Are you thinking of hiring a real estate agent to sell your Duluth home quickly?

Selling a house is usually a expensive and complicated process. That’s why real estate agents make such big commissions (often thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) on a single home sale. And most successful agents in Duluth, Georgia usually have 5, 20 or 20 houses listed at any given time knowing that these houses will probably sell within the next 3 to 6 months or longer. Since most of the good agents have so many listings, it’s rare that they will spend the time, money and personal attention needed to sell your house quickly. If you don’t have much equity in your home, your home selling options are even more limited. You may have to write a big check at closing in order to sell your Duluth house and cover any negative equity, closing costs, taxes, etc in addition to your agent’s large commission check.

There is a better way to sell your Duluth house faster, easier and more conveniently than ever before!

If you don’t want to sell your Duluth house for sale by owner or through a real estate agent, there is a much better solution… Sell your home to us in 7 days or less! We buy houses in Duluth Georgia in 7 days or less and we want to buy your house! We are not real estate agents who want to list and sell your house for a commission. We are local professional home buyers who want to buy your Duluth house and can do so quickly, often in 7 days or less with no commissions to pay. We buy houses from people just like you, in neighborhoods just like yours, in any area, condition or price range in Duluth, Georgia and the surrounding areas such as Sugar Hill, Buford, Cumming and Dacula, Georgia. We buy houses in other towns and cities across Georgia such as Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, Savannah, Valdosta, Gainesville and Athens. We buy newer houses, older houses, pretty houses and even ugly houses that need major repairs. We specialize in finding creative solutions to ugly real estate problems and situations that real estate agents and other traditional and professional home buyers just won’t touch. We can pay you all cash, take over your monthly mortgage payments or lease-option your house immediately! We’ll handle all of the paperwork, make all the arrangements and can close within a few days if necessary. You’ll get a quick sale with no hassles so you can put your home selling worries behind you once and for all.

Do you want to sell your Duluth, Georgia home in 7 days or less?

We buy houses in Duluth Georgia in 7 days or less and we want to buy your house fast! To find out if your Duluth home qualifies for one of our fast home purchase programs, please take a moment to complete our Online Seller Questionnaire at www.we-buy-houses-atlanta-georgia.com. Tell us all about your Duluth house for sale and we will get back to you about buying your house ASAP. If your Duluth home qualifies for one of our fast home purchase programs, one of our local professional home buyers will schedule an appointment to come out and inspect your property, take some photos and make you one or more offers to purchase your home on the spot! Selling your Duluth, Georgia home has never been faster, easier or more convenient!

To sell your house fast in Atlanta Georgia please complete our Home Seller Questionnaire.



Quick Property Sale

There may be periods in a homeowner’s life when his or her personal circumstances change dramatically and it makes economic sense to sell the house as quickly as possible, thus releasing the capital that has built up in it. The reasons are many and varied and may include:

1. The breakdown of a relationship. Whether the partners in the house are married or not, there may be financial pressures caused by the breakdown of the relationship. One of the partners may have started another relationship, in which case they may require capital release in order to finance another mortgage or rental costs. Some of the Sell and Rent Back companies will buy the house very quickly, and rent it back to the remaining partner at a competitive rate.

2. The homeowner may have to move with his/her job, either within the UK or abroad. If this move is seen to be fairly permanent, then capital will be required to finance a new home in the new location. For those relocating or emigrating, some of the Sell and Rent Back companies will buy the house in as little as 14 (working) days.

3. If the homeowner has been in arrears with mortgage payments they could fear the prospect of having their home repossessed and see that a quick house sale would be a financially better alternative and enable them to avoid repossession.

4. Should one of the partners in a house die, the remaining partner’s income may be insufficient to cover the mortgage, then again, a quick house sale may be seen as a beneficial alternative to having the home repossessed.

5. In a falling house market, to sell your house now may be a shrewd move. If financial experts project that house prices may fall 20%, then the homeowner could take the view that selling the house quickly, without Estate Agent’s or Auctioneer’s fees, for as close to its current value as possible, will reduce the capital loss. The house could then be rented back at a competitive rate until the market is viewed to have ‘bottomed out’.

