My fiancee and I are purchasing our first home. Our solicitor has calledto ask if we would like to take out additional conveyancing searches. Frankly we have no idea as to what's appropriate for conveyancing in Swanscombe

The extent of Swanscombe conveyancing searches depends primarily on the premises, the location, the likelihood of any of these risks, your knowledge of the area and risks, your overall appetite to risk. What is important is that you properly comprehend what information the searches could provide. You may then decide if you consider that you need that search. Where you are unclear, ask your solicitor to advise.

I just bought a house at auction in Swanscombe. Conveyancing is required. What is next?

Now that you have exchanged you now have to choose a conveyancing practitioner soon as you now have a pending deadline in which to complete the purchase. Every auction property should have a bespoke legal set of papers. This should include evidence of title and search results. If you have purchased leasehold property the conveyancing papers should provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing documentation specific to leasehold premises. You must give this to your appointed conveyancing solicitor at the earliest opportunity. You also need to ensure that that you have the requisite funding organised to complete the transaction on the set completion date.

We were going to get a DIP from Skipton this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Skipton recommend any Swanscombe solicitors on the Skipton conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?

You will need to appoint Swanscombe solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Skipton conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Skipton through the process.

My wife and I are spending time looking at houses in Swanscombe and I am about to put in an offer. Is it too early to have a solicitor in place? I will be getting a mortgage with Leeds Building Society.

You should start obtaining conveyancing estimates from solicitors ASAP. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their contact information on to the selling agent. As you are taking out a mortgage with Leeds Building Society, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel.

My wife and I are selling our home in Swanscombe and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being constructed on contaminated land. A high street Swanscombe lawyer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers instructed a factory type conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Swanscombe. Having lived in Swanscombe for 4 years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to get in touch with our local Authority to seek clarification need.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing solicitor already. What do they say? You should enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same illness)

I'm buying a new build house in Swanscombe with the aid of help to buy. The developers refused to move on the amount so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The estate agent suggested that I not disclose to my solicitor about this extras as it will affect my loan with the bank. Should I keep quiet?.

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.

Should I go with a Swanscombe conveyancing practitioner based in the location that I am hoping to buy? An old friend can carry out the conveyancing but they are based 300kilometers away.

The benefit of a local Swanscombe conveyancing firm is that you can visit the firm to execute paperwork, present your ID and pester them if necessary. Having local Swanscombe know how is a plus. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who instructed your friend and on the whole were content that must trump using an unknown Swanscombe conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being Swanscombe based.