There are three main stages involved in any conveyancing transaction and we have set out below a summary of what happens at each stage

First Stage: Sale Agreed - up to Exchange of Contracts

• Obtains your title deeds.

• Requests you to fill in standard enquiry forms.

• Prepares a contract and sends this out with a legal information pack.

• Answers any additional enquiries the buyer’s solicitor may have.

• Negotiates the moving (completion) date.

• Requests of you money on account of searches.

• Receives contract and other papers from seller’s solicitor.

• Carries out searches required.

• Asks additional enquiries.

• Receives mortgage offer.

• Reports to you with contract for signature and requests deposit (or uses deposit from sale - if any).

• Receives buyer's contract and deposit.

• Obtains a settlement figure for your mortgage.

• Approves the transfer deed and arranges for you to sign it.

• Sends contract and deposit to seller's solicitor.

• Prepares transfer and mortgage deed and sends them to you to sign.

• Arranges final searches.

• Prepares final accounts and requests your mortgage advance and any monies required from you.

• Receives balance of purchase price.

• Pays off the mortgage.

• Hands over the title deeds.

• Sends you the balance or uses this towards purchase (if any).

• Sends balance to seller’s solicitor and collects title deeds.

• Pays stamp duty (if any).

• Registers purchase at Land Registry.

• Sends title deeds to Bank or Building Society (if any).