Conveyancing

Buying or selling a house is the largest transaction of most people’s lifetime and reliable legal guidance is essential.

Dealing with a trusted conveyancing solicitor in Warrington

At Watsons we have been helping those buying, selling or remortgaging their property for over 25 years. Our conveyancing team provides dependable, timely and practical advice.

Whatever the reason for the instruction, whether it is a sale, purchase, investment, equity release or a transfer from one name to another, we know that this is probably the largest purchase that anybody will ever make and in that regard they need the dependable, efficient advice that Watsons provide.

Accredited with the Conveyancing Quality Scheme by the Law Society, Watsons’ property department has a dedicated Partner ensuring that the transaction will be overseen at the most senior level.

Conveyancing transactions are quoted on a fixed fee basis with all legal costs, taxation and disbursements clearly identified, meaning that there are no hidden costs.

We place you at the heart of the transaction. For more guidance on what happens when you engage us, view the documents below.

Conveyancing Guide for Buyers

Conveyancing Guide for Sellers

Testimonials

What our clients say...

“Mr Martin has handled the sale/purchase of two properties for me in the past 12 months. I wouldn’t have returned to him if not satisfied."

“Always use Steve Martin, good service and reasonable charges. Already recommended you to family and friends."

About Chris Illingworth: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude throughout this process as my solicitor. I really appreciate your timely responses and your attention to detail. I am grateful for the amazing legal work you did on my behalf.”

Stress-free, polite, helpful, and efficient service. I would definitely recommend your company’s services due to Lauren and Mandy.

'I am almost 70 years old and was worried about purchasing another property at a time when my life was in turmoil. However, both Lauren and Mandy helped by making it a stress-free process. They are both a credit to themselves and your company.'

'Lauren and Mandy were super helpful and everything went as smoothly and quickly as it could possibly have done.'

'Thank you for your help along the way in buying my new home, you were so quick and efficient and patient with some of things I didn't know, it was very much appreciated.'

Related Services

Is your enquiry related to commercial property? Find out more about our commercial property expertise.

Meet the Team

Our Conveyancing Experts

Steve Martin

Solicitor and member of Property Department

Steve is a member of Watsons Solicitors’ Property and Conveyancing Department.

Steve is a Solicitor with over 25 years’ experience in Property Law dealing with all types of conveyancing, both residential and commercial. Steve acts for residential owners moving home, property developers, and buy to let investors.

Steve prides himself in trying to make the conveyancing process as smooth as possible, and focuses on client care. This approach results in instructions from local Estate Agents, Lenders, and Mortgage Brokers, and he also has many repeat clients.

Email Steve

Chris Illingworth

Partner and member of the Conveyancing Department

Chris obtained an LLB Honours degree from Northampton University. He qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and joined Watsons Solicitors in 2020.

Chris specialises in all manner of residential property work including sales, purchases, remortgages and transfer of equity. He also has a wealth of experience in acting in new build properties, both for buyers and for builders.

The approach that Chris takes is that all parties to a conveyancing transaction should seek to work collaboratively to ensure that the mutual aims of buyers, sellers and other property professionals can be met in a timely and cost effective manner.

Email Chris

Lauren Hosie

Solicitor and member of the Property Department

Lauren has a BA Honours degree in Law with Criminology from the University of Central Lancashire

She qualified as a solicitor in 2017 and joined Watsons Solicitors in 2022. Lauren specialises in all aspects of residential conveyancing and strives to make the process as smooth as possible, believing communication to be key.

Email Lauren

Conveyancing FAQs

Are conveyancing searches necessary?

Yes, in all circumstances when it comes to buying a property where a mortgage is required. The vast majority of lenders will insist that they are carried out, and it would always be our recommendation.

A cash buyer does have a choice as to whether or not they ask for searches to be carried out, but the advice would be to get them done for your own piece of mind. Without searches being done, key information that your solicitor will use to assess if the property is legally sound will be missing.

The only time where they are not normally needed is when re-mortgaging as it will be presumed that they have been carried out in the first place.

In these cases, they are done for the benefit of the mortgage company, and they will typically be happy to rely on insurance. That costs substantially less than getting the searches and is much quicker too.

How long does conveyancing take?

On average, it takes between eight and ten weeks, but every transaction is different. For example, for those in a chain, the process can take longer as not everything runs smoothly and there are more hurdles to clear.

With the introduction of more and more electronic forms, the process is often quicker than it used to be, and the advice would be to make sure that responses for information or documents to be filled out are prompt.

Most of the time, nobody in the process wants to see things come to a grinding halt, so be proactive and liaise with estate agents and solicitors.

Can conveyancing be done without a solicitor?

Whilst there is no requirement to use a solicitor or licensed conveyancer when purchasing a property, it will give you peace of mind.

Solicitors will also deal with the various parties on your behalf, which include estate agents, mortgage lenders, land registry, search provides, HMRC, and the seller’s solicitor.

If you require a mortgage to finance the purchase, lenders may insist that you use a solicitor to ensure they are protected. A buyer may also be reluctant to pay out hundreds of thousands of pounds to an unrepresented seller.

Solicitors are bound to a course of conduct when completion takes place, which means the correct paperwork ends up in the right place.

What do conveyancing lawyers do?

Put simply, conveyancing lawyers make sure that the transaction is legally sound and that those purchasing a property are happy.

People are urged to think about whether the property can be used for what they want it to be used for right away, meaning that, for example, there are no right of way issues.

It’s also important that there is someone making sure that the property being purchased can be re-sold in the future.

There are often regular things that need to be sorted when buying a property, but conveyancing lawyers are there to protect the client and the mortgage lenders.

Can conveyancing be done online?

The majority is done online to make things more efficient and convenient for those involved in the process.

More documents can be signed or transferred electronically, including mortgage deeds and identification checks.

People don’t want to be going to see their solicitor or waiting for letters to arrive, so almost every transaction is done using email and phone calls. That said, where a client does want to come into the office, they are welcome to do so.

Are conveyancing fees paid upfront?

Yes and no is the answer to this one. Most conveyancers do ask for a small deposit to be paid upfront to show commitment to the purchase and to help them proceed with the process.

A fee of £150 is usual for the seller to pay to cover the land registry documents and other costs that crop up, but they are all offset against the final total.

Likewise, a fee of £350 is asked for from the purchaser so that items such as searches and surveys can be completed without having to chase the buyers.

How to get in touch with us

01925 571 212

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