What is conveyancing? A step-by-step guide to buying a house in St Helens

If you’re searching for ‘houses for sale St Helens,’ it’s likely you have lots of questions, particularly if it’s going to be your first home.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the conveyancing process, taking you through every step from getting a mortgage to getting your keys.

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership. It’s pretty complex, but finding a reputable conveyancing solicitor will make the whole thing much easier.

What are the steps to buying a house in St Helens?

There are several stages to purchasing a property, whether it’s your first home or you’re taking your next step on the property ladder. Below, we’ll discuss the steps to take when purchasing a house in St Helens

1.    Get an agreement in principle

There’s no point getting excited about houses for sale in St Helens before you know what you can afford. To avoid unnecessary disappointment, you should get an agreement in principle (AIP) from a mortgage lender before you begin your property search.  

2.    Start looking at houses for sale St Helens

It’s helpful to have a list of criteria here to help you narrow down your search. You can also pass this list to estate agents in St Helens to give them a better idea of what you’re looking for.

3.    Book viewings with estate agents St Helens

If you find some houses for sale in St Helens that meet all your criteria and fall within your budget, then you’re ready to start booking viewings.

Some estate agents in St Helens will accompany you on viewings, whereas others will leave you to meet the current owners at the property.

Here at Stapleton Derby, we offer accompanied viewings for all our houses for sale in St Helens.

4.    Make an offer

When you’ve narrowed down your list of houses for sale in St Helens to just one perfect property, it’s time to submit your offer to the estate agents in St Helens that have listed the property you’re interested in.


You should make sure your offer is realistic, but also ensure that you’re getting value for money and that you aren’t spending more than you can afford.

5.    Choose a conveyancing solicitor

Conveyancing solicitors handle all the legal issues that are involved in the process of buying a house in St Helens.

It’s wise to get a couple of quotes from different solicitors, as some will charge higher fees than others.

6.    Choose a surveyor

The role of a surveyor is to check your chosen property does not have any structural issues that you may not have spotted during the viewing. If the surveyor notes any problems with the property, you may decide to withdraw or renegotiate your offer.

7.    Finalise your mortgage

Once you’re happy with the results of the surveys, you can contact your mortgage lender to finalise the agreement.

8.    Exchange contracts

Your solicitor will take you through the contracts and ensure that everything is in order. If you’re satisfied with all of the details, you will then sign and complete the sale.

9.    Completing on your property in St Helens

When the money is transferred from your solicitor’s account to the seller’s account, this is called ‘completion of sale’. On your completion date, you’ll finally get the keys to your dream house in St Helens.

Speak to experienced estate agents St Helens

Buying your first home can seem overwhelming. But as a leading estate agents in St Helens, Stapleton Derby is here to help you every step of the way.

If you have any questions about our houses for sale in St Helens, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

You can give us a call on 01744 883 322 or send us a message with your requirements for property in St Helens, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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If you’re looking to see how much your property is worth, click below to book your valuation and a member of our team will be in touch.

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