Estate agent, solicitor and surveyor: Who does what and when?
Buying a home involves several key professionals, each with a differing role. Knowing who does what, at which stage, can make the process feel more manageable and help you understand what to expect during the process of buying a home. Here’s who does what and when.
Estate Agents
Estate agents are usually your first point of contact. They:
Help you find properties, arrange viewings and make offers
Negotiate between you and the seller
Issue a memorandum of sale once your offer is accepted
Assist in progressing the sale by keeping in contact with the seller, their solicitor and others in the chain.
Solicitors
Once your offer is accepted, you can now begin the legal process. Your solicitor will:
Undertake all the legal work to facilitate your purchase and mortgage (if required)
Check your ID and funds
Review the contract and title
Order searches and raise enquiries
Report to you (and your lender if you have a mortgage)
Manage exchange and completion
Pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (if due)
Register you as the new owner of the property.
Surveyor
A surveyor is optional but strongly recommended. A surveyor will:
Check the condition of the property
Identify potential issues or defects
Provide a formal report you can use to renegotiate or plan repairs.
Your surveyor will also include a section in the report for your solicitor to review and raise enquiries with your seller's solicitor, if necessary.
What this means for you
Each professional plays a distinct role, and together they help ensure your purchase progresses smoothly. Engaging a solicitor as soon as your offer is accepted can help avoid delays and ensure a smooth process.
Next steps
If you are at the offer stage or planning to make an offer, early legal advice can help you understand the process and what support you will need. Our residential conveyancing team is here to guide you through each step.