I am expecting a offer of a home loan from Halifax. I hope to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer in Ellesmere Port. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel allow for Licensed Conveyancers?

The Halifax conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, represented by the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

A colleague suggested that if I am purchasing in Ellesmere Port I should ask my conveyancer to carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

This is a search is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Ellesmere Port conveyancing searches. It is a large report of more than thirty pages, listing and detailing important information about Ellesmere Port around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Ellesmere Port Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime statistics, Ellesmere Port Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information about Ellesmere Port.

I'm purchasing my first flat in Ellesmere Port with the aid of help to buy. The developers would not move on the price so I negotiated £7000 of additionals instead. The house builders rep advised me not to tell my conveyancer about the extras as it would adversely affect my loan with the bank. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

In searching the internet for the words cheap conveyancing in Ellesmere Port it reveals many property lawyersin the vicinity. How do I determine which is the right solicitor for the sale of my house?

The ideal method of seeking a suitable conveyancer is via personal recommendation, so ask friends and relatives who have bought a property in Ellesmere Port or the respected estate agent or financial adviser. Costs for conveyancing in Ellesmere Port vary, so it's a good idea to secure at least four quotes from different solicitors. Be sure to seek confirmation that the costs are assured not to to be inflated.

Why am I unable to complete my conveyancing in Ellesmere Port on May bank holiday?

This is due to the fact that on completion the funds needs to pass between the banks of the buyer and seller's property lawyer and at present this can only occur on a business day. So you can't complete on a saturday or sunday either.