Commercial Building Purchase: Critical Considerations for the Conveyancing Process
If you are planning on acquiring a commercial building for your business, you should hire property lawyers to help you handle the conveyancing work. Conveyancing is an important legal process which is concerned with transferring the property from the seller to the buyer. In general, the procedure will require the preparation of legal documents to confirm the transaction. The conveyancing process can be confusing and complicated. Therefore, you should take time to understand the requirements in your area before completing the purchase of the building. Here are some of the critical issues that you should address during conveyancing.
Pre-Purchase Inspection
You should ensure that the commercial building that you wish to purchase is inspected thoroughly before proceeding with the transaction. The evaluation can help you uncover problems which might not be apparent to your inexperienced eye. It is important to hire a qualified building inspector with experience in the commercial property sector. They should check the structure of the building and ensure that the construction is secure. The expert should also evaluate the interior amenities and confirm their safety and functionality. Additionally, you should make sure that there are no pests on the property.
Property Searches
Property searches or conveyancing searches should be conducted before the actual purchase of the commercial building. In general, this research process involves making enquiries about additional issues which might compromise property value or your property ownership. The searches should be conducted by an experienced property lawyer or conveyancer. These experts will help you get in contact with relevant authorities for the required information.
Local authority searches are highly critical during the conveyancing process. The enquiry will allow the discovery of restrictions and future development plans before the completion of the transaction. For example, if the building is in a conservation area or the local government plans to build a new road around your building, the report will contain the details. Other important property searches include water and drainage, environmental, mining and flood searches.
Contract of Purchase
When buying a commercial building, you must pay attention to the contract of purchase. This document outlines the specific terms and conditions between you and the property seller. If you sign a contract with unfavourable details, you could end up suffering significant losses. You should pay particular attention to the clauses incorporated in the agreement. For instance, clauses involving indemnity, cooling-off period, warranty and default could make or break the transaction. For the best results, you should have the contract reviewed by an experienced lawyer before signing.