CORONAVIRUS UPDATE APRIL 2021

A message to our clients:

With the recent move to allow shops and offices to fully re-open, we will continue to review our policy on clients attending our offices. Currently, we are not inviting clients into the office but we are able to briefly meet with clients by appointment at the door of the office. Please note that face coverings are still required indoors until further notice. We remain committed to following the Government guidelines as rules continue to change in line with the easing of lockdown.

We continue to operate our business as usual across all the services that we offer our clients, both current and prospective.

We continue to offer teleconference-based or telephone consultations.. We are aware that not everyone has been offered full vaccination yet and understand that some people may feel safer continuing with socially distanced communications.

Our family and wills / probate solicitors continue to offer initial advice remotely by video conferencing and by telephone for up to one hour (as advertised on this website). Please call us if you would like to speak to one of our experts.

If you have a case in court, please telephone us so we can discuss representation.

We appreciate your patience, support and understanding over the past year since the restrictions related to the pandemic began. We hope you continue to stay safe, and wish you a brighter 2021!

Talk to a solicitor today 0117 973 1391
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Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Conveyancing

Tips for First-Time Buyers

Being a first-time homebuyer can be the most exciting, yet daunting experience! Here are 10 top tips to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible and you’re prepared to purchase your first home.

  1. Take Stamp Duty into consideration! Just because you are a first time buyer, it doesn’t automatically mean you will qualify for stamp duty relief – it will depend on the amount you are purchasing for. When finding your first home – take stamp duty costs into consideration of your overall costs as it will be something you have to pay for upfront before you complete.
     
  2. Budget! Stamp Duty, Legal Fees, Land Registry Fees, Surveys and Searches are amongst some of the disbursements that may add up when purchasing a property – make sure you take all of these factors into account when you’re looking to purchase a property so they don’t catch you out when it comes to getting a quote. Remember to take into consideration that there may be unexpected expenses such as indemnity insurance – these may all add up so be prepared!
     
  3. Mortgage Offers – don’t leave it until the last minute! If you’re looking to purchase a property with a mortgage then make sure you get your mortgage offer nice and early, your conveyancer won’t be able to report to you on the property until they receive it.
     
  4. Make sure you thoroughly read through all paperwork given to you- even little small details could be very important to the purchase process or the property.
     
  5. Maximise your deposit! If you can put down a bigger deposit then do! This will mean you have less monthly mortgage to pay and will take off any specifically high financial burdens. Ways to boost your deposit include lifetime ISAs and Help to Buy schemes. If you have any concerns then speak to your mortgage broker.
     
  6. Take into consideration the actual value of the property you wish to purchase! Remember that when a house goes on the market, it is an asking price, it is not necessarily what the property is worth.
     
  7. Don’t forget to look at factors such as the properties’ location, how long has it been on the market and whether the property fallen through a purchase before. These may give you an indication as to whether there are any hidden faults with the property and also the surrounding area that you will be moving in to.
     
  8. Identification – ensure you have up to date identification- your solicitor will need this to prove you are who you say you are.
     
  9. Source of Funds – your solicitor will require details on how you have accumulated your money to purchase the property – so be prepared to give your solicitor evidence of accumulation.
     
  10. Enjoy the Process! This is once in a lifetime experience so don’t rush – keep searching until you find your perfect first home and are sure it’s something you truly want to invest in!