Please take some time to get to know the Pinto Potts Moving Home team. By clicking on the boxes below, you will be able to view their profiles.

If you would like to speak with any members of the Team, please feel free to call them at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.

Additionally you can use our easy “Get a Quote” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.

Are you fully qualified conveyancing lawyers?
Can I speak to a conveyancing lawyer?
What about where I live?
Going it alone for Conveyancing?
How long will my conveyancing take?
What constitutes a conveyancing quote?
When do I instruct a Conveyancing Solicitor?
How soon will I have to pay for my conveyancing?
How much deposit will I need?
What are searches?
Are environmental and drainage searches compulsory?
Why can the local authority search cost vary from region to region?
Do I need a survey?
Can I complete my property purchase on a Saturday?
When do I need to get buildings insurance?
What happens with the keys?
When will I get the money for the property I am selling?
Can I renegotiate the purchase price based on the results of the survey?
How does the Conveyancing process work?

Are you fully qualified conveyancing lawyers?
Yes, indeed we are. We are experienced and qualified Conveyancing Solicitors with many years of experience. We are regulated by the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

And as a further assurance of quality, Pinto Potts Solicitors have secured membership to the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme – the mark of excellence for the home buying process. It is only open to member of the Law Society who meet the demanding standards set by the scheme and has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association, Legal Ombudsman and the Association of British Insurers.

Can I speak to a conveyancing lawyer?
Yes! We are not an online service that merely consults with solicitors.

We welcome you to contact us at any time, and pride ourselves on our personal service.

Speak with a Solicitor today at 01252 361 200.

What about where I live?

Going it alone for Conveyancing?
If you’re thinking about doing your own conveyancing, please think again! No mortgage lender will deal with an unqualified Conveyancer, but rather will appoint a Conveyancer to protect their interests. The party selling to you may also refuse to deal with you, rejecting your offer on the basis that you do not have a qualified conveyancing solicitor dealing with your sale or purchase.

How long will my conveyancing take?
The conveyancing process normally takes between four to eight weeks from start to Completion. However Conveyancing can be carried out much faster than this if both parties require a quick completion.

Please bear in mind that if you are part of a chain the conveyancing process may take longer, simply because not everyone works at the same speed.

If you are looking for a quick completion, we will work with you to speed up your conveyancing instruction where possible.

What constitutes a conveyancing quote?
A conveyancing quote has three components:

• The solicitor’s basic fee
• Value added tax (VAT)
• The disbursements

While disbursements should be approximately the same for all quotes, basic fees can vary greatly. Initial quotes may sometimes appear cheaper than they really are. Always be wary of a quote in which disbursements and individual costs are not fully itemised and read the small print for hidden charges and fees. Add these extra costs to your quote before comparing it against others.

When do I instruct a Conveyancing Solicitor?
It is important to instruct your Conveyancing Solicitor once you have accepted an offer (Seller) or had your offer accepted (Buyer). There is no advantage to be gained by instructing a solicitor earlier, as the process will not move any faster.

Keep our number handy, and call us at 01252 361 200 when you are ready.

How soon will I have to pay for my conveyancing?
When purchasing a property it is quite normal for your solicitor to request a payment at the beginning of the Conveyancing process in order to cover the search fees that will be carried out in relation to the property.

Before completion, the balance of the solicitors fees are payable along with the amount you have agreed to pay for the property, together with Stamp Duty and Land Registry fees.

If you are selling a property you do not need to pay anything in advance, as any costs will be deducted from the sale proceeds on completion by your solicitor before the remaining balance is sent to you.

How much deposit will I need?
Upon exchange of contracts a deposit will be paid for a property purchase, which is generally 10% of the purchase price.

If you are buying and selling your solicitor can sometimes use your buyers deposit for your purchase eliminate your need to find a deposit.

What are searches?
Searches are checks that are carried out in relation to the property you are purchasing, to determine whether there are any likely external factors that could cause your property to devalue in the near future after purchase.

If you are buying a property there are four main types of search that could be carried out, and your solicitor will determine which of
these are applicable:

• Local Authority Search
• Drainage Search
• Environmental Search
• Chancel Check Search

Are environmental and drainage searches compulsory?
Drainage and environmental searches are compulsory if you are obtaining a mortgage.

A clean environmental search and drainage search can be a strong selling point when you plan to put your property up for sale in the future.

Why can the local authority search cost vary from region to region?
The local authority search is a necessary requirement in any property purchase. A fee is charged for this search and varies from the relevant district council in which the property you are purchasing is located.

Do I need a survey?
If you are obtaining a mortgage for your property purchase a valuer will inspect the property on the lenders behalf to see whether it is worth the amount you are paying for it. This inspection is basic.

You can arrange for a more detailed survey known as a ‘Home Buyers Report’. You should discuss this with your Estate Agent.

If the property you are purchasing is quite old and you are particularly concerned about its condition you can obtain a full structural survey report which contains details over and above what is included in the Home Buyers Report.

Can I complete my property purchase on a Saturday?
Because the completion of property purchases relies on a banking system that doesn’t allow for bank transfers to take place at weekends, your completion has to take place between Monday and Friday, with Friday being the most common day for completions.

When do I need to get buildings insurance?
You must arrange buildings insurance so that a policy is active from the time contracts are exchanged, in order to protect your investment.

If you are purchasing a leasehold property, the insurance will be put in place by the freeholder.

What happens with the keys?
Keys are usually left with the estate agent and the Buyer collects them once payment for the property purchase has been confirmed by the Sellers solicitor. If there are no estate agents then the Seller will hand the keys directly to the buyer.