The average level of personal debt is increasing, and a quick house sale may be seen as one way of paying off all debts in one go. This is especially useful if you suffer a reduction in income which is viewed as a temporary situation. To sell the house, pay off the debts and live in rented accommodation for a while may be a sensible strategy. Indeed, with many of the Sell to Stay companies, you can sell your house quickly and rent it back at a competitive rate.

There are many routes to achieving a quick house sale.

1. Estate Agents – Estate Agents will always tell you that they can sell houses very quickly. This may be true when the market is rising and there is a lot of competition for every house, but when prices flatten, or indeed fall, houses stick and your ‘quick sale’ may be lost.

2. Auction – Auctions are the ultimate vehicle to value a property. Any property is only worth what another will pay for it, and an auction with many interested parties in the room will produce the best market price for a property with a very quick sale.

3. However, anyone who goes to an auction will be expecting a bargain – they view the items that go to auction as being ‘on-offer’ and only there because they have failed to sell elsewhere. You may not get a good price at auction.

4. Sealed Bid – Requesting sealed bids is another good way of valuing a property. However, the process suffers from the same market pressures as the previous two. From the buyer’s point of view, putting in a sealed bid when the market is rising is a worrying process, as he/she doesn’t want to bid too low for fear of losing it. This can result in some extremely over-priced bids. On the other side of the coin, in a falling market the worry is that the buyer may bid too high and end up with a home in negative equity. This results in the seller receiving a number of disappointingly low bids.

5. Sell and Rent Back – Sell and Rent Back companies will buy your house very quickly – many of them promise to buy it within 14 (working) days. They will give you 80% or more of the value of your house – but that’s it! You don’t have to pay the Estate Agent or the Auctioneer, just your legal fees. Furthermore, many of the Sell and Rent Back companies will allow you to stay in your home and rent it back at a competitive rate.

So if you need a quick house sale, you must try to strike a balance between speed and the amount of money you will receive from the different methods of selling your property.



Passive Income

Annually, about half a million bicycle related injuries occur. In addition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a bicyclist is killed approximately every six hours. However, most bicycle crashes are predictable and preventable by using proper precautions on the part of bicyclists and motorists.

Types of Bicycle Crashes

Falls and Collisions

Over 50 percent of bike crashes are the result of falls. Falls commonly occur either when the front wheel suddenly stops moving or when the rear wheel slides out. The front wheel can stop if it falls into a road defect, such as a crack or drain grate, or if the front brakes are applied very hard. Rear wheels can skid out when turning on gravel, sand, ice, metal surfaces, or any slippery surface.

After falls, the most frequent type of bike accidents are collisions with a stationary object, such as trees. Falls and collisions with fixed objects account for about 75 to 80 percent of all bicycle crashes.

Car-Bicycle Crashes

Car-bike crashes account for between about ten to 15 percent of bicycle accidents but result in the largest number of fatalities. Most of these accidents occur when either the bicyclist or the motorist is turning or crossing at an intersection or driveway. Other car-bike crashes occur when the bicyclist is not obeying traffic laws and is cycling on the wrong side of the road or running red lights.

Bicycle Crash Injuries

Injuries from bicycle crashes are most often to the limbs, and include fractures, abrasions, and lacerations. Fractures account for about 25 percent of bike crash injuries, and facial injuries account for about one third of injuries. The most severe and disabling injuries are brain injuries, which can result in a permanent disability. Head injuries are also more likely to be fatal.

What To Do When In a Bike-Car Crash

To the extent possible and practical to avoid further accidents or injuries after a bicycle crash, do the following:

* Do not move if you are seriously injured. Wait for medical help.

* Accept medical help, even if you do not feel severely injured.

* Wait for the police so an accident report can be filed with statements from witnesses, and the at-fault driver, and the crash scene investigated.

* Leave damaged property and equipment as it was until police arrive.

