The UK’s only island city, Portsmouth is one of the most popular destinations in England. A large number of tourists are attracted by the naval/maritime and historical heritage and the beautiful waterfront, but Portsmouth is also one of the prime choices when it comes to moving, even if we are talking about immigrants or British citizens.

You found the perfect house in Portsmouth. What can you do to be sure that it will be yours? Start with choosing a solicitor and instruct him with all the necessary details. If you already have a knowledgeable solicitor when you make an offer for the house, there are chances that you will get points for your strong interest. The lowest conveyancing rate does not guarantee the best service and the best rate, actually. Sometimes, the fees do not include any disbursements or every necessary cost. Ask for an itemised bill before committing to anything.

Searches are counted as disbursements and are crucial for your property. Some of them are not obligatory, but they do reveal important aspects regarding the house condition, environmental status or its position on a parish ground. If missed, you might be forced to cover costs that could have been easily avoided if you had instructed your solicitor to conduct the searches.

English Heritage is a government body can give you or your solicitor details about the conservation areas in Portsmouth and across England, considering demolishing, advertising and the property status when it comes to the risk of deterioration or your right to improve or add new parts to the property. You can also ask your Portsmouth solicitor to conduct a thorough landmark search, to understand the risk of surface flooding, especially due to the city position.

Portsmouth is a fantastic area for students, families, youth or retirees. The big request for the housing market created an extension in need for solicitors. You can choose a local solicitor, an online firm, a fixed fee for the conveyancing or a “no move, no fee” offer. The conveyancing in Portsmouth might suffer delays due to a large number of people opting for the same solicitor (decision influenced by the solicitor’s good rates or local knowledge). On the other hand, you can do your own conveyancing. With a lot of research, you can cover the searches, draft your contract and try to save some money. Keep in mind that legal jargon can be tricky, and a solicitor’s eye is trained to discover any issues.