If you’re buying or selling a home, there will come a time when you will need to choose a solicitor or a conveyancer to help with the legal transfer of the property.
Legal professionals are extremely important in keeping the buying and selling process on track and on time – they handle your contracts, carry out local authority searches, deal with the Land Registry and transfer funds when it is finally completion day. So, with so much to do, it’s important to pick one that’s right for you.
What’s the difference between a solicitor and a conveyancer?
Both conveyancers and solicitors are fully regulated and insured professionals, and when it comes to handling your property transaction, will operate in a very similar way. However, it is worth noting the differences between the two before you get started.
Conveyancers are specialist property lawyers who are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, and who focus largely on residential property transactions.
Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and offer a much broader legal service and are able to deal with more complex legal issues. Their knowledge beyond property conveyancing law is necessary when dealing with the likes of boundary disputes or if the sellers are separating and using more than one solicitor.
Understand and compare conveyancing fees
There are three different types of fees when it comes to conveyancing:
Hourly rate
Fixed fee
Percentage cost
It’s advisable to get a couple of quotes first and ask for a full break down so that you can make a direct comparison. Make sure you check whether the total cost will be a fixed or if it could vary according to the workload.
And the final price should be inclusive of everything necessary to complete the sale, including searches, monetary transfers, stamp duty or land tax costs and Land Registry fees.
The events of the past eighteen months have seen us spend considerably more time than usual in our homes, with lockdown restrictions encouraging many of us to make the best use of the space we have available. And wow haven’t we become masters of home living!
Due to lifestyle changes, ‘spare rooms’ simply used for storage are quickly being replaced by a more purposeful space and, if you’re one of the many who have the spare space but are unsure how best to transform it, I how come up with a few suggestions for you.
1. Home Office
Whether it’s the HQ of your business empire or an area for doing general paperwork, a home office can be a great way to efficiently tick off those all-important tasks.
With the ‘working from home’ hybrid looking to become a normalised part of working life, transforming your spare room into an office space can be a worthwhile investment for maximum productivity and efficiency.
2. Home Cinema
Bring the magic of the cinema to your own home by creating the ultimate entertainment experience Enjoy family favourites and cinematic classics without having to purchase a cinema ticket and overpriced popcorn.
Creating a home cinema doesn’t have to be as taxing on the wallet as it sounds. All you need is a comfy sofa, a wall-mounted TV or projector, and surround sound. Plus, when not in use it can also double as a second living room which means extra space to entertain guests.
3. Creative Studio
In such a busy world sometimes it can be hard to take time out for yourself and get into your creative zone.
A solution to this is to makeover your spare room and transform it into a personal, creative space to dive deep into your passions, whether it’s art, writing, music, or another hobby. A studio of your own creates a space for you to express yourself without the interruptions of everyday life.
4. Home Gym
Let’s get buffed! Exercise is an essential way to maintain positive wellbeing. However, gym memberships can be expensive. Plus travelling there can take unnecessary time out of an already busy schedule. So why not invest in some space to work out within the comfort of your own home?
The extent of how far you can go with this will depend on the space you have available. Some ideas can include cardio machines, such as treadmills or bikes, as well as weight benches for building muscle. Another plus is you can pick the members who can attend!
5. Dressing Room
I have to admit, this has some serious appeal to it. If you’re still wondering what to do with a spare room, and fancy transforming it into something a little more luxurious than a home office or guest bedroom, consider turning your space into a dressing room and walk-in wardrobe.
All you’ll need is closet space, a little table with a mirror, and you’ll have yourself a fabulous dressing room.
6. Music Studio
Have you ever wanted to learn to play a musical instrument but always find an excuse not to start? Well, having your own music studio in your home just might be the answer.
Practice guitar, jam with friends, or compose your first hit song in a room dedicated to music. Lay down thick carpeting to soak up sound, and add a few comfortable floor cushions for musically inclined visitors.
Your house will almost certainly be more attractive to buyers with some general sprucing up and cleaning. Larger projects such as loft conversions, converting a garage or adding a conservatory may reap high rewards if you have the time and money. But small things can make a surprising difference too.
Redecorate and complete easy upgrades
Redecorating is the most popular home improvement and giving your home a lick of paint and doing some general maintenance can be done at a very low cost. Fresh paint in modern colours can go a long way to giving your home a new lease of life, so do not be afraid to pick up the paintbrush.
