Conveyancing Solicitor In Chelmsford

Conveyancing solicitors in Chelmsford - ensuring a smooth property transaction

Conveyancing Solicitor In Chelmsford

As a homeowner, selling your property is an important life event that requires the expertise of a legal professional to ensure the process goes smoothly. To do so, you will need a conveyancing solicitor, a lawyer who specialises in property law. Whilst any solicitor can theoretically handle conveyancing, not all of them will. For instance, a Family Solicitor who is also a Solicitor, will not deal with property matters and vice versa. Conveyancing solicitors in Chelmsford will guide you through all the required legal steps to transfer the ownership of your home to the new buyer. From preparing and issuing contract documents, reviewing title deeds, conducting property searches and handling purchase funds, an experienced conveyancing solicitor has a key role to play when it comes to any property related transaction.

In this article, we look at the Chelmsford Property Market, over the past year, average house prices and what to look out for when choosing a conveyancing solicitor in Chelmsford.

Property Market Update in Chelmsford – Essex (2024)

The Chelmsford area property market remains active, with increasing interest from buyers and a steady volume of sales. While house prices have declined over the past year, the median sale price of £377,000 and average of £447,000 indicate a relatively stable market. The close proximity to London, good road and rail links, as well as desirable schools continue to make Chelmsford an attractive location for buyers.

According to recent surveys, buyer inquiries have increased by 31% and mortgage approvals are up 11% compared to the same period last year. The average house price in Chelmsford was £372,114 over the last 12 months, a 21% decrease from the previous year.

The latest figures available, indicate the following pricing trends –

  • Flats – Flats in Chelmsford sold for an average price of £226,366.
  • Semi-Detached Homes – Semi-detached houses in the area sold for around £437,998 on average.
  • Terraced Homes – terraced houses in Chelmsford fetched approximately £369,017 on average.
  • Detached Homes – Prices vary greatly based on size, location and amenities.
  • Bungalows – Single-level bungalow homes are less common but available in certain Chelmsford neighbourhoods. Prices for bungalows ranged from around £300,000 to over £500,000.
My Conveyancing Quote is for
...Trusted by over 844 people last month!
Firms regulated by Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers

 

Where are the best home mover destinations in Chelmsford Essex?

  • Old Moulsham – This central neighbourhood near the city centre provides easy access to shops, restaurants and entertainment. The area has a mix of period homes and modern flats. Local schools like The Moulsham Junior School and The Moulsham High School are rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
  • Great Baddow – Great Baddow is a semi-rural suburb of Chelmsford situated on the River Chelmer. It offers quality schools, green open spaces and good transport connectivity into the city centre. Great Baddow Primary School and The Baddow Hall Infant School are well-regarded options for families.
  • Chelmer Village – Adjacent to the Chelmer Valley nature reserve, Chelmer Village provides a peaceful setting with riverside walks and cycle paths. It is conveniently located near the A12 for travel to Colchester and London. This area appeals to those looking for a village atmosphere within the Chelmsford environs.
  • Galleywood – Located south west of Chelmsford City Centre, Galleywood has excellent rail links to London. This commuter town has a choice of Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Good’ schools. Galleywood also offers scenic countryside surroundings and amenities like shops, pubs and restaurants.
  • City Centre – For those looking for an urban lifestyle, Chelmsford City Centre provides all the benefits of city living such as entertainment, dining, arts and culture. Transport links are excellent with two train stations. The town centre offers a great choice of flats and apartments for professionals and students attending nearby Anglia Ruskin University.

How to Choose the Right Conveyancing Solicitor in Chelmsford

Although, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a conveyancing solicitor in Chelmsford, from our expert opinion, we think these are the key points to remember:

