If buying their own search packs, committed sellers would have the added advantage knowing that they are pitching their asking price accurately and even be less likely to encounter 're-negotiation' practice's later in the deal.
Many sales fall through as a result of buyers not committing quickly. Sellers getting packs will help significantly with up front disclosure to buyers, but is unlikely to speed things up as buyers still need to commit to reporting for their own needs and the lenders needs. There will, at some future point be a decent blend of solutions and hopefully a change in the lenders handbooks regarding how old a search can be to still be valid.
I purchased a distressed property in which I had to do the searches very quickly, basically I went to the local council office and did them myself. The woman who did the searches on their computer system basically showed me how to do it since the system was 1980s Unix Software. I was a cash buyer I am not sure mortgage companies would accept the buyer doing the search themselves in the way I did. Relying on the council to do your searches if you are in a hurry is a bad idea.
That's why we send in our own search agents to do the work rather that solely relying on council staff. There is some data that we have to apply for and that is what can cause some of the delays. Getting access to some councils is another big factor that can delay matters.
We are in the process of getting ready to sell to upsize My father died and we inherited his house We had one semi, he had the other While he was alive we used the two houses as one home, albeit rather awkwardly configured. It was a more grand granny annex arrangement of living. Now we are fully responsible for his bills and it appears to be uneconomical to try to change 2 semis into 1 detached or run two houses with separate titles. I know I’m biased, but the setup - with a huge garden - could be a unicorn opportunity for someone. As such I am going to initially market it myself, with a fall back to using an agent. Only because all the agents we have spoken to favour throwing up a garden fence and selling the 2 properties individually, or going to auction, or to a ‘developer they know.’ As I say, it’s an opportunity for an extended family to own two homes that they can run as one and support the older parent. On to my question about property packs. Of course when we come to buying our next home, we will be interested. But as a seller, I’m wondering if - and indeed, why wouldn’t I? - I should provide a search pack to potential buyers. I know those selling search packs would prefer multiple sales to multiple potential buyers, but as a seller why not buy a search pack, then provide that info as part of the sales pitch? Thanks for all your advice and passion - here’s to a seaplane adventure ( unless it’s depending on multiple search pack sales 😅 )
We never want to 'sell' anything to anyone that won't benefit from it. We have had many sellers buy searches so that they can deliver full transparency during marketing. However, they must be no older than 3 months to be able to be used for an exchange of contracts. As such, your Searches may not be viable for your buyer to use and they'll have to buy their own. There are benefits to offering transparency, but wise not to imply that you are providing Searches for the buyer to use.
So is there any financial saving with getting these packs or do we end up paying the solicitor just as much for the survey work plus the fee of buying this pack on top of that, effectively paying double? I would imagine not but thought I'd check. I always read it.
Hi, IF you are ordering them yourself, it means that your solicitor / conveyancer doesn't need to. You are simply delivering to them the reports that they would otherwise have ordered themselves at some point. They will still do their job and report to you on the findings of the reports too as that is part of what they do for you and the lender, where there is one involved. No one will end up paying twice, unless you fail to communicate to your solicitor / conveyancer that you have ordered them. IF you don't put them in funds, they can't order them for you.
@@propertysearchesdirect is it illegal of them to say that only they can do the search pack? I asked a solicitor this just now, whether he can get the search pack cost removed from my quote, and I provide it to them via you. But he said the lender needs them to do it
We have clients that request that the search costs are removed from quotes, others who just say that they are getting their own Searches and everything in between. They're not breaking any laws, just not aware that we are empowering homemovers to take control, nor have they truly considered the possibility. They may be concerned about the validity or quality of reporting, which is why we provide letters to allay any concerns.
Hi guys, If I buy my own search pack from you, and tell my solicitor that they do not have to. Will my solicitor still be obligated to look over them for any problems if I was paying them to open the account? Thankyou both.
Yes. Your conveyancer will get copies of the returned reports so that they can report to you and your lender. All we are enabling you to do is get them back to you and your conveyancer sooner. They will still need to do their job, you will just be asking them to get on with that sooner.
My solicitor says they would order packs once they get the sale contract pack through. In this case is there still any benefit getting the packs from you separately?
@@stevep8321 this one reason why it can take them so long to place an order and for you to not see answers for some time. Conveyancers will usually wait for a contract pack to be confident that the seller is going to sell to you. They are always worried about spending money for you and a contract in gives them more confidence. If you are sure that the seller is genuine and you are happy to proceed then there is nothing stopping you. It will speed things up rather than building in delays. If more sellers got better prepared and Estate agents did more to help, contracts would go out much faster. This is something that we have been trying to get agents to do for some time now.