* Contact a personal injury lawyer who understands bicycling.

Bicycle Safety and Crash Prevention

Not surprisingly, helmets can protect again head injuries, both brain injuries and upper facial injuries. Studies show that about 75 percent of bicyclists who were severely brain injured were not wearing helmets. To provide proper protection, helmets must be fitted correctly.

Although helmets can protect against head injury, they do not protect from getting hit by cars. To help prevent personal injury, bicyclists must use common sense and remain alert when cycling on roads to avoid crashes with cars. Although drivers should be more attentive to the presence of bicyclists, the odds of injury favor the bicyclist. This is why it is so important to follow some basic common sense prevention guidelines which include:

* Follow the law and ride on the right side of road; stop at stop signs and red lights; use a headlight at night (also beneficial in the day).

* Avoid stopping in the blind spot of a car at a red light. You can be hit if it turns right and you go straight.

* Use a bell or horn to signal or alert drivers of your presence.

* Use a headlight and a rear light, especially at night.

* Use a mirror to glance at traffic behind, especially when approaching intersections.

* Be attentive and alert to the cars. Watch for left turning cars crossing in front that may not see you, and pay attention to parked cars for which a door may open.

* Slow down so you can stop quickly if necessary.

* Avoid riding on sidewalks.

* Avoid busy streets, especially as a novice rider.

If you have been injured in a bike crash, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact an experienced bike accident attorney for more information on a potential bike injury claim.



Real Estate Professionals

We all know it’s bad out there…With the severe credit crisis and the declining housing market, Fox, CNN, MSNBC, and even the President remind us of our struggles daily. Home foreclosures are at an all time high, even in my neighborhood in Austin Texas with many more foreclosures predicted to come. Housing resale values are at all time lows with no end in sight. Even the banks are going bankrupt as many Americans no longer qualify for credit.

Because of the recent credit crisis, many people don’t qualify for a new loan to buy a house right now, despite the incredibly low housing prices. Many home sellers can’t sell their unwanted houses because they owe more than their house is worth due to falling house prices. Many sellers can’t even rent their houses out for enough to cover their mortgage payments, taxes and insurance resulting in severe negative cash flow that bleeds then dry month after month. To make matters worse, many tenants end up trashing the house when they move out making it even more difficult and expensive to sell.

If they list their house with a real estate agent, their house will likely sit on the market for a long, long time waiting to sell since the buyers seem to have magically disappeared. Even if the house does finally sell one day at a greatly REDUCED price to get it sold, the owner has to pay a 6% real estate commission plus the majority of the closing costs. This often results in the seller writing a big, fat check at the closing table to finally get their house sold.

So what are my options to sell my house in Austin Texas fast in this depressed economy and housing market when many folks can’t get a loan? By trial and error, I discovered the following 3 alternatives to try to sell my Austin TX home quickly…

1. I tried to sell my house in Austin “For Sale by Owner” aka “FSBO”.

At first, selling my house by myself sounded easy enough, but it soon became my worst nightmare! What went wrong:

At first I didn’t know how to attract buyers that might be interested in purchasing a home in Buford Georgia…The For Sale By Owner sign in the yard wasn’t working. I ended up spending a fortune placing classifieds in the local paper which resulted in few potential buyers. Those that did respond wanted to see my house at all different hours of the day or night. I was afraid to say no in fear of losing a potential buyer. I would have to keep my house clean and all picked up, only to have them flake out and not show up! Other times I had some pretty scary people show up with their rowdy kids in tow, trampling through my home.



I never did find my ideal buyer. Even if I did, I had no idea how to get them qualified, how to handle all the purchase and sale paperwork or how to get the house closed. I said “There has to be a better way to sell my home!” and I was determined to find it.

2. I listed my house for sale with a local Austin real estate agent.

I called an agent from a local, seemingly reputable, real estate agency and made an appointment for her to come out and see the property. The agent sounded like she really knew what she was talking about and got me really excited about the prospect of selling my home quickly. She said she would list my house in the MLS, on dozens of real estate sites throughout Texas, advertise my house in the local paper and other print publications, do multiple open houses, put out signs, balloons, flyers in an information box and went on and on about how she could sell my home and still get top dollar. How could I refuse? I didn’t.

