Here’s how this breaks down:

Our fixed fees cover all of the work* required to complete the purchase of your new home, dealing with all the required stages and supporting you throughout the process, including:

• Registration at the Land Registry

Our legal service fees: £1,200 + VAT** of £240     £1,440.00

In addition there are disbursements. These are what you have to pay to a third party like the search providers, the Land Registry and the UK Government. For this particular example the disbursements are likely to be:

√	Pre exchange searches	£251.16
√	Pre completion searches	£7.00
√	Land Registry fee	£150.00
√	Electronic money transfer fee	£21.00
√	Case management fee	£27.60
	Total cost of disbursements	£456.76

Stuff you should know…

We will handle the payment of any disbursements on your behalf, that’s why we will request the money from you at the outset of any transaction.

The pre exchange searches required depend on the location of the property being purchased and the figures given above include a local search, a drainage search and an environmental search.

The level of Stamp Duty or Stamp Duty Land Tax will depend on the purchase price of your property and your status- as there are different rules for first time buyers, and for the purchase of an additional property. Remember to calculate yours using the UK Government Stamp Duty Land Tax Calculator.

The time it takes to complete any house purchase will vary given your unique circumstances.  A timescale 6-8 weeks is often quoted from the time of agreeing a purchase to the time of completion (when you can move if ) However this can vary widely depending on whether you are in a ‘chain’, where many sales are happening simultaneously and can only progress when all parties in the chain are ready, whether you are a cash buyer  or require a mortgage or we encounter unforeseen issues.

The buying journey…

• You ask us to act on your behalf (your instruction) and we give you initial advice.
• We check your finances are in place and may contact the seller (or vendors) solicitors. We receive and advise you on the purchase contract.
• Carry out the pre exchange searches including the local authority search.
• Get further planning documentation if needed.
• Give you advice on any and all related documents.
• Advise you on joint ownership.
• Go through conditions of your mortgage offer with you.
• Send you the final contract for your signature.
• Agree a completion date and exchange the contracts with the seller’s solicitors.
• Arrange for money to be transferred from your mortgage lender and you.
• Carry out the pre completion searches.
• Transfer the purchase funds to the Sellers solicitors on the day of completion to complete the transfer and advise you of the release of the keys.
•  Deal with payment of Stamp Duty.
• Deal with Registration of the title at the Land Registry.
• Send you a copy of the new title and any accompanying papers.