The Conveyancing Sales Process

1. when the sale of property is agreed, we receive a Memorandum of Sale from the estate agents;
   
2. we will then contact you (the seller) for confirmation of instructions. You will need to complete a seller's questionnaire, a Fixtures,  Fittings and Contents Form and Sellers Property Information Form and return these forms to us;
   
3. we will obtain the title deeds for the property and prepare a Contract which will be sent to the purchasers' solicitors along with the completed Property Information Form and Fixtures, Fittings and Contents Form. We shall also request a redemption statement from the Lenders if any mortgages and/or loans are secured against the property;
   
4. if the property is Leasehold we will also need to obtain Management Company/Service Charge information;
   
5. enquiries are often received from the buyers' solicitors which need to be answered. Occasionally we may need to send a copy of the enquiries to you to answer where the answers are not known by ourselves;
   
6. the contract (once approved by the buyers solicitor) is then sent to you for signature in readiness for exchange of contracts;
   
7. once the Buyers Solicitors are satisfied with replies to any enquiries they have raised and are holding their client's signed contract and cleared deposit monies, a competition date needs to be agreed by all parties. The completion date is the say the sale completes and the date by which the property must be vacated;
   
8. once a completion date is agreed by all parties in the chain contracts are exchanged;
   
9. we request final settlement figures from lender(s) - if appropriate - and send a Completion Statement to you, telling you what monies will be payable to you;
   
10. we reply to sellers requisitions and approve the legal Transfer document;
    
11. the finalised Transfer document is sent to you for signature as soon as it is received;
    
12. on completion day we advise you and the Estate Agent once the sale proceeds have been received and/or the mortgage has been redeemed. All keys are to be deposited with the selling agents by 1pm;
    
13. provided you agree, we will arrange to pay the Estate Agent's commission out of the sale proceeds and send the balance of monies to you; and
    
14. the Transfer Deed and any Title Deeds will then be sent to the buyers' solicitors.

Ashfords LLP is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The information in this note is intended to be general information about English law only and not comprehensive. It is not to be relied on as legal advice nor as an alternative to taking professional advice relating to specific circumstances.