When will I get the money for the property I am selling?
If you are just selling, or there is a surplus to be returned to you after the completion of a joint sale and purchase, your solicitor will send this to you on the day of completion.

Can I renegotiate the purchase price based on the results of the survey?
Provided you have not exchanged contracts you can use the results of the survey to renegotiate the purchase price if the survey reveals any serious issues. This is something that you will need to discuss with the Estate Agent.

How does the Conveyancing process work?
The official definition of the term Conveyancing or Conveyance is the act of transferring a property title from one person to another.

The process of Conveyancing involves the drawing of deeds with regard to a property transfer and the legal execution of such a transfer. Conveyancing can also include the sale or purchase of land.

At Pinto Potts we provide a free, no obligation Conveyancing quote based on the information you provide. Because the legal fees for Conveyancing are largely dependent on the value of the property you wish to purchase or sell, a quotation can be easily provided.

The Conveyancing process cannot start until offers on a property have been accepted and details of both parties solicitors details have been exchanged.

Bankruptcy Search
If you are taking out a mortgage against the property you are purchasing then the Lender will request that your Solicitor carries out a search to ensure you are not bankrupt.

Building Insurance
Buildings insurance provides cover for you in case something happens to the property you are purchasing. In Conveyancing transactions in England and Wales you are often responsible for building’s insurance from exchange of contracts (not completion).

It is important to have an appropriate level of cover in place from this date.

Authority to Act Letter
The “Authority to Act” letter details the level of service you should expect from the firm handling your Conveyancing matter.

Chancel Check Search
This search is commissioned to reveal whether or not the property you are proposing to purchase may be affected by a potential “Chancel Repair” or obligation to the local Parish Church. Such obligations stem from mediaeval times.

Basically, any property located within the boundaries of a Parish where such a liability exists could be “caught”. The penalty is financial in that it involves having to pay for the upkeep and repair of the chancel of the local mediaeval parish church.

Completion Date
This is the date you pay in full for your new property, can collect the keys and move in. Keys are collected from the Estate Agents.

Completion Statement
This is a full breakdown of the financial costs incurred in purchasing a property and will be provided by your solicitor. It states the total amount of money your solicitor needs from you in order to complete the purchase of your chosen property on your behalf.

Contract
The Contract is a legal document that sets out the terms of the Conveyancing transaction and the parties involved.

Contract Pack
The contract pack is a collection of documents and information relating to the property being sold. It is compiled by the Sellers solicitor and contains key details including:

• the draft Contract
• Office copy entries
• a completed Property Information Form (completed by the seller)
• a Fixtures, Fittings and Contents form (completed by the seller)

The contract pack is forwarded to the Buyer’s Conveyancing solicitor.

Deposit
This is the amount of money the Buyer will pay to the Seller on exchange of contracts. The standard deposit is 10%.

Disbursements
These are additional costs incurred during a property sale or purchase, and include things such as stamp duty and search fees.

Drainage Search
This search shows the location of drains and sewers located near or on your property and whether or not surface water and/or foul water drains run into a public or private sewer.

Environmental Search
It is recommended that environmental searches are carried out on any property you are purchasing. These searches identify whether there are any landfill/waste disposal sites in the area, if your property has been built on an old industrial site, and whether there are any risks from the land your house is built on being contaminated or having toxic emissions.

Exchange of Contracts
It is at exchange of contracts that a Conveyancing transaction in England or Wales becomes legally binding. Until this point either party can pull out of the Conveyancing transaction. Identical copies of the contract are signed by both parties and exchanged, usually by the solicitors for both parties. The deposit is also passed from the buyers solicitor to the sellers solicitor.

Fees
This is the charge levied by your solicitor to complete your Conveyancing transaction. VAT will be payable on any fees, and it is worth noting that disbursements are also payable in addition to any solicitors fees. Always ensure you obtain a full Conveyancing quote including all fees and disbursements before instructing a solicitor.

Fixtures, Fittings & Contents Form
This form is completed by the Seller and details anything in the property that is and is not included in the purchase price.

Land Registry Search
This search determines the current ownership of the property and checks that there are no mortgages registered against the property that have not previously been disclosed. If a mortgage is in place the Buyers solicitor will obtain confirmation that the mortgage will be repaid.

Local Authority Search
This looks at the planning history of the property and whether the Council are aware of any breaches of in planning permission. Please note that the nature of this search is specific to the property you are purchasing.

Property Information Form
This is a questionnaire about the property that the Seller is requested to complete by their solicitor. It asks for details about the property such as details of current utility providers, boundaries and planning permissions.

Redemption Statement
This details the amount it will cost you to pay off your mortgage early, and is usually made up of the amount of money you owe the lender along with any penalties or Lenders charges.

Stamp Duty
Stamp duty is a tax payable on all properties sold for over £125,000. Stamp Duty will be payable on the amount of the price agreed for the actual property, excluding the amount being paid for fixtures and fittings.

Title Deeds
This document confirms your ownership of the property and will be sent to you following registration.

Reputation is everything. So in the end, it is only what our clients say about us that matters.

“This was my first house move so I was anxious about the whole process. I was provided with a competitive quote and I was able to speak to a Conveyancing Solicitor right from the start. An excellent service that I would recommend to anyone. “

We are proud to have many more cards and emails from Clients, thanking us for making their legal experience with property stress-free and secure. Peace of mind is a precious commodity when dealing with property, and at Pinto Potts we aim to deliver it every day.

Advantages of Using Pinto Potts:

Pinto Potts Solicitors have secured membership to the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme – the mark of excellence for the home buying process. It is only open to member of the Law Society who meet the demanding standards set by the scheme and has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association, Legal Ombudsman and the Association of British Insurers.