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Whether you are buying or selling a property, you will want the transaction to complete as quickly as possible. However, once an offer is accepted, the process is handed over to conveyancers to handle the legal work.
For many buyers and sellers, this is the stage that feels slowest. But it is important to remember two things:
- Your conveyancer is just as keen as you are for the transaction to complete.
- The conveyancing process exists to protect you legally, particularly if you are buying.
Most conveyancing work is carried out for an agreed fixed fee, meaning your solicitor is usually only paid once the transaction completes. There is no advantage in delaying matters.
Your conveyancer’s role is to make sure you understand exactly what you are buying or selling from a legal perspective. While a surveyor checks the property’s physical condition, the conveyancer investigates issues such as ownership, rights of way, planning restrictions, and whether the property can be used as expected.
This involves gathering information from third parties such as local authorities, lenders and management companies, which can take time.
That said, there are practical steps buyers and sellers can take to help speed up conveyancing.
For Buyers: Get your finances ready early
One of the simplest ways to avoid delays is to organise your finances before making an offer.
Obtaining a mortgage Agreement in Principle (AIP) shows that you meet a lender’s basic eligibility criteria and provides an indication of how much you can borrow. This allows you to move more quickly once you find the right property.
Having an AIP can also make you more attractive to sellers and estate agents because it demonstrates that you are a serious buyer. According to a survey by Which, around 62% of first-time buyers had an AIP before making a formal mortgage application.
You can learn more about the process on the MoneyHelper website.
For Sellers: Improve your home’s “Legal Kerb Appeal”
Before putting your home on the market, you may spend time and money improving its cosmetic kerb appeal. Fresh paint, tidy gardens, and minor renovations can all help attract buyers. However, sellers rarely give the same attention to their property’s legal readiness.
Unfortunately, legal problems often arise during conveyancing — sometimes late in the process — which can cause delays or even derail a sale entirely.
A buyer may overlook minor surprises during a viewing, but their solicitor will examine the legal documentation very carefully. Remember, the solicitor is also protecting the interests of the buyer’s mortgage lender.
Improving your home’s legal kerb appeal means identifying and addressing potential issues before a buyer is found. For more information, see our earlier article: Improving your home’s legal kerb appeal.
For Sellers: Instruct your conveyancing solicitor early
One of the most effective ways to shorten the conveyancing timeline is to instruct a solicitor as soon as your property goes on the market. Estate agents regularly recommend this, but many sellers still wait until they have accepted an offer before requesting conveyancing quotes.
In reality, a significant amount of legal and administrative preparation can be completed before a buyer is even found. This early preparation can prevent unnecessary delays once a sale is agreed.
For more information, see our earlier article: Why sellers should instruct a conveyancing solicitor early.
For Buyers and Sellers: Choose an experienced conveyancer
Choosing the right conveyancer can also make a significant difference. Many people are tempted by very low-cost online conveyancing services. However, these operations often run as large “conveyancing factories”, where multiple people handle different parts of the transaction.
A common frustration reported by clients is the inability to speak to the same person twice. Working with an experienced solicitor offers several advantages:
- continuity of contact throughout the transaction
- clearer communication
- faster problem-solving when issues arise
A local conveyancing solicitor may also be familiar with issues affecting properties in your area and may even have worked on neighbouring properties before. This local knowledge can help identify potential complications earlier in the process.
Respond quickly to requests for information
Good communication is one of the most important ways to keep a transaction moving. During the conveyancing process, your solicitor will often need further information or documentation from you. In many cases, this is required to answer enquiries raised by the other party’s solicitor. Responding promptly to these requests helps prevent the transaction from stalling and keeps matters progressing smoothly.
The bottom line
While some aspects of conveyancing depend on third parties and cannot be rushed, buyers and sellers can still play an important role in keeping the process moving.
By preparing early, instructing the right solicitor, and responding quickly to requests for information, you can significantly reduce the risk of delays and help your property transaction complete as smoothly as possible.