If you’re buying your first home in Bromsgrove, you’ve probably noticed that everyone has an opinion about the mortgage and nobody explains the legal bit. That’s the bit you hand to a First Time Buyer solicitor, and it’s where a lot of first-time buyers feel most out of their depth.
Short version: yes, you need one. Your solicitor or conveyancer checks you’re buying what you think you’re buying, finds out what could go wrong, and makes the purchase legally yours. We’re Chapter Law, we only do property conveyancing, and we act for first time buyers in Bromsgrove on a fixed fee. Here’s what actually happens.
Do you really need a solicitor to buy a house?
Practically speaking, yes. Your lender will insist on legal work being done before it releases the money, and you won’t want to find out about a boundary dispute or a missing consent after you’ve moved in. The legal work is called conveyancing. It can be done by a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer, and either way the person should be regulated.
Where we are
We’re based in Birmingham, at the Innovation Centre on Devon Way, B31 2TS. We don’t have a Bromsgrove office. Onboarding, ID checks and signing happen online, and you can follow your case in our app. You’ll have a named case manager who knows your file, so you’re never explaining your situation to someone new.
What happens, step by step
1. You instruct us. We send forms to sign and ask for ID. You send them back and we take it from there.
2. We get the contract pack. We request it from the seller’s solicitor. It contains the contract, a list of what’s included in the sale, and the property information form where the seller discloses things like boundaries and planning permissions.
3. We check the title. That means the deeds, any mortgages on the property, and the covenants and restrictions that come with it. A covenant can limit what you’re allowed to do with your own home, so this is worth reading properly.
4. We run searches. These typically cover the local authority, water and drainage, and environmental risks. For a Bromsgrove property, the local authority search is the one that tells you about things like planning decisions and road schemes nearby. Results sometimes change a buyer’s mind, which is exactly why you do them before committing.
5. We raise enquiries and report to you. We ask the seller’s side about anything unclear, read their replies, and send you a report in plain English before you sign.
6. Exchange. Once you, the lender and the chain are ready, contracts are exchanged and the purchase becomes legally binding. You’ll usually pay a deposit of around 10% at this point. This is the stage first-time buyers underestimate: after exchange, pulling out normally costs you your deposit, so don’t book removals or hand in notice on a rental until exchange has happened.
7. Completion and registration. On completion day we supervise the transfer of money, tell you when you can collect your keys, and afterwards register the property in your name at the Land Registry.
How long will it take?
Our guidance for a purchase is around 12 to 16 weeks from accepted offer to completion. That’s an average, and it moves. The usual causes of delay are slow paperwork, mortgage valuations and surveys, leasehold packs from managing agents, extra enquiries, and other people in the chain. If you’re buying a flat, expect the leasehold pack to be the likeliest source of waiting.
The biggest thing you control is speed of replies. Return forms and ID quickly, and keep your mortgage broker chasing in parallel.
What it costs
We charge a fixed fee, so you know our legal bill before you start. If your move doesn’t go ahead, you won’t pay our legal fees. You can get a free estimate in a couple of minutes.
Whichever firm you pick, ask for third-party costs such as searches and Land Registry fees to be shown separately from their own fee. Quotes that bundle everything together are hard to compare.
Questions to ask before you instruct anyone
- Who will deal with my case day to day, and how will I hear updates?
- Is the fee fixed, and what’s excluded?
- What do I pay if the purchase collapses?
- How do I sign documents and prove my ID?
Vague answers are a warning. If you’d like a longer checklist, our guide to choosing the right conveyancer covers it.
Ready to start?
Tell us about your purchase and we’ll send a free, fixed-fee estimate. Prefer to talk it through? Call 0330 122 9812 or email hello@chapterlaw.co.uk.
FAQs.
Do I need a solicitor if I’m buying with a mortgage?
Yes. Your lender will require legal work to be done on the property, and you need your own protection as well.
Do you have an office in Bromsgrove?
No. We’re based in Birmingham at B31 2TS and act for buyers in Bromsgrove, with most of the process online
How long does it take to buy a first home?
Around 12 to 16 weeks from accepted offer to completion, though chains, surveys and leasehold packs can add time
How much is the deposit at exchange?
It’s usually around 10% of the purchase price, though this depends on the contract.
What happens if my purchase falls through?
If your move doesn’t go ahead, you won’t pay our legal fees.