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	Conveyancers, solicitors and surveys Finding the right conveyancer can mark the difference between a smooth and a stressful move. Here are some guidelines to help you make the right choice.

In this article

Conveyancers Cost Property Surveys

Homebuyer's report Building survey

Choosing a surveyor Home Information Pack (sellers pack)

The legal process of buying and selling a property is called conveyancing. Conveyancer is the generic term given to either a conveyancing solicitor or licenced conveyancer. All solicitors practising law in England and Wales must also be registered with the Law Society. There are separate societies for Northern Ireland and Scotland.

As soon as you place an offer on a property, your estate agent will ask for your conveyancer's details to pass onto the seller's conveyancer. It's therefore wise to establish contact with a professional before you start looking for a property to avoid having to make this important decision in a rush. A conveyancer's job is to take care of all legal aspects of moving house, which include:

• Local search
• Land charges search
• Land registry
• Stamp duty
• Home information packs

One of the best means of finding a suitable conveyancer is through a personal recommendation, so ask friends and family who have bought a property in the area or the estate agent or mortgage broker.

Apart from the conveyancing work there is also the lender's legal work to be done. Your conveyancer could act for the lender, which should save you money. The principal task is to draw up a mortgage deed, which sets out the conditions of your loan. The lender will hold this and the title deeds of your property until the loan is paid in full.

Fees for conveyancing work vary, so it's a good idea to obtain at least three quotes from different companies. Make sure that you know what costs the quote includes. You will usually be charged for the conveyancer's time, phone calls, letters and faxes and their indemnity fee. They may state that if any unforeseen problems arise these will be dealt with through an extra charge.

For a property costing 拢100,000, you should expect to pay about 拢550 in fees. However, the cost will also depend on whether your property is leasehold or freehold. Leasehold properties will cost more as they involve additional work checking the lease.

Most conveyancers will ask for payment of land registry and local authority search fees in advance. The balance will be due when you've completed on your home.

Don't be tempted to opt for professionals that are offering a 'cheap deal'. This could mean that they are dealing with many clients, which will more often than not result in a slow service.

Once you've chosen a conveyancer they will ask to see some form of identification, such as a passport or driving licence, and your mortgage lender's details. Most importantly, you will also need your chequebook.

It's estimated that on average only 20% of all homebuyers commission a professional survey. This is somewhat surprising considering that buying a property is probably the biggest purchase in most people's lives. One explanation for this low take up, is that many homebuyers believe the mortgage lender's survey is sufficient.

In fact, the lender's survey is simply a mortgage valuation, a property inspection to establish the amount and terms of the loan. This survey will not tell you if the property is worth the price you're paying for it, nor point out any structural defects. To obtain this vitally important information you'll need to get a professional opinion by commissioning a chartered surveyor before you sign any contracts.

There are two main types of survey - the 'Homebuyer's Report' and the 'Building Survey'.

This type of survey is designed to keep costs to a minimum and is likely to be the best choice if the property you are buying is conventional in type and construction, is apparently in reasonable condition and built within the last 30 years. The survey focuses on defects and problems that are urgent and likely to have an effect on value. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the main objectives of the Homebuyer's report are to:

• Make a reasoned and informed judgement on whether or not to proceed with the purchase.
• Assess whether or not the property is a reasonable purchase at the agreed price.
• Make clear what decisions and actions should be taken before contracts are exchanged.

This type of survey is suitable for all residential properties and provides a full picture of the property's construction and condition. Because the level of detail is higher than the Homebuyer's Report, a Building Survey is more expensive. This type of survey is required when a property is of an unusual construction or has had extensive alterations, if it's old, in need of serious structural repair or if you're planning a major conversion or renovation.

The final report will include detailed technical information on the construction of the property, materials used and a listing of all major and minor defects. The report does not provide a valuation, however this can be arranged as an agreed extra.

The cost of this survey is from 拢400 upwards and will usually take one to two days to complete. You can expect the final report within three working weeks of the original survey.

Once you've worked out which type of survey to go for, the next task is to find a suitable surveyor. Your mortgage lender or estate agent may be able to offer a recommendation, also don't forget to ask any friends who've recently purchased a property. If these options fail to find someone suitable, contact the (RICS), who currently have over 80,000 members working to the highest professional standards.

It's a good idea to assist your surveyor by passing on information about the locality, including any information you've gathered about properties that are for sale or have recently been sold in the area. Also, inform the surveyor of any potential problems that you noticed when you viewed the property.

In an effort to reform and improve the home buying and selling process, the Government has introduced the Home Information Pack (HIP). From 1 June 2007, sellers or their representatives will be legally obliged to provide key information about their homes to potential buyers. These packs can be commissioned or compiled by the owners. To find out more, visit the Home Information Pack website.