  • Communication: house buying or selling is stressful enough. Legal jargon only adds to the confusion. It is therefore vitally important that your chosen conveyancer is capable of speaking to you in simple English.
  • Transparent Fees: Considering how expensive house buying or selling is, it is only reasonable for you as a client to expect to have a very good idea of what each aspect of a property transaction is going to cost. What you therefore do not want is a conveyancer who simply ‘estimates’ a very low conveyancing quote initially to entice your instruction to then increase the fees by hundreds of pounds as the transaction progresses. You therefore need a conveyancing solicitor in Chelmsford who is going to be as upfront as possible with their fees.
  • No Completion, No Fee: Did you know that contrary to popular belief, no completion no fee is not a standard practice when it comes to property law? It is therefore crucial that you source a conveyancing company in Chelmsford who offers this service, especially during these uncertain times. Did you know that abortive property transaction fees have cost the general public in excess of two hundred million pounds in the last quarter of 2023 alone?
  • Who Regulates your Conveyancing Solicitor in Chelmsford?: You must trust your conveyancing lawyer. Ultimately, they will be acting as your agent in handling all of your property proceeds, typically in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. This trust therefore has to come from the organisation that regulates your chosen conveyancer. There are only three regulators for property law matters in England and Wales. They are the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) or Institute of Chartered Legal Executives (Cilex).
  • Trusted: Don’t just take your own conveyancer’s word for it. Do your homework and thoroughly check reviews on external sources for what others (like you) who have gone through the conveyancing formalities with your chosen conveyancer have to say about the experience they have had.
  • Online Service: As with other walks of life, conveyancing is becoming more and more online friendly. This online conveyancing element significantly increases the convenience it offers prospective home buyers and sellers during their property journey. That said however, not all conveyancers have made this transition yet. Carefully consider this aspect and how it would impact your daily commitments during the course of your transaction, if your chosen conveyancing solicitor does not offer an online service.
  • Availability: a great conveyancer (similar to communication) is of no use, if they are not available when required by you. Although this may seem an obvious point to consider, in our view, it is something that is commonly overlooked.

At Express Conveyancing, we thrive to make the home buying and selling process as smooth as possible. It is therefore no surprise then all our conveyancing solicitors in Chelmsford offer all of the above (and more!). Why not obtain a no obligation, no-completion, no-fee conveyancing quote whilst you are here, using our conveyancing quote calculator below?

How Long Does Conveyancing Take on Average?

The conveyancing process typically takes between 8 to 12 weeks to complete for purchasing a residential property in Chelmsford. The exact timeframes can vary depending on the specific complexity of the property in question involves.

Typically, you can expect the following average timeframes:

  • Having an offer accepted and instructing a conveyancing solicitor: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Solicitors taking client instructions, preparing contracts/reviewing contracts, raising enquiries and searches etc: 4 to 9 weeks
  • Exchanging contracts: Around 10 to 12
  • Completing: at a date that suits all parties in the chain.

Of course, there are many variables that can impact these timeframes. However, by appointing an experienced conveyancing solicitor early on and providing prompt instructions and responses, many transactions are able to complete their property purchase within the average 8 to 12 week period.

Conveyancing FAQs: Your Top Questions Answered

Many people have questions about the conveyancing process when buying or selling a property. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers:

What is a Conveyancing “chain”?

A conveyancing chain refers to a sequence of linked property sales, where one sale depends on the completion of another. Chains can involve only two parties, or extend to many more. The longer and more complex the chain, the higher the risk of delays. It is best to keep chains as short as possible.

How much will it all cost?

Conveyancing fees will vary depending on the value and complexity of the property. As a rough guide, you can expect to pay between £800 to £2,000 for a straightforward transaction on a typical residential property. The fees above take in to account common disbursements (third party costs) as well. Additional fees may apply for more complex cases.

How long does conveyancing take?

For a typical residential property sale with a short chain and no complications, you can expect the conveyancing process to take between 8 to 12 weeks from accepting an offer to completion. However, many sales can take significantly longer, especially if there are issues uncovered during title investigation, a long chain of linked sales, or delays in the chain.

How Can I Instruct Express Conveyancing?

Instructing Express Conveyancing to handle your conveyancing is as easy as 1-2-3. You can obtain a conveyancing quote online, using our quote calculator. Our team of experienced conveyancers will then walk you through the initial stages of your transaction before you can make an informed decision on whether you would like to proceed with one of our conveyancing solicitors.

Alternatively, you can telephone us on 0800 799 9892 to discuss your case and for a no-obligation quote.

 

 

 

What our clients say

Our News

Call Us