Conveyancing service recommendations?

wyx087

wyx087

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Looking up conveyancing quotes is like comparing apples and oranges while having to take a bite of a lemon in between.

I find word of mouth is the best way to find a good service.

So any conveyancing service you'd recommend? or any you'd recommend people to avoid?
 
I use our family solicitor. However he is a little old school now. I'd rather get an email asking for some information that I can get to the lawyers asap than have a letter turn up 4 days later. No issue with backing it up with a letter but let me know asap.

So I would ask questions like can they do email correspondence. Is the conveyancer going on holiday? Is there someone available to take over if need be.

I also thought that the price was set with the law society and is around the £600 mark

There are also some firms who can do things quicker by NOT doing searches etc but buying indemnity insurance instead
 
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Having bought a house I went through a similar thing. Things I did were avoid any recommendations from EA, and search for local ones and get quotes. I think I rang 7-8 firms. One didn't get back to me. One was very helpful on the phone and told me everything I needed to know. The others just asked for email/name/number and said they'd email me a quote. I was advised to avoid any firms who dealt solely online.

The local firms were cheapest. The more mainstream/well known ones seems to add spurious disimbursements. I ended up going with the most helpful one who were local and were one of the cheapest.
 
I used an online convenyaner when I moved into my flat in 2009.... biggest mistake ever!!! They were meant to be the cheapest but their "fixed" quote escalated by another £400+ near completion (which I got the broker how found them to deal with) and having to send documents by post just slowed things right down.

When I sold the flat and bought a house last year, I used a local law firm who had managed the buy/sell of my Nan's house on behalf of my Dad. They were just as cheap as anyone else I'd got a quote for and were absolutely brilliant!!

The house we were buying was being sold by a couple who were separated, running up to exchange the bloke decided to throw some threats around like "if this doesn't complete by x date, I'll pull out" even though all the delays up until that point had been due to him! To compound this, the woman dealing with our moved ended up ill and off work but her secretary pushed ahead getting other conveyancers within the firm to get the legal bits done.

Couldn't fault them at all and I know this doesn't specifically help your cause but from experience, find a local law firm with a good reputation who have more than one conveyancer working for them.
 
I've used 2 conveyancers recently. One was actually a local solicitor who was very thorough. We met up part way through and he walked me through the whole process. It felt very nice but every time the guy was out of the office everything stopped.

Second time I used an online only service. They gave me access to a portal where I could upload/download documents and send and receive secure messages. They were hundreds of miles away but the only extra issue was having to get the PO to certify copies of some documents before I sent them which costs about £6. When my conveyancer was off, somebody else picked up their work and could read all the electronic notes and catch up pretty quickly.

IIRC cost of online only service was about 60% of local service and actually proceeded a lot quicker (but that was due to external stuff). Given the choice again if I expected an easy transaction I'd go online only. Plenty of websites to compare prices - I chose solely on the cheapest ;)
 
I would definitely avoid 'conveyancing factories'. They work on high volume (The banks pay them around £50-70 per job, the rest is admin fees for the bank, just be aware that is also the level of service you will get) and a local outfit are likely to be much more knowledgeable about local things too. Don't judge on price alone it really is a poor economy.

I would never ring for 7-8 quotes..... far too many. You are paying for them answering all those unproductive quotes somewhere down the line.

Indemnity insurance used to be a last ditch, (it has its place) yet it is now used as a lazy conveyancers way around awkward matters. I make some of my living out of unravelling matters that are ill conceived by 'quick conveyancers', sometimes years later and it would make your toes curl at some of the schoolboy errors.

  • I would suggest 'old school' with modern technology is the best outcome.
  • Talk to real people who have recently moved and take a snapshot of their experiences.
  • Get a full written quotation including a full list of disbursements before you commit.
 
Inshreds said:
  • I would suggest 'old school' with modern technology is the best outcome.
  • Talk to real people who have recently moved and take a snapshot of their experiences.
  • Get a full written quotation including a full list of disbursements before you commit.
Click to expand...

Point 2 is exactly point of this thread, I'm hoping to find recommendations from TP community.

For point number 1, I've gotten recommendation for a local company from my colleague, but their price is as expensive as the estate agent's conveyancing factory.

I need names people! I'm sure some of the local ones you've used will do London and surrounding area.
 
Ask what happens if the sale falls through. Some solicitors will carry forward the fee, others will want paying again. This can make a big difference.