Thanks , I thought I had read on your site to wait for the sale contract before buying the searches, though even if waiting it sounds like there may be advantages to going ahead separately in terms of LA search speed, focus of thought on searches and 'lack if searches' not being a suggested source of delay Vs the conveyencer just behind
So with the turnaround days? Is the regulated search what I'd get from purchasing these packs myself? So for instance if I bought your pack for Bolton I would get it in 70 working days roughly, rather than 140?
You choose the quickest option. You either have a Local Search completed by the council or one completed by an agent, not both. We provide access to both options. In Bolton, your options are to pick the fastest solution or see if your lender will allow you to indemnify…ie buy a no search insurance policy. If that is the case, we can supply one of our Express products. They contain 70% of the Local Authority Data and the rest is covered by a no search policy. These complete within 24hrs to enable cases to progress. Do keep in touch and l’ll offer you my advice when you are ready to proceed as we would need to put something bespoke together for you in that area if you wanted an express product.
People do not consider it enough, but should. I am always amazed that people still buy properties with massive flood risk and it comes as a shock...it should not be a shock.
@@propertysearchesdirect Hi Dan, are flood risks documented in these Search Packs ? There is one location in the North West I wish to buy, I love the area but I am so concerned if it is a flood risk area. Thank you
Hey, as I always say, make your own choices that you feel are best. I’m just here with a backstop for people who don’t know where to look or haven’t got the time to do their own research and want a safe option. I also believe we’re one of the best value packs offered, with most people charging significantly more.
Hi David, as Charlie is away we are concerned that we've not seen an order placed by you. No worries if you haven't yet, but if you have can you please let us know?
@@propertysearchesdirect Hi sorry about that my birthday and the bank holiday got in the way, I’m hoping to do it tomorrow now, i did try to fill in the form but I didn’t have the conveyancer details to hand.
@@davienix Looks like that is all underway for you. It has already gone through mapping and is with all suppliers. Many thanks. Good luck with your move!!
A conveyancer will rarely visit a property if ever. They will do all of the work from their offices wherever they are in the country. A conveyancer does not have to be local to the subject property to be able to provide a great service and conveyance their clients. Charlies recommended firm has a number of branches from London to Gloucester.
Hi Charlie, did you say Dan is part of your company or does he work Independently ? Very informative information and something I was not fully aware of, superb. Also, why are Search Packs/Surveys not provided by the vendor/seller as part of the deal to selling their property, just seems odd with extra costs to the buyer or many buyers who are interested in that particular property.
Hi Roy, no Dan runs his own company that specialises is providing search packs. I think that surveys provided by a seller may be untrusted because of the conflict of interest.
Hi, There is discussion about that taking place and sellers buying searches, however, a buyer would rather have a current set of searches as the data needs to be as fresh as possible so that nothing is missed. A sellers set of searches may be out of date and/or be missing the most recent building regs / planning data.
@@propertysearchesdirect Thank you PSD/Dan, agreed, a very good point from a buyers perspective, to obtain a vital and up to date Search Package. I just wonder why this responsibility is solely left to the buyer and in reality, shouldn't the vendor be liable and provide a honest and up to date details on their property/location they wish to sell. Good to hear a discussion is in process to debate this issue. Thank you Dan and Charlie, great show tonight, very informative indeed.
@@rstrawbury9087 HI, Dan here. I agree with you. We are working with a couple of companies that are focussing on empowering sellers to get better prepared with Sellers Packs. These will provide the vital information to enable buyers to make informed decisions with much more up front information, but there is every chance that the buyer will still need to commission searches to ensure that they are within date. Lenders are very strict about how old a search is; no older than 3 months at the point of exchange and no older than 6 months at the point of completion. We are doing all we can to drive progressive change to make the processes better for all.
As a future cash buyer, this video was very helpful. Thank you.
House buying for grownups. Staggering important information that most buyers (and sellers) should know and don’t.
What a fantastically informative video. Well done Charlie 👍👍👍
Thanks keep posting valuable knowledge Charlie!!!🙏
Brilliant vital information, thank you.
Amazingly informative session. Much appreciated. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
If buying their own search packs, committed sellers would have the added advantage knowing that they are pitching their asking price accurately and even be less likely to encounter 're-negotiation' practice's later in the deal.
Many sales fall through as a result of buyers not committing quickly. Sellers getting packs will help significantly with up front disclosure to buyers, but is unlikely to speed things up as buyers still need to commit to reporting for their own needs and the lenders needs. There will, at some future point be a decent blend of solutions and hopefully a change in the lenders handbooks regarding how old a search can be to still be valid.
yep, did my own searches it was great on my last two homes
I purchased a distressed property in which I had to do the searches very quickly, basically I went to the local council office and did them myself. The woman who did the searches on their computer system basically showed me how to do it since the system was 1980s Unix Software. I was a cash buyer I am not sure mortgage companies would accept the buyer doing the search themselves in the way I did. Relying on the council to do your searches if you are in a hurry is a bad idea.
