Selling House Checklist | Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset

1) Title deeds

We will need to ascertain from you the whereabouts of your title deeds. A few mortgage lenders may still have these but most no longer keep them. If you have a mortgage secured against your property and have not received your title deeds from either your lender or the solicitor who last acted from you, we will have to write to the lender and request any deeds that they hold. If you hold them yourself, you need to let us have them as soon as possible.

2) The contract

The deeds are required to enable us to draw up the contract. The contract sets out the terms of the sale, including the price and the relevant parties involved. This is then sent to the buyer's solicitor for their approval. We also send them the title deeds and any other guarantees or papers which you are able to supply to us and, which are of relevance to works undertaken to the property.

3) Property information

At the outset of your sale we will send a number of questionnaires to you relating to the property and a list setting out details of the fixtures, fittings and contents included in the sale. It is important that these forms are completed fully and as accurately as possible as any incorrect information could lead to the buyer claiming compensation for misrepresentation.

4) The contract package

Once we have collected all the information that is required, copies of all the relevant documentation will be forwarded to your buyer's solicitor for him to investigate your legal title to the property. He may raise some additional enquiries, which we may need to refer to you if we require further information. At this stage we will ask you to sign the contract. We are merely getting it signed in readiness for an exchange of contracts, you will not be committing yourself to the sale at this stage.

5) Exchange of contracts

After the buyer's solicitor has completed his investigations, you will need to agree with your buyer a date for completion, i.e. moving house. Once this has been agreed we will take your final instructions to ensure that you are happy to proceed with the sale and assuming that you are, we will then effect an exchange of contracts. It is at this point that you will be committed to the transaction and the terms of the contract cannot be changed. If after contracts have been exchanged, either party tries to cancel or delay the agreed arrangements, then the other party will have the right to sue for damages.

6) Preparing for completion

After exchange of contracts, the buyer's solicitors will forward the Transfer Deed to us. This is the document that formally passes ownership of the property from you to the buyer. This must be signed prior to completion. We will also be obtaining a repayment figure from your lender (where applicable), in order that we can pay off your mortgage once we have received the purchase monies from the buyer's solicitor on the day of completion.

7) Completion

On the day of completion you should aim to vacate the property by noon. You should deliver the keys to your estate agent, who will then hold them until we can confirm that the purchase monies have been received and that the buyers now own the property. We will then account to you for the net proceeds of the sale, or forward the money on to you.

For Roger Leedham, Senior Partner

“We have used Coles Miller for every house move (and there have been quite a few!) since 1987. Roger Leedham and the team made our recent move in 2018 as smooth and stress free as a house move can ever be. Nothing is ever too much trouble and the brilliant communication between Coles Miller and all the other parties in the chain helped us manage timescales and dates seamlessly. I recommend Roger Leedham and Coles Miller to anyone about to move house.”

For Jason Barnett, partner

Jason Barnett, (Conveyancing Solicitor at Coles Miller Solicitors, Bournemouth Branch), and his team, significantly took the stress out of selling my late father’s property. They provided a very professional service, ensuring that the various stages in the conveyancing process, were always explained and went smoothly. Communication, both written and verbal, were both clear and responsive and actions, were always carried out as discussed and in a timely fashion. Whilst most of my contact was via email, Jason and his team, were always at the end of the phone, if there was an urgent/pressing matter. I very much appreciated Jason’s expertise and legal knowledge, support and guidance throughout – as such, I would have no hesitation in recommending the services of Jason and his team, when buying/selling a property.

For Ruth Elkins, Partner

“I used Ruth Elkins of Coles Miller Broadstone for the conveyancing of my late mother's house in Broadstone. I have moved house myself several times but never used Coles Miller before. I wish I had! It was the most stress-free and efficient house conveyancing I have experienced and everyone I encountered in the office was friendly and helpful. I would recommend Coles Miller to anyone.”

For Michelle Vick Partner, Chartered Legal Executive

“Michelle – you have been my ‘true north’ throughout this whole process. Understanding, knowledgeable, honest and considerate whilst always acting with integrity and my best intentions. I would highly recommend you and Coles Miller to friends, family and colleagues. You have kept me in the loop every step of the way and I have never felt the need to chase for updates. Also, understanding my needs, wants and concerns (first time buyers) was truly refreshing. You are a definitive representation of how customer service should be provided!”

Lianne Clenton Bray, Associate Solicitor

"Lianne at the Poole branch of Coles Miller has been excellent in dealing with the sale of my house and the purchase of the next one. She is very thorough, efficient and explains things in laymans terms so it's easy to understand. She was great at emailing and calling to keep me up to date with where we were in the process. I highly recommend!"

For Katie Owen, Solicitor

“I'd just like to say thank you for all your help with the purchase of my house and for the lovely card. I'd especially like to say how much I appreciated your quick responses to my queries something that I have not found with other solicitors."

For Laura Hall, Solicitor

“We have just finalised the sale of our last home and the purchase of our new home. It has been very stressful and frustrating for many reasons. Laura and Roger from Coles Miller have been absolutely amazing. We have received sound advice, they have covered our backs at every angle, and they have been extremely professional and proactive. We had many obstacles on the way due to selling a leasehold property, long delays from our buyer waiting for their mortgage offer, seller being awkward etc. Thank you Coles Miller for taking so much pressure and stress off our shoulders.”

For Deborah Bradburn, Legal Assistant

"Thank you for helping us get everything through again so quickly. We shall definitely recommend you both to everyone we know, as we think you and Roger have been extremely efficient and helpful throughout the whole process."