Understanding the Law

How To Choose A Conveyancer When Buying Your First Home

There is a lot to think about when buying your first home, and choosing a conveyancer is an essential step. As Your Mortgage explains, a conveyancer is a professional who specialises in property transfers – essentially, helping people with the legalities of buying and selling properties. By following the steps below, you can choose a conveyancer that is right for you and be fully ready to buy your first home.

Choose A Local Conveyancer

The first thing you need to consider when choosing a conveyancer is their proximity to your home or work. While conveyancing can mostly be done online, with the signing of e-documents rather than physical ones becoming more prevalent, it is still useful to choose a conveyancer based in your town. This means that if you need to visit the office to sign papers, drop off documents or simply ask questions, it will fit neatly into your daily routine. A local conveyancer will also know more about areas and the housing market in your town or city specifically. Search online for conveyancers in your local area, and you will be able to make the house-buying process smooth and easy.

Consider Your Budget

Your first house is likely to be the most expensive purchase you've ever made, and conveyancing fees are only one of the things you need to budget for. Which Real Estate Agent explains that the costs of conveyancing vary by state, but range between $500 and $1,500, depending on the cost of your purchase and other factors. Search the websites of conveyancers you are considering for descriptions of their costs, and make sure you know exactly what is included to prevent unexpected charges later in the process for things like searches. If you're worried about your budget, you might want to try finding a conveyancer that offers fixed fees or a payment plan.

Make Initial Contact

By this point, it is likely that you will have made a list of various options. The best thing you can do to choose between them is to make contact with them by phone or email, and see how it makes you feel. Do they seem knowledgeable about their work, and do you feel that your questions are answered? Did they make time to speak to you, or reply to your messages in a timely manner? The HomeOwners Alliance offers a list of questions to ask a potential conveyancer, including who will handle your case and how they deal with difficulties or disputes – and an unsatisfactory answer to these questions is a possible red flag. Don't be afraid to go with your gut feeling or walk away from a well-reviewed firm that wasn't very helpful.

If you consider a conveyancer's prices and location, think carefully about how contact with them made you feel, and ask any questions you might have, you are in a great position to choose a conveyancer to suit your personal needs.

For more information on conveyancing, contact a company in your area like Johnson & Sendall.