I was also advised not to get a full survey, unless I was buying a Victoraian mansion - the homebuyers report provides a similar level of information.
 
Is a photo forum necessarily the best place to obtain knowledgable recommendations about conveyancers?
 
It is also a good place to get recommendations on holidays in Greece, books to read, music to listen to, recipes, how to lose weight, how best to transport a pallet across Britain, how to stop smoking.... SO yes, I would say it is a good place to ask on conveyancing as well. PS welcome.
 
Rapscallion said:
Ask what happens if the sale falls through. Some solicitors will carry forward the fee, others will want paying again. This can make a big difference.

I was also advised not to get a full survey, unless I was buying a Victoraian mansion - the homebuyers report provides a similar level of information.
Click to expand...

A homebuyers is an 'economy survey', even the RICS acknowledge this and it is their product. The level of information is no way the same or it should not be on the same level or depth.

You are correct that generally the older or more non standard the property then the more a BS is the correct product than a HB report, unless there is something radically obviously wrong with a more modern property and you require chapter and verse on the fault.

By the way estate agents will always steer you away from a full survey as they fear it may highlight defects that will jeopardise their commission. It all depends on the property.

(p.m. me if you need more detail on surveys)
 
Inshreds said:
Is a photo forum necessarily the best place to obtain knowledgable recommendations about conveyancers?
Click to expand...

You have dipped your toe in the "Out of focus" section, i doesn't get much more helpful than this :LOL:
 
wuyanxu said:
Looking up conveyancing quotes is like comparing apples and oranges while having to take a bite of a lemon in between.

I find word of mouth is the best way to find a good service.

So any conveyancing service you'd recommend? or any you'd recommend people to avoid?
Click to expand...

Hope you have a better time of it than i had before Xmas with my move, 16wks and a days notice of the move from the point of sale.
Never again will i be moving :banghead:
 
Inshreds said:
A homebuyers is an 'economy survey', even the RICS acknowledge this and it is their product. The level of information is no way the same or it should not be on the same level or depth.

You are correct that generally the older or more non standard the property then the more a BS is the correct product than a HB report, unless there is something radically obviously wrong with a more modern property and you require chapter and verse on the fault.

By the way estate agents will always steer you away from a full survey as they fear it may highlight defects that will jeopardise their commission. It all depends on the property.

(p.m. me if you need more detail on surveys)
Click to expand...

Isn't the condition report the economy survey? The homebuyers report gives everything a typical homebuyer needs, unless it is a victorian mansion you are buying.
Survey level one: RICS Condition Report
Shows the condition of the property, offers guidance to legal advisors and highlights any urgent defects. Typically the lowest priced of the surveys, it is aimed at conventional properties and newer homes.

Survey level two: RICS HomeBuyer Report
Includes all the features of the RICS Condition Report, plus a market valuation and insurance rebuild costs. It also includes advice on defects that may affect the value of the property with repairs, and ongoing maintenance advice.

Survey level three: RICS Building Survey
Essential for larger or older properties, or if you’re planning major works. The most comprehensive report provides you with an in-depth analysis of the property's condition and includes advice on defects, repairs and maintenance options.
Click to expand...
 
A condition survey is an ultra economy report.

Tells you little more than a good mortgage valuation.
 
Neil B said:
You have dipped your toe in the "Out of focus" section, i doesn't get much more helpful than this :LOL:
Click to expand...


You need to check out some motors forums.

Wow need a Kevlar keyboard and monitor
 
I used a local solicitor and my buyers used a conveyancing factory, what a shambles they were, I would never ever go that route.
My solicitor was brilliant and phoned me with any problems as they arose so we could sort them immediately, all inclusive in the
original price, just as well the amount of problems caused by the other lot :banghead:
 
I used Tolhurst Fisher solicitors, based in Southend, Essex http://www.tolhurstfisher.co.uk/ can't recommend them highly enough.

As I said above, the managed the sell/buy of my Nan's house/flat, the sell/buy of my flat/house and then managed the sale of my Nan's flat when she passed away last year.
 
Inshreds said:
Is a photo forum necessarily the best place to obtain knowledgable recommendations about conveyancers?
Click to expand...

Now I see what you're saying.
But where's the harm in asking?
He might just receive a PM from someone who's had experience with a professional they trust.
 
Used the family solicitors. Did a little running around with paperwork myself since the sellers' solicitor is on the same road a few doors up but they still use the post office... Didn't save any cash, just loads of time!
 
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