Buying a House: Your Conveyancing Checklist
Buying a house is one of the largest financial commitments you will make. Understanding the conveyancing process — and what happens at each stage — helps you stay in control, avoid delays, and make informed decisions. Use this checklist to track your progress from offer accepted to keys in hand.
The conveyancing process for buying a house typically takes 8–12 weeks and involves six key stages: instruction, searches, mortgage offer, contract review, exchange, and completion. Through Conveyancing Solicitor, fixed fees start from £399 + VAT with a No Move, No Fee guarantee.
Stage 1: Offer Accepted — Instruct a Solicitor
Once your offer is accepted, instruct a conveyancing solicitor immediately. Delays at this stage push back everything else. Your solicitor will: send you a client care letter, request proof of identity (passport or driving licence), request proof of funds or mortgage agreement in principle, and contact the seller's solicitor to request the draft contract pack.
Stage 2: Searches and Enquiries (Weeks 2–4)
Your solicitor orders property searches: Local Authority Search (planning, building control, highways), Environmental Search (contamination, flooding, ground stability), Drainage and Water Search (connection to mains), and any additional searches relevant to your area (e.g., mining, chancel repair). Simultaneously, they raise enquiries with the seller's solicitor about anything unclear in the contract pack.
Stage 3: Mortgage Offer (Weeks 2–6)
Your mortgage lender instructs a surveyor to value the property and, if satisfactory, issues a formal mortgage offer. Your solicitor reviews the offer terms and checks for any special conditions. If you are a cash buyer, this stage is skipped.
Stage 4: Contract Review and Report (Weeks 4–8)
Once searches return and enquiries are answered, your solicitor prepares a Report on Title. This summarises everything they have found about the property: title, boundaries, rights of way, restrictions, and search results. They will highlight anything you need to be aware of before committing.
Stage 5: Exchange of Contracts (Week 8–10)
Exchange is the point of no return. You pay your deposit (usually 10%) and both parties are legally committed. A completion date is set — typically 1–2 weeks after exchange. After exchange, pulling out means losing your deposit.
Stage 6: Completion (Week 10–12)
On completion day, your solicitor transfers the purchase funds to the seller's solicitor. Once funds are received, the keys are released to you. Your solicitor then handles post-completion: paying stamp duty to HMRC within 14 days, and registering your ownership with the Land Registry.
Frequently Asked Questions
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