Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Conveyancer

Buying a property, whether it’s your first flat or a shiny new business space, is exciting—but also a little daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. There’s a lot of legalese to wade through, and a very strict process to follow too. If something goes wrong, it can cause a whole lot of difficulty. That’s where your conveyancer comes in. They’re the legal experts who make sure the whole process runs smoothly, ensuring you’re not buying a property riddled with problems.

But how do you make sure you’re getting the best out of them? Simple: ask the right questions. Here are the top 10 questions to ask your conveyancer to keep things on track.

What Experience Do You Have?

Not all conveyancers are created equal. Some specialise in residential transactions, while others are whizzes with complex commercial deals, so you need to make sure you’re hiring someone who has experience in your type of transaction. For example, if you’re buying a business property or something a little unusual, make sure they’ve handled similar cases before. It’s always reassuring to know your conveyancer has been down this road before, and can help guide you along the way.

What Are Your Fees?

No one likes surprises—especially when it comes to costs. So before you get too far in, ask for a full breakdown of their fees, including extras like search costs and admin charges. Are they charging a flat fee or an hourly rate? Do they charge extra for unexpected add ons? Transparency is key, and understanding the costs upfront helps you budget properly.

How Will You Keep Me Updated?

Communication is everything, and it’s important that you know what’s going on in your property purchase. Find out how they’ll keep you in the loop—will it be through phone calls, emails, or a fancy online portal? Knowing when and how they’ll update you about progress will save you from unnecessary stress (and the temptation to spam their inbox).

What Searches Will You Do?

Searches are a crucial part of the conveyancing process. For a home, this might include checking for flood risks or planning permissions. For commercial properties, there could be environmental searches or zoning checks. Ask your conveyancer what searches they’ll be doing and why—they should be able to explain their importance without drowning you in jargon.

Are There Any Potential Issues with The Property?

Your conveyancer’s job is to identify risks and make sure you’re fully informed before proceeding. Ask if there are any potential red flags, such as disputes over boundaries, restrictions on use, or planning permissions. Knowing these things early can save you a lot of hassle later.

What Happens If the Sale Falls Through?

Unfortunately, not every transaction makes it to completion. Ask your conveyancer what happens if the deal collapses—will you still have to pay for their services? Is there a partial payment? Some firms offer no-completion, no-fee policies, which can provide peace of mind on what is a difficult and expensive time!

Who’ll Be My Point of Contact?

Every conveyancing firm is slightly different. Some will have individual conveyancers who handle your case on their own from beginning to end. Some will operate as a team, meaning different people may handle different parts of your case. That’s fine—but you’ll want to know who to contact if you have questions or concerns. Ideally, you should have a single point of contact to make communication easier.

Can You Explain [insert confusing legal term here]?

Let’s be honest—conveyancing is full of legal terms that can make your head spin. If you come across something you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask your conveyancer to explain it in plain English. Especially at the beginning, as this will give you a good sense of how easy they will be to work with. A good conveyancer will be happy to demystify the process for you, and take the time to make sure you understand it properly.

Your conveyancer is your guide through one of the most important purchases of your life, so it’s worth taking the time to ask these questions. The better informed you are, the smoother the process will be—and the fewer sleepless nights you’ll have along the way. And if you have any questions about the conveyancing process, give us a call at Hudson Conveyancing, and we will be happy to help.