Spring is here – bringing out the daffodils … and the house hunters!

Posted on March 30, 2018

The daffodils are blooming, the days are getting longer and spring is officially here. Traditionally, this time of year sees a pick-up in the housing market as more people start to get serious about finding their new home. If you’re house hunting this weekend, scroll down to read our conveyancing tips.

With our Oldham weather friends at @ChadWeather predicting another cold spell for bank holiday Monday, it may well be only the brave out house hunting this weekend. If that includes you, we’ve got lots of information to help you navigate the conveyancing process.

Guides to buying and selling a house

Whether you are a first time buyer or it’s been a while since you last went through the house buying process, have a look at some of the guides on our conveyancing pages.

Our step-by-step guide to buying and selling your home
Frequently Asked Questions about the Conveyancing process
Frequently Asked Questions about our Conveyancing service (including how we charge)

You can find other articles and guides on our conveyancing home page.

Get a conveyancing quote

You can even obtain an online quote from us.

When reviewing quotes, one thing we would say is to make sure you compare like with like. Check what you are getting for that fixed price quote. Remember that there are extra expenses (which we call ‘disbursements’) for example to obtain the appropriate searches on the property.

Conveyancing Tips

Here are our top tips if you’re just starting to look for a new home.

Get a mortgage offer in place as soon as possible (but do make sure you can afford the monthly payments). This will ensure you are looking at houses within your price range.
There are lots of mortgage options. Do your research. Find out what offers are available. Consider whether you want interest to be set at a fixed rate or a variable rate?
Check whether you’ll need a guarantee for the mortgage.
Once you have your mortgage offer, set yourself a budget – and stick to it before starting your house search. How much can you afford to spend on a home?
When setting your budget, don’t forget the additional expenses involved in buying a home. These include stamp duty, the removal costs, buildings insurance and legal fees as well as disbursements relating to the legal fees (such as search fees).
Consider carefully where you want to live. What are your priorities? Do you want to be near your workplace? For example, do you want a school, shops, a pub, health services or motorway access nearby?

How can we help?

Moving home can be a stressful as well as an exciting experience. From the day you instruct us to the day of completion, we'll take care of every legal detail, liaising efficiently with all the parties and aiming to reduce your stress.

We’ll also keep you informed every step of the way.

Contact us

For more information on the conveyancing process, contact

Victoria Marshall on 0161 785 3500 or email victoria.marshall@pearsonlegal.co.uk;

Please note that the information and opinions contained in this article are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to provide legal advice. No responsibility for its accuracy or correctness is assumed by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd or any of its members or employees. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, any action as a result of this article.

This blog was posted some time ago and its contents may now be out of date. For the latest legal position relating to these issues, get in touch with the author - or make an enquiry now.