That's why we send in our own search agents to do the work rather that solely relying on council staff. There is some data that we have to apply for and that is what can cause some of the delays. Getting access to some councils is another big factor that can delay matters.
We are in the process of getting ready to sell to upsize
My father died and we inherited his house
We had one semi, he had the other
While he was alive we used the two houses as one home, albeit rather awkwardly configured. It was a more grand granny annex arrangement of living.
Now we are fully responsible for his bills and it appears to be uneconomical to try to change 2 semis into 1 detached or run two houses with separate titles.
I know I’m biased, but the setup - with a huge garden - could be a unicorn opportunity for someone.
As such I am going to initially market it myself, with a fall back to using an agent. Only because all the agents we have spoken to favour throwing up a garden fence and selling the 2 properties individually, or going to auction, or to a ‘developer they know.’
As I say, it’s an opportunity for an extended family to own two homes that they can run as one and support the older parent.
On to my question about property packs. Of course when we come to buying our next home, we will be interested.
But as a seller, I’m wondering if - and indeed, why wouldn’t I? - I should provide a search pack to potential buyers. I know those selling search packs would prefer multiple sales to multiple potential buyers, but as a seller why not buy a search pack, then provide that info as part of the sales pitch?
Thanks for all your advice and passion - here’s to a seaplane adventure ( unless it’s depending on multiple search pack sales 😅 )
No reason sellers can’t supply search packs but remember they have an expiry date.
We never want to 'sell' anything to anyone that won't benefit from it. We have had many sellers buy searches so that they can deliver full transparency during marketing. However, they must be no older than 3 months to be able to be used for an exchange of contracts. As such, your Searches may not be viable for your buyer to use and they'll have to buy their own.
There are benefits to offering transparency, but wise not to imply that you are providing Searches for the buyer to use.
Good session, I think it would of been really useful to see examples of these documents when it was described.
Sorry, do you have a link for the Environmental Hazard search?
Came here to ask this!
Very good info.
So is there any financial saving with getting these packs or do we end up paying the solicitor just as much for the survey work plus the fee of buying this pack on top of that, effectively paying double? I would imagine not but thought I'd check. I always read it.
Hi, IF you are ordering them yourself, it means that your solicitor / conveyancer doesn't need to. You are simply delivering to them the reports that they would otherwise have ordered themselves at some point. They will still do their job and report to you on the findings of the reports too as that is part of what they do for you and the lender, where there is one involved. No one will end up paying twice, unless you fail to communicate to your solicitor / conveyancer that you have ordered them. IF you don't put them in funds, they can't order them for you.
@@propertysearchesdirect is it illegal of them to say that only they can do the search pack? I asked a solicitor this just now, whether he can get the search pack cost removed from my quote, and I provide it to them via you. But he said the lender needs them to do it
We have clients that request that the search costs are removed from quotes, others who just say that they are getting their own Searches and everything in between. They're not breaking any laws, just not aware that we are empowering homemovers to take control, nor have they truly considered the possibility.
They may be concerned about the validity or quality of reporting, which is why we provide letters to allay any concerns.
@@propertysearchesdirect thanks - what’s the best way to get in touch with you to discuss with further?
Hi guys,
If I buy my own search pack from you, and tell my solicitor that they do not have to.
Will my solicitor still be obligated to look over them for any problems if I was paying them to open the account?
Thankyou both.
They should. They will charge for getting the searches separately and their services include reporting on title and anything the searches return
Yes. Your conveyancer will get copies of the returned reports so that they can report to you and your lender. All we are enabling you to do is get them back to you and your conveyancer sooner. They will still need to do their job, you will just be asking them to get on with that sooner.
My solicitor says they would order packs once they get the sale contract pack through. In this case is there still any benefit getting the packs from you separately?
@@stevep8321 this one reason why it can take them so long to place an order and for you to not see answers for some time. Conveyancers will usually wait for a contract pack to be confident that the seller is going to sell to you. They are always worried about spending money for you and a contract in gives them more confidence. If you are sure that the seller is genuine and you are happy to proceed then there is nothing stopping you. It will speed things up rather than building in delays.
If more sellers got better prepared and Estate agents did more to help, contracts would go out much faster. This is something that we have been trying to get agents to do for some time now.
