Green & Company - supporting you through the whole process

We’re here to help Guiding our customers through to completion

We’re here to help Moving home can be exciting but we know it can be a stressful time too; it’s not always plain sailing and there are a number of things that could go wrong.

Delays are sometimes inevitable but they can be frustrating - that’s why we believe you’ve made the right decision in choosing a trusted high street agency, with a local team of experts to help you every step of the way.

To help guide you through the next few weeks and months, we’ve prepared a summary of things that need to happen after an offer has been accepted. This includes searches, surveys, contracts and much more.

The conveyancing process is taking longer than ever, with increased legislation and more paperwork. All this red tape means the average time to complete a house sale/ purchase has increased substantially and with a big chain you could be made to wait even longer.

We understand it can be frustrating, especially when dealing with solicitors in what remains an old-fashioned process.

Our branch based staff understand what it takes to get you moving, our team is there to help you move into your new home. They can explain the process in your language, set out the milestones and tell you what you can do to prevent any unnecessary delays.

With regular updates via email, text or telephone, our team will liaise with solicitors to actively progress and manage your sale right up until exchange of contracts – offering the guidance you need at the most stressful of times.

Below is a summary of things that need to happen to complete a sale and purchase. Please be patient and if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re here to support you through the whole process.

If you’re selling What needs to happen?

Who needs to do it?

Instruct a solicitor: If you haven’t already, we can help you choose a solicitor from our recommended panel to act on your behalf for the sale of your property

You (seller)

Issue client pack: Your solicitor will send you initial paperwork relating to the sale

Your solicitor

Return client pack: It is important to complete and return the client pack to your solicitor as soon as possible. Your solicitor cannot start any work on your file until you do so

You (seller)

Transfer initial funds (if applicable): You must pay any necessary fees to allow your solicitor to start processing your sale

You (seller)

Money laundering ID: You must provide ID to your solicitor to meet legal requirements

You (seller)

Send property information questionnaire: You must return your completed property information questionnaire and associated paperwork to your solicitor

You (seller)

Issue draft contract to buyer’s solicitor: Your solicitor can not issue a draft contract to your buyer’s solicitors until they have received all of your completed paperwork

Your solicitor

Order management pack and leasehold pack (leasehold property only): Your solicitor must order relevant documentation if you are selling a leasehold property. The management company normally charge a fee for this

Your solicitor

Receive management pack/leasehold pack and send to buyer’s solicitor: Your solicitor will send the documentation to the buyer’s solicitor, if applicable

Your solicitor

Receive enquiries from buyer’s solicitor: If there are any enquiries relating to the property information pack, searches or surveys, your buyer’s solicitor will notify your solicitor, who will in turn send them to you

Your solicitor

Answer enquiries: You must respond to any enquiries via your solicitor, who will respond to the buyer’s solicitor

You (seller) / Your solicitor

Receive further enquiries from buyer’s solicitor (if applicable): This process may be repeated if there are further enquiries

Your solicitor

Answer further enquiries and return to buyer’s solicitor (if applicable)

You (seller) / Your solicitor

Sign contract: Your solicitor will provide a contract for you to sign

You (seller)

Exchange of contracts: Signed contracts will be exchanged via solicitors. At this point the buyer is legally bound to purchase your property

Your solicitor

Completion of contracts: Your solicitor will contact you to say funds have been transferred from your buyer solicitor to your solicitor’s account

Your solicitor

Give keys to Green & Company: If you haven’t already, leave a set of keys so we can hand them over to your buyer on the day of completion

You (seller)

Collect the keys

Buyer

If you’re buying What needs to happen?

Who needs to do it?

Instruct a solicitor: If you haven’t already, we can help you choose a solicitor from our recommended panel to act on your behalf for the purchase

You (buyer)

Issue client pack: Your solicitor will send you initial paperwork relating to the purchase

Your solicitor

Return client pack: It is important to complete and return the client pack to your solicitor as soon as possible. Your solicitor cannot start any work on your file until you do so

You (buyer)

Transfer initial funds: You must pay any necessary fees to allow your solicitor to start processing your sale and apply for the required searches

You (buyer)

Money laundering ID: You must provide ID to your solicitor to meet legal requirements

You (buyer)

Submit mortgage application (if applicable): You must apply for your mortgage – speak to our team if you need mortgage advice

You (buyer) / Your financial adviser

Receive draft contract: The vendor’s solicitor will issue a contract to your solicitor

Your solicitor

Receive leasehold pack and management pack (if applicable): Your solicitor will receive documentation from your vendor’s solicitor if you are buying a leasehold property

Your solicitor

Instruct surveyor: Your mortgage lender will instruct a surveyor to complete a survey on the property

Your mortgage lender

Apply for required searches: Your solicitor will apply for all relevant searches.

You should expect it to take at least three weeks to complete these searches

Your solicitor

Raise enquiries to vendor’s solicitor: If you or your solicitor have any enquiries relating to the property, your solicitor will notify your vendor’s solicitor

You (buyer) / Your solicitor

Receive survey report

You (buyer)

Order additional reports as a result of survey and send to your mortgage lender (if applicable)

You (buyer)

Send additional survey reports (if applicable): Your solicitor will send additional reports to your mortgage lender

Your solicitor

Lender accepts reports (if applicable): Your mortgage lender will confirm that they are happy to proceed

Your mortgage lender

Deal with responses from the vendor’s solicitor: You and your solicitor will go through the responses from the vendor’s solicitor and you must confirm that you are happy to proceed

You (buyer) / Your solicitor

Receive required search reports: Your solicitor will confirm that all reports have been received and are satisfactory

Your solicitor

Receive mortgage offer (if applicable): Your mortgage lender will issue a formal mortgage offer, which you must sign and return

You (buyer) / Your mortgage lender

Raise further enquiries to vendor’s solicitor (if applicable): This process can be repeated if necessary

You (buyer) / Your solicitor

Sign contract: Your solicitor will provide a contract for you to sign

Your solicitor

Pay deposit and any other associated costs: You must provide funds to your solicitor in accordance with their instructions at the end

You (buyer)

Request mortgage monies from lender: Your solicitor will request the mortgage sum from your lender

Your solicitor

Exchange of contracts: Signed contracts will be exchanged via solicitors. At this point you are legally bound to purchase the property

Your solicitor

Completion of contracts: Your solicitor will contact you to advise that the funds have been transferred

Your solicitor

Collect keys from Green & Company

You (buyer)

Got any questions?

Remember, Green & Company is here to help you and we will do everything we can to support you through to completion. In the meantime, here are a few points to remember: Don’t expect things to happen immediately Even without a chain it can take months to complete a purchase and sale.

You will receive lots of information from your solicitor If you want someone to explain it in plain English, feel free to pop into our branch.

We’ll put the kettle on!

Moving day can be unpredictable, especially with a big chain Be as prepared as you can, have everything packed and use a removals firm you can trust.

You’re not on your own If you have any questions at all, just ask us – by phone, text, email or in person in our local high street branch.

www.green-property.com