I listed my house and waited, and waited and waited. The agent put the house on the MLS, but the market was pretty tough and, despite her best efforts, six months later, I still didn’t have a buyer. Meanwhile, my house had not only decreased in value because it would not sell for the list price, which had been reduced repeatedly, but also because of all the other listed houses and foreclosures on the market in my area of Austin. At this point, I was all out of ideas and praying for a solution. About that time, someone at my church told me about RedBuysHouses.com.

3. I contacted a local, professional home buyer from Austin, Texas.

My friend from church told me that she had similar problems selling her Austin house, but that she had contacted a local professional home buyer who bought her house in under a week! What? Is this possible? Could I sell my Austin Texas house in 7 days or less, too? She said there are professional house buyers out there, also known as “real estate investors”, who buy and sell real estate for investment purposes. You’ve probably seen their “We Buy Houses” advertisements around town but never gave them much thought. These are people who buy houses professionally and are always actively looking for more houses to buy. She gave me their phone number and web address (Locally 512-945-6006, website: www.RedBuysHouses.com) and I contacted them ASAP. A local Austin home buyer from there called me and said that if my house qualified and if I was flexible on price or terms, that they may be able to buy my house in the next 7 days or less. She said depending on my situation that they may be able to pay all cash, pay some cash now and some cash later or take over my mortgage payments giving me immediate debt relief. At this point I was definitely flexible and had nothing to lose by scheduling an appointment for them to come see my home and possibly allow me to sell my Austin Texas house fast!

So I scheduled the appointment with the Austin home buyer and she came out and inspected my home. She said it was just what they were looking for and that she had several buyers looking for a similar home. I was ecstatic! She made me several offers to buy my house as promised. I chose the offer that best suited my needs and we scheduled a closing the following week with a local real estate closing attorney. It was that fast and that simple to finally sell my house in Austin! I still can’t get over it. After waiting two years trying to sell my house on my own and through a licensed agent, I was able to sell my house in less than 7 days to a local professional home buying company!

If you have an unwanted Austin Texas house you need to sell fast, call 512-945-6006 or visit www.RedBuysHouses.com and complete their online Seller Questionnaire for a FREE, no obligation consultation. You have nothing to lose by contacting them and everything to gain. I was able to sell my Austin home fast and you can too!



Sell House Quick

You have found your ideal retirement property – safe, secure, convenient and neighbourly. All you now need is to sell your old home – easy!

It should be but the process is rarely trouble free and never quick. A recent MORI survey said that transaction times in the UK now averaged over 6 months, among the slowest in Europe.

The problem revolves around the fact that, with some 80% of people owning their own home, most need to secure a sale on their present house before they can purchase a new one. As a result, even when you find your dream retirement home and a buyer for your present property there is invariably a chain of transactions which all need to be pulled together simultaneously.

However, for many situations, time is of the essence and deadlines have to be met. This can be for a variety of reasons, eg you may have found your “dream retirement home” but need to secure it quickly or, a builder may be offering huge incentives for a quick completion while you are constrained by the market to a later and uncertain timescale.

Selling to house buying companies is the only foolproof method of avoiding the stresses, delays and uncertainties of selling your present home in the open market. Most importantly it secures the property you want at the time you want it as they can synchronise our purchase of the current home with your new purchase. If the old home is worth more than your new one you may even manage to buy without the burden of a mortgage.

How can house buyers help?

In short, house buyers can buy your existing house, quickly and for cash, enabling you to secure your retirement property.

Some of their schemes have proven especially appropriate for people buying in the retirement sector as the combination of convenience, speed and the certainty of achieving the move they want in a cost effective way without continuing liability suits their needs precisely.

What are the benefits of using a house buying company?



