Do you need a solicitor to sell a house?

Do you need a solicitor to sell your home?

When it comes to buying and selling homes, it’s totally natural to want to save money where you can. From taxes to fees to moving costs, there’s a lot that can come up. So you might find yourself wondering, Do you need a solicitor to sell a house? 

The short answer? We probably wouldn’t do it without one. 

Technically, you probably can do it. If you want to take care of all of the searches, deeds, contracts, dates … the list goes on. But it’s a lot of work, a lot of jargon, and we think it can really help to have a professional in your corner, especially with something as significant as a home sale. 

We know that the cost of conveyancing and hiring a solicitor to sell a house can be a little daunting, but they’re there an important part of the home selling process. (That being said, we think we can help save you money in that department — more on that later.)

What does a solicitor do?

So why is a solicitor important for selling a house? For a lot of reasons. They’ll handle your deed transfer, your contracts, and also liaise with your mortgage lender to finalize any settlement you’ll have with them. They’ll also work as a go-between with the buyer’s solicitor, which can be really important if there are negotiations around things like white goods, moving dates, or any last-minute attempts to change the offer.

Oh, and they’re the ones who normally handle the money and make sure it ends up in the right place. Then there are all of the documents you’ll need to sell. As we said, it’s a very long list. 

If you feel confident you can do all of this yourself, you may be able sell without a solicitor.  But it’s important to note that if you’re selling a leasehold property, the freeholder may insist you use a solicitor. And some mortgage lenders may do the same. 

So do you need a solicitor to sell your home? In some cases, it might be a requirement — like if you’re a leaseholder and your freeholder demands it. In some cases, you may be able to do it on your own, but we think that a good conveyancer is more than worth the investment. Ultimately though, it’s your choice — just be sure to do your research. 

Let's get you moving

Want stress-free conveyancing advice?

If you want to skip the jargon and the high-fees, we offer a conveyancing service with a twist. We only charge a flat fee, so there are no surprises, and we don't charge you a penny unless the sale goes through.

Our conveyancing service lets you track your sale in realtime through a digital hub — so you're in control every step of the way.