You might be a first time home buyer – just getting onto the property ladder – or perhaps you are facing an empty nest and looking to downsize. From family homes and holiday flats to retirement villages and studio apartments, if you are buying or selling, you will, by law, require the services of a conveyancing attorney.
Property law in South Africa is complex. Once you have found your dream home and your offer of purchase is accepted, you will need an expert to transfer property ownership to you.
Each time a property is sold, a new deed of transfer must be drawn up and registered at the Deeds Office, making a professional and experienced conveyancing attorney a much-needed ally in navigating this home-buying process.
When it comes to conveyancing fees, typically the seller appoints the conveyancing attorney but their cost is covered by the buyer. These transfer fees are statutory and are separate from transfer duties (which are paid to SARS).
An attentive and efficient conveyancing attorney will walk you through all the legal steps to protect both the buyer and the seller – ensuring that ownership is transferred from the seller to the buyer and that the buyer only pays once the property is registered in their name/s. These services include the preparation and gathering of the many documents necessary to finalise the registration of the sale as well as drafting certain documents.
A conveyancing attorney’s job is immensely pressured and could include juggling up to 50 activities and involving up to 12 parties. In securing you your new home, much of what they need to coordinate is out of their control as they are dependent on banks, city councils, revenue offices and deeds offices etc.
Part of their service is also keeping you in the loop and informed of progress so that you can match your expectations with reality and follow the steps to owning your new home.
A good conveyancing attorney is definitely worth their weight in gold, giving you the peace of mind that comes from having a trusted partner to ensure that everything is done right.
Buying and selling a home is listed as one of life’s most stressful events, so you need to make sure that the conveyancing attorney appointed comes with a stellar reputation and a competent, professional track record.
Louw & Da Silva Attorneys
Louw & Da Silva have been in practice since 1983 and offer comprehensive legal experience and a commitment to exceptional service for all their clients. Our mission is to provide quality and cost-effective services by integrating the skills, commitment and competence of our staff and business resources.
Conveyancing and property law is just one of our focus areas. On a daily basis, our experienced conveyancing attorneys deal with almost every type of property transfer and are constantly in contact with the relevant deeds offices. As a dynamic team of attorneys, we are people-orientated and offer a hands-on approach, resulting in prompt service that is accurate, knowledgeable and professional.
Contact us today for more information on any of our legal services.