General guidance on sale and purchase

Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS)

Grant Saw are members of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) which provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices. Membership achievement establishes a level of credibility for member firms with others that we work with as part of the conveyancing process such as clients, lenders, insurers and estate agents.

Key features of CQS are:

• The integrity of the Senior Responsible Officer and other key conveyancing staff
• The firm’s adherence to good practice management standards
• Adherence to prudent and efficient conveyancing procedures through the scheme protocol

How long does a conveyancing transaction take?

In the case of freehold property the timescale to exchange of contracts is generally between four to six weeks from the date we receive appropriate documentation.

For leasehold property, the timescale is normally between six to eight weeks to exchange of contracts from our receipt of documentation. Additional time in leasehold purchases is required due to the need to inspect the lease and to correspond with the freeholder regarding matters such as service charge issues and the general management of flats.

Delays can sometimes occur. Common examples of delay arise, for instance where specific issues are discovered in relation to the property or building regulations prevent proposed renovation plans from proceeding or where problems occur obtaining a mortgage. It is for this reason that the timescales suggested above are provided only as a guidance and are of course variable.

We suggest a minimum two week period between exchange of contracts and completion of the sale or purchase of the property to allow us to complete the legalities and for you to arrange for furniture removals. The completion date must occur between Monday to Friday and the property must be vacated by noon on the agreed date.

We do offer a premium quick turnaround service but for this to work effectively it requires the co-operation of all parties involved in a chain.

We also specialise in auction sales and purchases. Time frames are dependent on the date of the auction sale and the completion date specified in the auction contract.

Estate Agents

The agency will be acting on behalf of the seller who pays their fees. Grant Saw are pleased to offer advice, and assistance in relation to the estate agents contract, if required.

Whether you are a buyer, a seller or both, a good rule of thumb is to never enter into any type of agreement with the other party without first consulting your solicitor. In the event that an agreement is already in existence, you must ensure your solicitor is aware of this. If any deposit has been paid to an estate agency, please obtain a receipt from them and inform your solicitor of this fact.

It is usual to pay a reservation fee to the estate agent for new build properties and this is often non-refundable if exchange of contracts does not take place within the specified time frame.

Fixtures and Fittings

You should advise us what fixtures, fittings and other extras, if any, are being left in the property. If you are selling a property, you should be aware that if you remove items fixed to walls or floors, you are responsible for repairing any damage this may cause. In the absence of specifying any particular fixtures and fittings, it is assumed that included within the sale, will be all items that are fixed (or secured) in or outside the property.

Prior to the sale of your property you will need to complete a ‘Fittings & Contents’ form and in addition provide us with an inventory of any items you are selling, and the agreed price for each one.