The earlier the better! Many sellers don’t instruct a conveyancing solicitor until they have a buyer lined up, but to ensure a quick and smooth sale it is a good idea to do it before putting the property on the market. This means that much of the paperwork can be prepared in advance so that it is ready as soon as a potential buyer requires it. Instructing the conveyancer early is especially important for leasehold properties, which have more parties involved (freeholder, managing agent and so on) and more time-consuming red tape.