You can guarantee the purchase of your new retirement property

We can complete the sale process quickly and to suit your timescales

You avoid estate agency fees

You avoid the stress and uncertainty of selling on the open market

You avoid having the stress and security issues of multiple viewings

Your next house, its cost and your moving timescale is guaranteed, enabling you to relax





Repossession

Apprehending instant secured loan

Instant secured loan is generally meant for those peoples who are in an urgent need of money and are crippled to obtain the same. This loan provides you with money without any delay. You just have to apply for it and in case of approval; money is there for your disposal within no time.

Loan amount varies from £ 500 to £ 100,000 which depends on the security which you have placed as collateral. Loan term ranges from 1 to 25 years depending upon the loan amount. You should always search for a lender which suits you best, that who can lend you money faster with a cheaper rate than others. There is a risk involvement in case of such loans as in case of failure to repay lender is liable to seize the collateral placed as security.

Advantages of instant secured loans

First of all the main advantage of is that they provide you money at the time you need it the most. Moreover, the rate of interest is also quite low due to collateral part involved with them. The onus you have to shoulder is to find a genuine and compatible lender and apply for the loan. In order to attain these loans, going online is a viable option where you can find all the requirements easily at one place only which further saves a lot of your time and money. Online facility available with them makes your task further easier as the processing goes easier with this facility.

Secured loan provided in an instant can be used to serve any kind of need such as business applications, purchasing any valuables etc. The only thing you should keep in hindsight is the repayment. You should make it sure to repay the loan within time else the results can be detrimental for future financial transaction.

Summary

Instant secured loans serves you best if you are in an urgent need of money. Loan amount varies from £ 500 to £ 100,000. Loan term can be 25 years. You can search for a better lender on internet. Online facility available with them eases your transactions. Bad creditors are also provided such loans.



Quick Property Sale

There could be numerous reasons why you might need to get a quick sale on your home. However your options for selling quickly are somewhat limited. You could try to sell by advertising the property yourself or you could out the sale in the hands of an estate agent. Either of these options will usually provide anything but a quick sale. Your home could be on the market for many months, thats even if it sells at all. Of course you will have had to payout fees to put your home on the market with an estate agent and these do not come cheap.

There is another option that can guarantee a fast home sale and that is by looking online with a specialist company that offers to buy your home for cash and to provide a sale that can take just a couple of weeks or less. With such a company you could apply online using the form provided and after leaving just a few details we will get back to you with a quote as to how much we would pay for your home. If you are happy with the deal and we are too someone will value your home and then provide a written quote. You could then have a sale and get cash in hand from the sale which allows you to get on with your life.

One of the many circumstances that you might be able to benefit from a quick sale is if you are going through a divorce. Divorce is a very stressful and life changing thing to deal with especially if you have to sell the family home due to having to split the sale proceeds between the partners. If this is the case things can be a whole lot easier if you can sell the property quickly and then set about rebuilding your life. However when selling this way if one partner wanted to remain in the property they could choose to look at a sell to rent option which would allow you to sell and then rentback.

You might also need to sell your home quickly if you are emigrating and wish to leave with cash in your pocket from the sale and with no loose ends that would mean you having to come home to tie them up. By selling to a company offering a quick sale you would not have the worry of paying out to put your home on the market with an estate agent and having it stand there for many months. You would know within 24 hours whether this was a suitable option for you to take.

You could also take a quick sale this way if you wanted to get your hands on a large cash sum and do not want to take out a loan or you were not able to get one. You could choose to sell your home quickly to free up the equity in it and pay affordable monthly rent that would allow you to remain in the property as a tenant with the option of being able to buy back in the future.



Sell House Quick

Secured loans can be an efficient short or long-term funding solution for UK homeowners. If you are in need of money and have equity in your property, you are eligible to apply for a secured loan. Secured loans are sometimes called “second mortgages” as they rank after your mortgage as security to the lender. Secured loans must be registered as a Charge on your property title at the Land Registry.

Why seek a secured loan rather than an unsecured loan?

