Conveyancing Solicitors in Hornsea

Brewer Wallace acts for clients buying, selling and remortgaging residential property in Hornsea and the surrounding area, including Atwick, Mappleton, Skipsea, Sigglesthorne and Leven. Our residential conveyancing is accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme, and we act for most major mortgage lenders.

Matters we look at closely in Hornsea

Every purchase involves the same core work on the title, the searches and the contract. Some issues arise more often in Hornsea and on the Holderness coast, and we deal with them as a matter of course.

• Coastal erosion. The Holderness coast is one of the fastest eroding coastlines in Europe. For properties near the cliffs, we review the environmental search and the Environment Agency's coastal erosion mapping, and make sure you and your lender understand the position before you commit.
• Flood risk and insurance. Where a search identifies flood risk, we explain what it means in practice and recommend you confirm buildings insurance is available on acceptable terms before exchange.
• Leasehold and retirement flats. We review the unexpired term, ground rent, service charges and any age or occupation restrictions in the lease, all of which can affect your mortgage and the future sale of the property.
• Selling as an executor. Where a property is being sold as part of an estate, we can deal with the sale alongside the probate and estate administration, so that the two run in step.

Buying a home: the process

1. Instruction. Once your offer is accepted, we confirm our fees in writing, verify your identity and ask about the source of your deposit, as the law requires.
2. Searches and the contract. We order the local authority, water and drainage and environmental searches, and review the draft contract and title documents sent by the seller's solicitor.
3. Enquiries and your mortgage. We raise enquiries on anything that needs clarifying and, once your mortgage offer is issued, deal with your lender's requirements.
4. Report and signing. We report to you in writing on the property and the contract, then arrange for you to sign the contract and mortgage deed.
5. Exchange of contracts. Your deposit is paid and the completion date becomes legally binding.
6. Completion. We send the purchase money, you collect the keys, and we pay any Stamp Duty Land Tax due and register you as the owner at HM Land Registry.

Most purchases complete within eight to twelve weeks of an offer being accepted. Chains, new build properties and leasehold flats can take longer, and we keep you informed of progress throughout.

Selling a home: the process

When you sell, we prepare the contract package for the buyer's solicitor: the title, the property information form (TA6), the fittings and contents form (TA10) and, for a flat, the leasehold information form (TA7). We reply to the buyer's enquiries, obtain a redemption figure from your lender and, on completion, repay your mortgage and settle the estate agent's account before sending the balance to you.

Gathering a few documents at the outset can save weeks later: planning permissions and building regulation certificates for any alterations, guarantees for windows, damp proofing or a replacement boiler, and, for leasehold property, your lease and recent service charge accounts.

If you are buying and selling at the same time, we act on both transactions and coordinate them so that exchange and completion take place on the same day.

Our fees

We charge fixed fees for residential conveyancing, quoted in advance and confirmed in writing before any work begins. Our legal fee for a purchase starts from £900 plus VAT, and for a sale from £895 plus VAT. Leasehold and new build transactions involve additional work and carry a supplement. Searches, Land Registry fees and any Stamp Duty Land Tax are payable in addition, and are itemised in full in your quote.

For an instant, itemised figure, use our conveyancing fees calculator, or see our published fees and pricing.

Our Hornsea office

Our Hornsea office is at 9-10 Southgate Court, HU18 1RP, and is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Call 01964 537856 to speak to us or to arrange an appointment. Much of the work can be dealt with by telephone and email if that suits you better. We also have offices in Hull and Bridlington.