Once a sale is agreed, your solicitor will prepare and send the draft contract to the buyer’s solicitor. By that point, much of the groundwork will already have been done - streamlining the transaction and avoiding unnecessary setbacks.

Common title-related matters that may arise include:

- Rights of way

- Covenants

- Overage agreements

- Pre-emptions

- Mortgages

- Access issues

- Private drainage compliance

- Planning permissions and listed building consents

If any of these issues are relevant to your property, they can be proactively resolved as part of the pre-sale preparation. This could involve reaching agreements with third parties, preparing statutory declarations, or obtaining quotes for indemnity insurance - rather than these matters being flagged late in the process by the buyer or their lender.

Too often, such issues surface close to exchange, leading to delays, renegotiations, or, in the worst-case scenario, a collapsed sale. Taking action now helps ensure a smoother, faster, and more secure transaction. Start the process early to remove potential stumbling blocks before t hey become an issue.