The strong growth in UK house prices over recent years has meant that many homeowners have built up substantial equity in their properties. Secured loans are simply a flexible way for homeowners to release some of this equity. Compared with an unsecured loan, a secured loan has a lower interest rate as you are putting your home up as security. The lender will be very confident that the loan will be repaid. Another advantage is that secured loans offer more flexible terms of repayment than unsecured loans. For example, the loan term can be for a longer time period enabling your monthly repayments to be kept down. Secured loan terms can be from 3 to 25 years – it can sit alongside your mortgage if you wish or you can pay it off sooner. If you’re in need of a large sum of money, a secured homeowner loan can range from £5,000 up to £1 million. Unsecured loans are normally capped at £25,000.

What can I use a secured loan for?

A secured loan can be used for any purpose. A secured debt consolidation loan can help you refinance expensive debt, such as credit cards or bank overdrafts, on to a much lower interest rate. A secured home loan can be used to finance substantial home improvements to add value to your property, such as an extension or a new kitchen.

Why choose a homeowner loan rather than a remortgage?

A mortgage is your cheapest form of borrowing and if you want to raise a significant amount of money it is therefore logical that you should first consider a remortgage. However, your current mortgage may be arranged on advantageous terms or have an onerous early redemption fee. Redeeming your mortgage may just not make financial sense. In these circumstances it may be wise to leave your mortgage alone and use the flexibility of a secured loan, especially if the interest rate is only a little higher than your mortgage rate. Finally, a secured loan can be completed in less than 20 days – somewhat faster than a remortgage – and at a lower cost. Remortgaging normally requires that you pay certain fees, such as a discharge fee, a valuation fee, a title insurance fee or an administration fee.

Can I safeguard my loan or mortgage payments against unforeseen events?

You can take out payment protection against specific events, such as unemployment, sickness or disability through Payment Protection Insurance (PPI). Remember that PPI is not always suitable for your individual circumstances and independent advice should always be sought before buying this product. Should the insured event take place, the policy will cover your payments for a fixed period of time, such as 12 months. You should also consider buying sufficient life assurance such that in the event of the death of the household’s main bread-winner, the loan or mortgage will be paid off by the insurance company.

How can I apply for a secured loan?

You have the choice of going direct to the lender or going to an intermediary, usually a finance broker. If you have shopped around and know what you want, you can apply direct to the lender via phone, internet, post or walk into their branch office. If you prefer to seek the advice of a finance broker you may benefit from their expertise in deciding what product and which lender is most suitable for you. This will be particularly true if your circumstances are unusual and you require a specialist product. It is also possible that a finance broker can find you a better deal as some products are only available through intermediaries.

How long does the secured loan application process take?

Depending on circumstances and personal needs, you may obtain a secured loan within 2-4 weeks. But, of course, each case is different. Normally, the consent of the first mortgage lender is required to register the secured loan on your property title and so the lender is unlikely to proceed before consent is obtained.

What factors may negatively influence the secured loan application?

When you apply for a loan it is normal that you will be asked to consent to a search at a Credit Reference Agency, such as Experian or Equifax. The purpose is to avoid fraud and for the lender to assess your credit worthiness. Some factors may have an adverse effect on the secured loan application, such as:



Bankruptcy or Individual Voluntary Arrangement

Low income or self-certification of income

Mortgage or rental arrears

Frequent job changes

Frequent address changes

High indebtedness

Court judgments



But even with a poor credit record, you have a good chance of obtaining a secured loan providing you have plenty of equity in your property. However, you may be asked to pay a higher interest rate if your credit score is low.

Is it important to seek independent, impartial advice?

There are literally thousands of loan and mortgage products available. As we only tend to purchase financial products infrequently, you will not know which products are available or suitable without a serious research effort. For this reason, we believe that most people should seek independent, impartial advice, especially as mortgages and secured loans normally represent a substantial commitment. This should not cost you any more as the advisor is normally paid directly by the lender.

What are the drawbacks of a secured loan?