Thanks , I thought I had read on your site to wait for the sale contract before buying the searches, though even if waiting it sounds like there may be advantages to going ahead separately in terms of LA search speed, focus of thought on searches and 'lack if searches' not being a suggested source of delay Vs the conveyencer just behind
So with the turnaround days? Is the regulated search what I'd get from purchasing these packs myself? So for instance if I bought your pack for Bolton I would get it in 70 working days roughly, rather than 140?
You choose the quickest option. You either have a Local Search completed by the council or one completed by an agent, not both. We provide access to both options.
In Bolton, your options are to pick the fastest solution or see if your lender will allow you to indemnify…ie buy a no search insurance policy.
If that is the case, we can supply one of our Express products. They contain 70% of the Local Authority Data and the rest is covered by a no search policy. These complete within 24hrs to enable cases to progress. Do keep in touch and l’ll offer you my advice when you are ready to proceed as we would need to put something bespoke together for you in that area if you wanted an express product.
@@propertysearchesdirect I understand now, cool. Thanks for your help. I will be sure to contact you when I find something.
I've been checking areas for flood risks and I always avoid them but they end up sold within a couple of weeks. Baffling. Do ppl just not care?
People do not consider it enough, but should. I am always amazed that people still buy properties with massive flood risk and it comes as a shock...it should not be a shock.
@@propertysearchesdirect Hi Dan, are flood risks documented in these Search Packs ? There is one location in the North West I wish to buy, I love the area but I am so concerned if it is a flood risk area. Thank you
Today on The Times:” House prices fall at fastest annual pace since financial crisis, says Nationwide.”
Manchester is 4 days and 7 days with you, meaning the local authority is quicker. What's the benefit of getting it from you? Thanks
Hey, as I always say, make your own choices that you feel are best. I’m just here with a backstop for people who don’t know where to look or haven’t got the time to do their own research and want a safe option. I also believe we’re one of the best value packs offered, with most people charging significantly more.
I’m going to order one tomorrow.👍
Hi David, as Charlie is away we are concerned that we've not seen an order placed by you. No worries if you haven't yet, but if you have can you please let us know?
@@propertysearchesdirect Hi sorry about that my birthday and the bank holiday got in the way, I’m hoping to do it tomorrow now, i did try to fill in the form but I didn’t have the conveyancer details to hand.
@@davienix phew. Thanks for confirming. We were concerned that something was broken. Many thanks for confirming. Happy belated birthday wishes 🎂
Hi, sorry for the delay, I’ve just ordered a pack.👍 looking forward to see how it all pans out.
@@davienix Looks like that is all underway for you. It has already gone through mapping and is with all suppliers. Many thanks. Good luck with your move!!
Is there a team of conveyancers and are some of them in London and do they visit property or they work remotely and do conveyancing ?
A conveyancer will rarely visit a property if ever. They will do all of the work from their offices wherever they are in the country. A conveyancer does not have to be local to the subject property to be able to provide a great service and conveyance their clients. Charlies recommended firm has a number of branches from London to Gloucester.
Hi Charlie, did you say Dan is part of your company or does he work Independently ? Very informative information and something I was not fully aware of, superb. Also, why are Search Packs/Surveys not provided by the vendor/seller as part of the deal to selling their property, just seems odd with extra costs to the buyer or many buyers who are interested in that particular property.
Hi Roy, no Dan runs his own company that specialises is providing search packs. I think that surveys provided by a seller may be untrusted because of the conflict of interest.
Hi, There is discussion about that taking place and sellers buying searches, however, a buyer would rather have a current set of searches as the data needs to be as fresh as possible so that nothing is missed. A sellers set of searches may be out of date and/or be missing the most recent building regs / planning data.
@@MovingHomewithCharlie Thanks Charlie, ok, Dan is independent. Either way, if recommendations are via you Charlie, all good in my books 🙂
@@propertysearchesdirect Thank you PSD/Dan, agreed, a very good point from a buyers perspective, to obtain a vital and up to date Search Package. I just wonder why this responsibility is solely left to the buyer and in reality, shouldn't the vendor be liable and provide a honest and up to date details on their property/location they wish to sell. Good to hear a discussion is in process to debate this issue. Thank you Dan and Charlie, great show tonight, very informative indeed.
@@rstrawbury9087 HI, Dan here. I agree with you. We are working with a couple of companies that are focussing on empowering sellers to get better prepared with Sellers Packs. These will provide the vital information to enable buyers to make informed decisions with much more up front information, but there is every chance that the buyer will still need to commission searches to ensure that they are within date. Lenders are very strict about how old a search is; no older than 3 months at the point of exchange and no older than 6 months at the point of completion. We are doing all we can to drive progressive change to make the processes better for all.