It is easy to get carried away planning the new living room, and knocking through the wall into the dining room. When you find a new home, legal issues are not the first thing you will think about.

But when you are getting ready for your new home, it is equally important not to forget that it is not your home until you have all legal considerations sorted and managed.

Here are five important things to consider when selling your home, from our experts.

Surveying

Firstly, understanding the true state of your potential new home is essential. These enquiries will need to be made yourself, as your solicitor will not undertake this task.

If you are acquiring a mortgage, a mortgage provider will organise a mortgage valuation. This report will contain only basic details concerning the state of the property for the purposes of lending. It is always recommended that you should commission a survey on a new home if you are unsure about its condition.

This comprehensive inspection of the property will allow you to pinpoint any areas with potential problems that may impact your purchase, or the sale price.

Stamp duty

Stamp duty is a fee or a tax that you pay to HMRC when you purchase a property that is worth over a certain amount.

For first-time buyers specifically, this can throw an unexpected spanner in the works when saving for your new home. The rates, and cost to you, can sometimes be difficult to estimate as every property is unique.

While it can seem like a simple process, our conveyancing solicitors in Portsmouth can help you should you ever become stuck with the rates or other intricacies that surround this tax.

Legal processes

When both buying and selling a house, there are plenty of legal processes involved that can be a lot to tackle on your own.

No two sales or purchases are the same. By choosing an expert team of local conveyancers, you will reduce the risk of any paperwork going awry – and increase your ability to relax, and focus on the more exciting parts of your move.

Document exchange

Swapping documents between solicitors and mortgage providers is one of the latter stages in a move – and getting it wrong can cost you both money and time. To reduce the risk of slowing down a move, you will need to stay on top of all the legal processes.

Your solicitor will require a copy of the mortgage proposal from your bank or building society, and you must ensure your provider is apprised of the solicitors you have engaged.

They will forward to your solicitor a version of your mortgage offer, inclusive of documentation for your signature. This will allow your solicitor to facilitate the completion of the sale and get you moved in on time.

How to find the right solicitor for your house move

Hiring an accredited conveyancing solicitor is the best way to ensure you get the best deal and your investment is secure.

As with all matters that tie into ethical and legal boundaries, finding an accredited practitioner is of the the most important decision you can make. Solicitors based in Portsmouth, we have been the choice for countless individuals and families that are making the move into a new home or even buying their first home.

Do not forget – all is not always as it seems. Lower charges are almost always linked to lower quality services rendered. Poor legal and administration work from low quality conveyancing providers can result in many complex problems that put your property investment in jeopardy.

Get support from your local solicitor in Portsmouth

Andrew & Andrew provide timely, resourceful and cost-effective legal solutions for all your conveyancing needs, and take care of all legal processes involved with property transfer.

We are here to help, whenever you are ready. To get started, please talk to our team.

Andrew & Andrew Solicitors proudly serve clients across Hampshire from our Portsmouth, Emsworth, and Wickham offices.