Although there are many benefits of a secured loan, there are some drawbacks that should be mentioned. In cases where a borrower fails to repay a loan, the property could be taken into possession and sold. Borrowers can also be tempted to borrow large sums for long periods without appreciating the commitment to repay a significant amount of interest, even when interest rates are low.

For more information, please visit http://www.burtplan.co.uk



Repossession

If you look out for various loan options that are available in the UK, you are most likely to encounter to find innumerable loan options stumbling upon you. But, how are you going to find the one particular loan option that would be most suitable for you .For homeowners, one of the most popular loan options is secured loans available in the UK. This loan option offers you astonishing features along with some requisites.

You need to furnish valuable asset like your house, jewellery, financial papers as collateral in order to obtain these loans. It is always better to opt for secured loans as these loans bear lower interest rates and also the term for which you can get the loan is longer. However the condition for such loan in U.K. is to have a security as collateral against the loan borrowed.

There are a few benefits that these loans in U.K. offer. If you are having a valuable property like house then you can avail nearly 125% of the value of the security. Since this is a secured loan it bears the lower interest tag. You can apply for any amount varying from £7500 to £250000.

Nowadays even secured loans online in U.K. have become popular. There are a large number of lenders for this type of finance however, you must find out a reputed lender who has a good reputation in the market. This loan is very convenient as it can be applied directly to the online lenders. You are required to provide all the relevant information in online form and the verification work will take some time. After this lenders will reflect back with their offers and all you have to do is to choose the most convenient of all.



Repossession

Buying a house was never really designed to be a fun process. Any enjoyment you get from it will probably come from looking at different properties and picking where you want to live for the next few years.

After you have found your perfect home, it’s time for property law to swing into action. The process of getting the purchase legally completed is called conveyancing, and it can be pretty complicated.

You could do it yourself in theory. But most people just hire someone to do it for them, either a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer. Here’s a handy property guide into the whole process, how to pick the right person who understands property law, and how it will affect you.

Picking the right legal representative is essential to making your house purchase as smooth a process as possible. If you already have a solicitor you know and trust, ask if their firm does conveyancing, or if they can recommend someone.

Solicitors are regulated by the Law Society and covered by a hefty indemnity insurance policy, in case they make a mistake that leaves you out of pocket. That’s the upside – the downside is that they may see property law as boring work. It’s certainly not as exciting as some other types of law. Some solicitors use conveyancing to keep a good cash flow in the business, but don’t place a high priority on it.

If you want a guaranteed expert, then turn to a licensed conveyancer. These people are not fully qualified solicitors, but they have studied and understand property law and the process of buying and selling a house. All they do day in day out is house transactions. And that means they could be more focused than a general firm of solicitors… although if any legal problems outside of the purchase process crop up, they will have to refer you to a solicitor for help.

Conveyancers also tend to charge a little less. Fees from some firms can be as low as a couple of hundred pounds, whereas solicitors tend to charge a bit more. If you want the biggest bargain you can get and you’re not bothered about seeing someone in person, there are now internet conveyancing firms.

Don’t forget that there are extra charges on top of their fees. These typically include search charges, a land registry fee and any stamp duty on the property.

So once you’ve picked the right person to guide you through the maze of property law, and you’ve had an offer accepted on a property, the process begins.

Your legal representative will look over the draft contract drawn up by the seller’s solicitor. It will state the particulars and conditions of the sale. They will also make a series of enquiries related to issues such as boundary disputes, restrictive covenants and rights of way on the property.

The seller will be sent a property information form to fill out. This should tally with what you think you’re buying, including fixtures and fittings.

And of course your solicitor or conveyancer will obtain the title deed and land registry certificate, and do the relevant local searches. They will also check the seller does actually own the property and isn’t bankrupt!

Once this has been finished you will be advised to sign the draft contract, exchange it, and arrange for completion (usually the day you move house).

There’s a lot to be across. And while you could do it yourself to save a few quid, there’s a lot of property law to navigate, and you might be better off hiring an expert to do it for you.



Rent Back