A straightforward guide to how conveyancing works, what to expect at each stage and how we keep your transaction moving forward efficiently from first instruction through to completion and beyond.
A clear, step-by-step guide to the conveyancing process, explaining what happens at each stage, what to expect, and how MJP keeps your move progressing from instruction through to completion.
Step 1 — Instruction
We open your file and begin our initial checks. This includes verifying your identity, completing anti-money laundering checks, confirming the source of any deposit funds and gathering the information we need to start work. You will be introduced to your dedicated conveyancer and given access to your secure online portal so that you can follow your case at any time of the day or night.
Step 2 — Contract Pack
On a sale, your conveyancer prepares the contract pack and sends it to the buyer’s solicitor. The pack typically includes the draft contract, evidence of title, property information forms, fittings and contents lists and any leasehold information where relevant. On a purchase, your conveyancer receives the contract pack from the seller’s solicitor and begins the detailed review.
Step 3 — Documentation, Searches and Enquiries
We review all the paperwork in detail and raise enquiries with the other side where anything is unclear or further information is required. On a purchase we also order the relevant property searches, which typically include a local authority search, drainage and water search and an environmental search. Additional searches may be required depending on the property and its location.
Step 4 — Reporting to You
Once searches are returned and enquiries are satisfactorily answered, we send you a clear written report on the property. The report explains everything we have found, highlights any issues you need to consider and sets out the next steps. This is your opportunity to ask any questions before you commit to the transaction.
Step 5 — Mortgage Offer and Final Checks
Where you are buying with the help of a mortgage, we review the mortgage offer and ensure that all the lender’s requirements have been satisfied. We also prepare the final paperwork for signature, including the contract, transfer deed and mortgage deed where applicable.
Step 6 — Agreeing Dates and Exchange of Contracts
Once everyone in the chain is ready, a completion date is agreed by all parties. Contracts are then exchanged, at which point the transaction becomes legally binding. Deposits are paid and neither side can withdraw without significant penalty. From this moment on, the move is firmly in your diary.
Step 7 — Completion
On the agreed completion date, the purchase funds are sent to the seller’s solicitor. Once those funds are received, the keys are released to the buyer through the estate agent, and the property legally changes hands. Congratulations, you are moving in.
Step 8 — Post Completion
After completion we deal with the remaining formalities, including paying any Stamp Duty Land Tax to HMRC, registering the transfer and any new mortgage with HM Land Registry and providing you and your lender with the updated title information. Only when all of this is finished is your file closed.
Every transaction is different, but we will always endeavour to ensure that the time between:
(1) sending out a contract in connection with your sale, or receiving a contract in respect of your purchase, and
(2) exchange of contracts, when you become legally obliged to complete the transaction,
takes no longer than four weeks.
In practice, the time from instruction to completion typically falls between eight and twelve weeks for a straightforward freehold transaction, and a little longer for leasehold or new build transactions where management companies and developers can extend the timeline. Your conveyancer will give you a realistic estimate at the outset and keep you updated as the transaction progresses.
The conveyancing process depends on the cooperation of many different parties, and a number of factors can slow things down. The most common include:
We work hard to anticipate these issues and resolve them as quickly as possible. Where something is outside our control, we keep you fully informed so that you always know exactly where things stand.
Start your move with a conveyancing team that keeps everything clear, efficient and progressing from day one. With expert legal support, real-time updates and transparent pricing, you stay informed and in control at every stage.
