Just been in touch with my conveyancing lawyer in Merton who completed the legal work 18 months ago and wanted a conveyancing estimate based on the same type of house sale & purchase (a leasehold property and a freehold property) of almost identical values with a loan from Halifax. It looks as though am now being charged twice the amount. Am I right to be tempted to shop around for a cheaper online firm of conveyancing solicitor?

The quote is fractionally on the high side. If you shop around you may be able to get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by say a hundred pounds. That being said, if you were pleased with the service the firm offered you mightcome to rue choosing an an untested lawyer. Don't forget to check the solicitor can also act for Halifax. You can make use of our search tool to get a quote a Merton conveyancing firm on the Halifax approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Merton.

We're in Merton, First timers buying with a mortgage (lender is Clydesdale , and our lawyer is on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no lawyer should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.

Do commercial conveyancing searches reveal impending roadworks that may affect a commercial land in Merton?

Its becoming the norm that commercial conveyancing solicitors in Merton will execute a SiteSolutions Highways report as it reduces the time that conveyancers invest in looking into accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Merton. The report provides definitive data on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Merton.

For each commercial conveyancing transaction in Merton it is critical to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. Failure to identify developments where adoption procedures have not been dealt with adequately may result in delays to Merton commercial conveyancing transactions as well as present a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not ordered for domestic conveyancing in Merton.

I'm buying my first flat in Merton with a loan from TSB. The builders would not budge the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not reveal to my conveyancer about this extras as it could jeopardize my mortgage with TSB. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder 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.

I am using a search engine for the phrase conveyancing in Merton it brings up many property lawyersin the area. How do I determine which is the suitable conveyancing solicitor for purchase transaction?

The best way of seeking a suitable conveyancer is through a personal testimonial, so seek the opinion of friends and family who have bought a property in Merton or a local estate agent or mortgage broker. Costs for conveyancing in Merton vary, so it's a good idea to obtain a minimum of three fee estimates from different solicitors. Make sure that you know that the fees are fixed.