You can speed up the conveyancing process considerably if you get organised, writes David Lawrenson.

If you are buying or selling property there is quite a lot you can do to make the whole process move faster, taking weeks or even months off the time taken to complete the conveyancing process.

If you are selling residential property the first thing you can do is get your solicitor to put together all the necessary documentation to send to the buyer's solicitor as soon as an offer has been accepted.

This documentation should include the contract of sale, copies of the lease (if applicable) plus any other documents of title, the NHBC certificate (where applicable), any planning and building regs consents and the details of the freehold or management company (if a leasehold).

One of the main causes of delay for those buying flats (or any property which is leasehold) is getting the service charge and accounts information (if a company) from the management company or the freeholder.