THE LEGAL ANSWER TO A

STRESS FREE HOME MOVE

Moving house, whether you are buying or selling, is one of the most important decisions anyone will make in their life.

For most people, it will be the biggest financial outlay that they undertake, and with prices in the property market so high in comparison to average earnings, it is vital that you get things right, not only in terms of financing the cost but also in the professional way that the whole transaction is handled.

At the moment, the government still appears to be undecided about whether the proposed new Home Information Packs will be compulsory in the future. They are now saying that home condition reports will not be mandatory from 1 July 2007, although it appears that an Energy Performance Certificate will be required. The situation is certainly confusing and the National Association of Estate Agents has called for the government to sit down with the industry and look at ways of improving the system. On the other hand, the Association of Home Information Pack Providers still predict a positive future for HIP’s, even though it will no longer be a compulsory requirement from July next year as was originally proposed.

All this uncertainty makes it vital for you to use a reliable, well-established firm of solicitors to handle your house move. Once a sale or purchase is agreed, you should immediately instruct a firm of solicitors to get your house move under way – and you should consider your solicitors as the hub of the whole transaction.

Solicitors are qualified in all aspects of property law and are there to avoid potential problems and protect your interests at every step, from making the offer to collecting the keys to the door.

Choosing to use a solicitor for your conveyancing can also be beneficial, as buying or selling a property may also introduce other related legal matters which need to be dealt with.

For example, if you are buying a house with a partner you are not married to, it is important that you protect your respective interests by entering into a "declaration" of trust" to set out what share of the property each of you owns.

Also, if you do not have a will, you should consider making one, and if you have a will, you may need to update it.

In all cases, a solicitor can offer you valuable legal advice as part of a complete professional service, so make sure you use a reliable mortgage provider, a reputable estate agent and an experienced solicitor to provide your solution to a stress-free move.

In the Beverley and Hull area, Sandersons Solicitors have a wealth of experience and understanding of the local area. They aim to provide a friendly and efficient personal service, backed by the latest computerised case management system, designed to take the hassle out of home ownership and, to ensure that the process progresses as smoothly and as quickly as possible. They recognise that it is important to keep clients fully up to date on what is happening so as to ensure their peace of mind.

So, if you are looking to make a move in the property market, contact

Contact Janet Slattery (Hull) or Denise Cudbertson (Beverley)

Address 17-19 Parliament Street

Kingston upon Hull

HU1 2BH

Tel 01482 324662

Fax 01482 223110

Email enquiries@sandersonssolicitors.co.uk

Source: Yorkshire Today, October 2006