Buying a home? A named solicitor, start to finish.

Whether it's your first home or your next move, Lauren Basger will guide you through every step, from offer accepted to keys in hand.

SRA regulated No. 547596
Legal 500 UK Leading Firm 2022
A named solicitor Lauren Basger, start to finish
15 years qualified Admitted 2011, SRA 455207

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments most people ever make, and the period between having an offer accepted and getting the keys can feel unsettling. There are searches to arrange, contracts to review, enquiries to raise with the seller's solicitor, and questions about stamp duty, timing and what happens if something changes along the way. Our role is to take that weight off you and give you clear answers at each stage.

From the moment you instruct us, Lauren Basger, a named solicitor at a Legal 500 Leading Firm (SRA 455207), handles your purchase personally, start to finish. That means the same person reviewing your contract is the one carrying out the local authority, environmental and water searches, raising enquiries, reporting to you on the title, agreeing the completion date, and guiding you through exchange. You won't be passed between case handlers or left waiting on an anonymous inbox, and you'll always know who to call.

Whether you're a first-time buyer trying to understand the process, worried about being gazumped after committing time and money, or weighing up the long-term implications of a leasehold flat versus a freehold house, you'll get plain, practical advice, with fees explained clearly upfront and no surprise disbursements. If you'd like to talk it through before deciding, call 0330 808 0849 for a no-obligation initial discussion.

How it works

How it works

01

Instruction and initial checks

Once you instruct us, Lauren Basger opens your file, verifies your identity, confirms fees in writing and requests the contract pack from the seller's solicitor.

02

Reviewing contract and title

Lauren reviews the draft contract, title documents and seller's property information forms, raising enquiries on anything unclear and explaining what each point means for you.

03

Searches and mortgage report

We order local authority, water, drainage and environmental searches, review your mortgage offer, and report to you on the property, lease terms and any risks found.

04

Reporting and signing

Lauren sends a plain-English report on title, searches and the contract. Once your questions are answered, you sign the contract and transfer deed ready for exchange.

05

Exchange of contracts

You pay the deposit and we exchange contracts with the seller's solicitor, agreeing a completion date. From this point, the purchase becomes legally binding.

06

Completion day

We send the balance of funds to the seller's solicitor. Once received, keys are released to you through the estate agent and the property is yours.

07

Post-completion matters

Lauren submits your Stamp Duty Land Tax return, pays any tax due, and registers your ownership at HM Land Registry, sending you the final title once complete.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to what people ask us most. If yours is not here, ask us directly.

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What does Buying a Property involve?
Buying a property involves your solicitor checking the legal title, raising enquiries with the seller's solicitor, carrying out searches, reviewing the mortgage offer, agreeing the contract, exchanging (the point you're legally committed) and then completing on the day you get the keys. At Blackstone Solicitors, Lauren Basger handles each of these steps personally from instruction through to completion, so you always know who to speak to and where things stand.
How much does Buying a Property cost?
The cost of buying a property depends on the purchase price, whether it's freehold or leasehold, and the searches your lender requires, so we'll always give you a clear, itemised quote before you commit, with legal fees and likely disbursements set out in writing. If you'd like a straightforward breakdown for your specific purchase, Lauren Basger can talk it through with you directly on 0330 808 0849, with no obligation.
How long does Buying a Property take?
Most residential purchases take somewhere between 8 and 16 weeks from instruction to completion, though the exact timing depends on factors like the length of your chain, how quickly searches come back from the local authority, and whether the property is leasehold. Lauren Basger will give you a realistic picture based on your specific transaction at the outset, and keep you updated directly as things progress, so you're never left guessing.

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Offices

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Tell us what has happened and we will tell you what needs doing, in plain terms and with no obligation.

Telephone 0330 808 0849
Office Campaign House, 8 Cecil Road, Hale, Manchester, Cheshire WA15 9PA
Office London and South East England

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