Your journey with us, step by step
Every property law matter is different, but the framework below illustrates the typical stages of a residential conveyancing instruction. For lease advisory or dispute work the stages are adapted to suit the nature of your case.
Free initial consultation
Your journey begins with a no-obligation conversation — by phone, video call or in person at our Upton Hintzwood office. During this consultation we listen carefully to the details of your property matter, ask targeted questions to understand the full picture, and provide an honest assessment of your position. There is no pressure to instruct us; the purpose is to ensure you feel informed and comfortable before making any commitment. We also explain how our fee structure works so there are no surprises later.
Clear fee proposal and engagement
Following the consultation, we send you a written fee proposal that sets out exactly what our services will cost. For standard conveyancing we quote a fixed professional fee and list the anticipated disbursements — Land Registry fees, search costs, stamp duty where applicable — so you can see the total outlay at a glance. If your matter involves a dispute or complex lease negotiation where the scope is harder to predict, we agree a staged fee arrangement with caps at each phase. Once you are happy with the proposal, we send our engagement letter and carry out the regulatory identity checks required before we can begin work.
Due diligence and investigation
This is where the detailed legal work begins. For a property purchase, we order and review local authority searches, environmental reports, drainage searches and any additional searches relevant to the property's location. We examine the title documents to confirm the seller's ownership and identify any restrictions, covenants or charges that could affect your use of the property. For lease matters, we scrutinise every clause of the proposed or existing lease and flag any terms that need negotiation. Throughout this stage we keep you updated with concise summaries rather than forwarding pages of legal jargon.
Contract review and negotiation
We review the draft contract prepared by the other party's solicitor — or draft the contract ourselves if we are acting for the seller or landlord. Our review covers all standard and special conditions, ensuring that nothing is included that could disadvantage you. If amendments are needed, we negotiate them on your behalf and explain the reasoning behind each change in plain English. We also raise pre-contract enquiries to resolve any outstanding questions about the property, its boundaries, planning history and services before you commit.
Exchange and completion
Once all investigations are satisfactory and you are ready to proceed, we coordinate the exchange of contracts, at which point the transaction becomes legally binding. We agree a completion date, arrange the transfer of funds and ensure that all documents are in order for the final handover. On completion day we confirm that the purchase money has been received (or sent), authorise the release of keys and attend to the payment of stamp duty and registration of your ownership at the Land Registry. We then send you a completion pack containing copies of all key documents for your records.
Post-completion support
Our relationship does not end on completion day. We handle the post-completion formalities — filing the stamp duty return, registering the transfer, sending notices to landlords or management companies where required — and provide you with confirmation once everything is finalised. If any queries arise in the weeks and months after completion, we are always happy to help. Many of our clients return to us for future transactions, and we value the long-term relationships we build through consistent, reliable service.
What sets our process apart
A comparison of the experience you can expect with us versus a typical high-volume conveyancing factory.
| Aspect | Greenfield Property Law | High-volume firms |
|---|---|---|
| Point of contact | A named solicitor who knows your file inside out and is available when you call. | A rotating team where you may speak to a different person each time you ring. |
| Fee transparency | Fixed fees quoted upfront with a clear breakdown of disbursements. | Headline fee that often excludes extras, leading to unexpected charges at completion. |
| Communication style | Plain-English updates by your preferred channel — email, phone or video call. | Automated status emails with legal jargon and limited opportunity for discussion. |
| Search turnaround | Searches ordered on day one and chased proactively to avoid delays. | Searches ordered in batches, sometimes weeks after instruction. |
| Post-completion | Full support until registration is confirmed, plus ongoing availability for queries. | File closed promptly after completion with limited follow-up. |
Our commitment to you throughout the process
We understand that buying, selling or leasing a property is one of the most significant financial decisions you will make. That is why every step of our process is designed around clarity, accountability and your peace of mind. You will never be left wondering what is happening with your matter or why a particular step is taking time.
If something unexpected arises — a title defect, a problematic search result, a difficult negotiation — we tell you immediately, explain the implications and present your options clearly. We do not hide behind legal complexity or delay delivering bad news. This approach builds trust and, in our experience, leads to better outcomes because issues are addressed early rather than allowed to escalate.
Our process has been shaped by years of client feedback. We continuously refine it to eliminate friction, reduce delays and make the experience of instructing a property law solicitor as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Ready to start your property law journey?
Get in touch for a free initial consultation. We will walk you through the process, answer your questions and provide a transparent fee estimate.
Contact us today