Coronavirus – five things to do to keep you moving home – advice for clients from CA member firm, Boys & Maughan

Here at Boys & Maughan we know that buying or selling a property during the current crisis is much more challenging than usual but we are being optimistic and taking a “can do” approach to keeping people moving through these difficult times.

Things will get back on track and many experts are predicting that the property market will rebound. In the meantime our lawyers are supporting their clients and continuing discussions with all the professions involved in the home moving process.

We have seen many ups and downs in our 200 years of serving local people and this has taught us that everybody should be using this time to adapt, prepare and be flexible.

Here is a checklist of things you can do to help us progress existing transactions and prepare for future moves.

1. If you are currently buying and have a mortgage offer, check the expiry date and have a chat with your lender about the possibility of extending it.

2. Keep in touch with your conveyancer. We are still here checking emails and trying to keep everyone informed whether that is your estate agent, broker, buyer or seller. If you have information you want to pass on to others in your chain we can try to do this for you.

3. Check your emails. If we receive enquiries on a sale or search results on a purchase we will contact you. It would be helpful if you read over what we send and provide any documents or information we may need. Likewise, if we send a search result read the report and come back to us with any queries you may have. It is better to deal with these sooner rather than later.

4. If you are thinking about selling but do not yet have a buyer, we can still help. We can open a file, prepare the paperwork and obtain as much information and documentation from you so when you do find that buyer you are ready to hit the ground running.

5. Start gathering together your paperwork, this may include:

a) Guarantees and certificates for windows, boilers, log burners

b) Planning or building regulation approval for alterations

c) Electrical and Gas Safe certificates

d) If the property is leasehold, copies of your ground rent or service charge statements, notices you may have received from the landlord or management company and a copy of the insurance policy.

Direct dial numbers and email addresses for our conveyancers are available here. If you are not sure who to contact please call us on 01843 234000. 

More details on the guidelines, measures and precautions for those purchasing, selling and moving home during the Covid-19 crisis, are available from the Government website.