It’s also best to fix all superficial defects. While unlikely to be the clinching factor in a house sale, small problems and defects can create an impression of a house being run down or not well cared for. Things to look out for include:
Peeling paint
Dirty walls, especially near doors frames and around switches
Dripping taps
Squeaky floors, doors or stairs
Mouldy sealant in kitchens or bathrooms
Limescale built up on kitchen and bathroom fittings
Badly fitted laminate flooring
Broken lightbulbs
Replace doors
First impressions count. Make sure the outside of the house is welcoming the front door of your home can say a lot about the rest of the house to viewers seeing it for the first time. If you cannot afford to replace the door, make sure it looks new by giving it a power wash or a fresh lick of paint. Even a new doorknob, house number or name sign can help.
Try to make your front door look smarter than your neighbours’.
Makeover the kitchen
Kitchens are often the focus for many buyers, so it may be the first thing they look to replace if they can’t imagine living in yours. It’s no surprise that 65% of homeowners have renovated their kitchens before selling up. You may not be able to afford a whole new kitchen, but there are many smaller ways to improve what you already have.
For a relatively small budget painting units or replacing cupboard handles or doors are a cheaper way of refreshing kitchens. Good lighting and clutter-free, clean surfaces will make a big difference to the feel of the house
Buyers may be willing to pay more to save themselves the hassle of buying a new kitchen.
Adding or updating a bathroom
In the bathroom, re-grouting, eliminating all limescale and replacing taps are a good option. Bathrooms need to be fresh and hygienic looking, so paint the walls a neutral shade, and ideally replace a shower curtain with a new one or a simple glass screen. 29% of homes sold in 2019 had a new bathroom fitted, so a full update might be the key to selling fast and earning more.
Garden appeal
An attractive, tidy, well-designed garden can add a great deal of value to a property. It is essential to trim borders, clear pathways and cut back any overgrown trees or bushes.
The garden should feel like an extra space for entertaining or relaxing, rather than an expanse of grass. An area of decking gives buyers a sense of having a bigger usable living space and 3% of homes sold in 2019 were even found to have had a summer garden, giving owners more space to relax and entertain in sunnier weather.
Bigger issues such as damp should not be covered up. It will show up on a survey and is likely to come back to haunt you later on.
Double glaze the windows
Noisy roads can impact the value of a property. Double glazing will keep the home warm and keep the noise out, even if it’s near a main road.
Opening up space
Opening up living space is becoming more and more popular, particularly for the kitchen and dining room. Combining the two into one large room creates a sociable space, great for the whole family to enjoy. Remember the practicalities with this though, as many consumers still like the ‘front room philosophy’ that can be used for special occasions or to be used for privacy by the adults.
Look smart and be energy efficient
Smart home technologies are increasingly important to buyers – just advertising the presence of fibre optic cables in your area could be enough to encourage buyers. Statement systems like multi-room music platforms can also make a difference.
Smart technology such as Hive, which gives mobile control over heating systems, is a feature worth considering. If it moves your EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) up a band, it could add thousands to the sale price. Only 2% of homes sold in 2019 had smart technology installed, so by being ahead of the game, you’ll be offering a unique selling-point and future-proofing for any potential buyers.
Create a driveway
In some areas of the country, the ability to park close to your front door comes at a huge premium and therefore, if you have the room to add off-street parking, you are sure to increase value.
Bigger projects
Big projects could include a loft conversion, adding a conservatory, converting a garage or installing a whole new kitchen or bathroom. In fact, 22% of homes sold in 2019 had an extension added; increasing a property’s value and making them more appealing to buyers.
A survey by NAEA Propertymark shows that half of estate agents think that adding a bedroom – usually a loft conversion – adds the most value, while a third of agents thought a new kitchen was the best choice.
Whatever you choose to do, it is a good idea to speak to a local estate agent about the sort of features that make the most difference when selling homes in your area.
Even if you can’t afford an extension or conversion, it might be worth obtaining planning permission to do so at a later date. You would have to spend money on drawing up the designs and getting a survey, but it would remove a big element of doubt from a potential buyer’s mind if they know the council has already approved an extension.
You might also want to think about your target audience and try to reflect their needs. For example, is your house most likely to appeal to young professionals? A room could be set aside as an office or you could add an extra shower room. If young families are the most likely buyers, could you turn the adjoining garage into a playroom?
