The housing market in Ventnor is heating up. What can I do to speed up matters?

In the event that the seller is applying pressure for your conveyancing we would recommend that your conveyancer is familiar with the location as they will make use of local relationships and know-how. It is possible that they would have transacted previoushouses in the same neighbourhood. You would be best advised to use a Ventnor conveyancing lawyer. In addition, make sure that the lawyer is on the member panel. It is understood that just under twenty per cent of Ventnor conveyancing deals are suspended or jeopardised after finding out that a purchaser’s lawyer was not on their banks member panel. This can often result in the legal process being frustrated by an average of 21 days. It is estimated that this issue impacts in the region of one hundred thousand home moves every year. Most Ventnor conveyancing firms can not act for certain banks so do check at the outset.

Will our solicitor be raising questions regarding flooding as part of the conveyancing in Ventnor.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for solicitors dealing with homes in Ventnor. There are those who acquire a house in Ventnor, completely aware that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, where a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, satisfactory insurance cover, or dispose of the premises. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.

Conveyancers are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, however there are a various searches that can be initiated by the buyer or by their solicitors which should give them a better understanding of the risks in Ventnor. The standard property information forms supplied to a purchaser’s solicitor (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) includes a usual question of the owner to discover whether the property has ever been flooded. In the event that flooding has previously occurred and is not revealed by the vendor, then a purchaser could bring a claim for damages as a result of such an misleading response. The purchaser’s solicitors should also conduct an environmental report. This should higlight if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, further investigations should be conducted.

I have been advised by numerous estate agents in Ventnor to find a conveyancer using your seach tool. What’s the financial incentive for Estate Agents to offer your lawyers over another?

We refuse to make any commission for pointing buyers and sellers in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult a fee as members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

My husband and I are novice buyers - agreed a price, but the selling agent informed us that the vendor will only proceed if we instruct the agent's recommended lawyers as they need an ‘expedited deal’. Our preferred option is to instruct a local solicitor used to conveyancing in Ventnor

It is highly unlikely the vendors are behind this. If they want ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a serious purchaser is is going to put the whole deal at risk. Speak to the owners direct and explain that (a)you are genuine purchasers (b)you are ready to go, with mortgage lined up © you are chain free (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)but you are going to use your own,trusted Ventnor conveyancing firm - as opposed tothose that will earn their negotiator at the agency a kickback or achieve conveyancing thresholds demanded by HQ.

Me and my husband are buying a leasehold apartment in Ventnor. Conveyancing quotes are averaging around £1800. Is that reasonable?

The average cost last year for conveyancing in Ventnor was £1,500 excluding Stamp Duty and Land Registry charges.