It’s important to obtain a detailed conveyancing quotation before proceeding, so you understand exactly what’s included and whether VAT and other charges are payable.

At Skitts, we can introduce you to experienced conveyancing specialists who can provide a quotation tailored to your circumstances and help guide you through the legal process of buying or selling your home.

Conveyancing typically takes around 8 to 16 weeks from the point a solicitor or licensed conveyancer is instructed to completion, although timescales can vary considerably depending on the circumstances.

The process involves reviewing contracts, carrying out property searches, raising legal enquiries, arranging mortgage requirements and preparing for exchange of contracts. Transactions involving longer property chains, leasehold properties or unexpected legal issues may take longer.

Having the necessary documents ready and responding promptly to enquiries can help avoid unnecessary delays.

At Skitts, our experienced sales teams work closely with buyers, sellers and conveyancers throughout the transaction, helping to maintain communication, resolve issues where possible and keep your move progressing towards completion.

It’s advisable to choose a solicitor or licensed conveyancer as early as possible when buying or selling a property, ideally before an offer has been accepted.

If you’re selling, instructing a conveyancer when your property goes on the market allows them to begin preparing the necessary paperwork, checking ownership details and gathering information that may be required during the sale.

If you’re buying, having a conveyancer ready to act means the legal process can begin promptly once your offer has been accepted.

At Skitts, we can introduce you to experienced conveyancing specialists who can explain the process, provide a clear quotation and help ensure you’re prepared for the next stage of your property transaction.

Both solicitors and licensed conveyancers can handle the legal work involved in buying or selling a property, but their qualifications and areas of expertise differ.

A solicitor is a qualified legal professional who may practise in several areas of law, including property, family and commercial matters. A licensed conveyancer specialises in property transactions and is specifically trained to deal with the legal aspects of buying and selling homes.

Both professionals can carry out conveyancing, including reviewing contracts, conducting property searches, handling legal enquiries and overseeing exchange of contracts and completion.

We can introduce you to experienced conveyancing professionals who can explain their services, provide a clear quotation and help guide you through your property transaction.

When buying a house, your solicitor or conveyancer will usually arrange several property searches to identify potential issues that could affect the property or your decision to purchase it.

The main searches typically include a local authority search, which checks matters such as planning permissions, building regulations and road schemes; an environmental search, which assesses risks including flooding and contaminated land; and a water and drainage search, which confirms details of the property’s water supply and sewerage connections.

Additional searches may be recommended depending on the property’s location, such as mining searches in areas with a history of coal mining.

We can introduce you to experienced conveyancing professionals who can explain which searches are required, what they involve and how the results may affect your purchase.

When buying or selling a property, your solicitor or conveyancer will require certain documents to verify your identity, establish ownership and complete the necessary legal checks.

You’ll usually need to provide proof of identity, such as a passport or driving licence, and proof of address. Buyers may also need to supply evidence of their deposit and source of funds to comply with anti-money laundering regulations.

If you’re selling a property, your conveyancer may request details of your existing mortgage, guarantees for any building work, planning permissions, building regulations certificates and information about fixtures and fittings included in the sale.

Having these documents ready early can help avoid unnecessary delays. We can introduce you to experienced conveyancing professionals who can explain exactly what’s required for your transaction.

Several factors can delay the conveyancing process, including outstanding property searches, unanswered legal enquiries, mortgage offer delays and issues with property ownership or documentation.

Longer property chains can also affect timescales, as each transaction may depend on other buyers and sellers being ready to proceed. Leasehold properties can sometimes take longer because additional information may be required from freeholders or managing agents.

Delays may also arise if surveys identify problems that need further investigation or if important paperwork is missing.

To help keep your transaction moving, it’s advisable to instruct a conveyancer early, provide requested documents promptly and maintain regular communication. At Skitts, our experienced sales teams work closely with buyers, sellers and conveyancers to help identify potential issues and keep transactions progressing towards completion.

Exchange of contracts and completion are two important stages in the process of buying or selling a property in England and Wales.

Exchange of contracts is when the buyer’s and seller’s conveyancers formally exchange signed contracts, making the transaction legally binding. At this stage, the completion date is agreed and both parties become legally committed to the sale or purchase.

Completion takes place when the remaining purchase money is transferred to the seller’s conveyancer and the property legally changes hands. Once completion has been confirmed, the buyer can usually collect the keys and move into their new home.

The two stages can take place on the same day, although there is often a gap between them to allow everyone time to prepare for moving.

Yes, you can change your solicitor or conveyancer during the process of buying or selling a property, although it’s important to consider the potential costs and delays before doing so.

You may wish to change conveyancers because of poor communication, unexpected fees or concerns about how your transaction is progressing. However, your existing solicitor may charge for work already completed, and your new conveyancer will need time to review the paperwork and take over the transaction.

If you’re buying with a mortgage, you’ll also need to ensure your new conveyancer is accepted by your lender.

Before making a decision, it’s worth discussing your concerns with your current conveyancer to see whether they can be resolved. We can also introduce you to experienced conveyancing professionals who can explain your options.

You are not legally required to use a solicitor or licensed conveyancer when selling a house in England and Wales, but professional conveyancing services are strongly recommended.

Selling a property involves preparing legal contracts, confirming ownership, responding to enquiries from the buyer’s solicitor and arranging the transfer of funds. Mistakes or missing information can cause delays and potentially lead to legal or financial complications.

If you have an outstanding mortgage, your lender’s requirements may also make professional legal representation necessary.

Using an experienced solicitor or licensed conveyancer can help ensure the transaction is handled correctly and progresses as smoothly as possible. We can introduce you to trusted conveyancing professionals who can explain the process, provide a quotation and assist with the legal work involved in selling your home.

At Skitts, we can introduce you to experienced conveyancing professionals who can handle the legal work involved in buying or selling a property, helping to make the process as straightforward as possible.

Our recommended conveyancing specialists can provide a quotation, explain the legal process and assist with everything from preparing contracts and carrying out property searches to exchanging contracts and completing your transaction.

Our sales teams also work closely with buyers, sellers and conveyancers throughout the process, helping to maintain communication, identify potential issues and keep your move progressing.

Whether you’re buying your first home, moving to a new property or selling an existing home, we can help you take the next step by arranging an introduction to a suitable conveyancing professional.