17/03/2025
This week (17–21 March) is National Conveyancing Week (NCW) in England and Wales.
An initiative of the Conveyancing Foundation, NCW began in 2023 to promote the conveyancing industry and help people gain a better understanding of the role property lawyers play in the home moving process.
At Russell & Russell, we are proud to support NCW2025.
To mark the event, in this blog our Residential Conveyancing Solicitors give their five tips to ensure your property sale goes smoothly.
Prepare for viewings.
With the average first viewing lasting between 20 to 30 minutes, you only have a short time to make a lasting impression.
Declutter, clean, tidy, fix any broken fences or leaky taps, give it a fresh lick of paint.
Do what you can before you put your property on the market to ensure it appeals to as many people as possible.
Get your paperwork ready.
Sellers must provide potential buyers with various information about their property and supply any supporting documentation. One of the main forms a seller needs to complete is a TA6 Property Information Form (TA6), which gives buyers valuable information in 14 main areas.
These include information about any rights issues, such as whether the property can be used by members of the public for access and warranties and guarantees that relate to the property, such as damp proofing or a new-home warranty.
Sellers must also provide details of any structural changes or improvements they have made to the property and include the relevant planning permissions and building regulations compliance documents.
Having all the relevant information to hand will reduce the chance of delays and ensure the transaction runs smoothly.
Instruct a specialist solicitor.
A solicitor plays a vital role in your property sale. Your conveyancer handles the legal side of the transaction and serves as a key point of contact.
Instructing an experienced conveyancer to oversee the process can save you time, money, and stress as the transaction unfolds.
For more information about how a solicitor helps with conveyancing, read our previous blog by clicking here.
At Russell & Russell, our conveyancing services are offered on a fixed-fee basis, rather than hourly rates, to give you much-needed clarity over pricing.
Our average legal fee to act on the sale or purchase of a property is £900 plus 20% VAT (£180) (£1,080 inclusive of VAT). We also sometimes charge additional fees for onboarding, ID checks and third-party payments on your behalf.
Data shows that in January 2025 our average transaction times were two weeks quicker than the average time of the top 25 conveyancing firms in the country.
Take a look at some of our reviews from previous clients here.
If you are looking for an experienced residential conveyancer for your property sale, get in touch with Russell & Russell by calling us on 0800 103 2600 or making an online enquiry.
Choose the right buyer.
The buyer who offers the most money for your property is not necessarily the best buyer.
If you have several offers on the table, other factors should determine who is the right buyer for you.
A long chain increases the chances of something going wrong. First-time buyers are not familiar with the conveyancing and may need some hand holding. If the sale is dependent on your buyer having a mortgage, have they got an agreement in principle?
Ask your estate agent for as much information as possible about your potential buyers’ circumstances so that you can make an informed choice.
Plan for completion.
Completion is the final day of the conveyancing process.
On this day, ownership officially transfers from the seller to the buyer. The seller leaves the property, and the buyer gets the keys. If you have a preferred completion date, communicate it in good time to all parties involved.
A good conveyancer will do their best to help you achieve it.
Conveyancing Solicitor Near Me
Buying or selling a home requires the assistance of a specialist conveyancing solicitor.
At Russell & Russell, our experienced team of solicitors have been helping clients with property sales and purchases in Bolton, Atherton, Bury, Chester, Farnworth, Horwich and Middleton for many years.
From our offices in the North West, we offer efficient, convenient and cost-effective property services for clients in the local area and across England and Wales.
We are transparent about the costs involved and always provide a written estimate at the outset of a transaction.
The firm is accredited under the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme, which is the recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices.
If you are looking for a conveyancing solicitor to help you with a residential property transaction, our experienced conveyancing solicitors can help.
For more information, or to speak to one of our residential property specialists, please get in touch with Russell & Russell Solicitors.
Call us on 0800 103 2600 or make an online enquiry.
Please note that this article is meant as general guidance and not intended as legal or professional advice. Updates to the law may have changed since this article was published.