Your Conveyancing Journey Starts Here

So, the offer on your new home has been accepted, or you’ve agreed on a sale price for your current one. It’s an exciting, nerve-wracking moment filled with anticipation. Amidst the flurry of planning and dreaming, the practicalities of the legal process begin, and the first piece of correspondence you’ll likely receive from your solicitor is the Purchase Instruction Form.

While it might look like just another piece of administrative paperwork, this document is, in fact, the official starting pistol for your entire property transaction. Let's demystify this crucial first step.

What Exactly Is a Purchase Instruction Form?

Think of the Purchase Instruction Form as the formal handshake between you and your solicitor. By completing and returning it, you are officially 'instructing' them to act on your behalf, whether you're buying, selling, or both. It grants them the authority to begin the conveyancing process, which involves all the legal work required to transfer ownership of the property.

Without this form, your solicitor’s hands are tied. They cannot legally represent you, communicate with the other party's solicitor, or start essential tasks like ordering property searches. It is the foundational document that establishes your professional relationship and gets the ball rolling.

What Information Will You Need to Provide?

This form is designed to gather all the essential details of the transaction in one place, ensuring your legal team has accurate information from the outset. You should be prepared to provide:

• Personal Details: Your full legal names, current address, and contact information.
• Property Information: The full address of the property you are buying or selling.
• Transaction Specifics: The agreed sale price, and details of any fixtures and fittings included in the sale.
• Associated Parties: The names and contact details of the estate agent, the other party (your buyer or seller), and their solicitor.
• Financial Details: Crucially, how you are funding the purchase. This includes information about your mortgage lender if you have one, or proof of funds if you are a cash buyer.

Alongside the form, you will almost certainly be asked to provide proof of identity (such as a passport or driving licence) and proof of your current address (like a recent utility bill). This is a mandatory requirement to comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.

Why Accuracy Is Key

Taking the time to fill out the Purchase Instruction Form accurately is one of the most helpful things you can do to ensure a smooth transaction. A simple mistake, such as a misspelled name or an incorrect property price, can cause significant delays later in the process.