Buying or selling a home is a significant financial transaction that requires specialist legal care and due diligence. Our advice is to take some time to research before choosing a conveyancing solicitor and seek recommendations from family, friends, or those with more experience in dealing with them. At the Property Hive, we've worked on thousands of property sales and purchases alongside hundreds of conveyancing solicitors. Here are some of the lessons we've learnt along the way.
1 Go local
Opting for a local conveyancing solicitor is a great idea. They will have gained more experience and expertise regarding local issues and pitfalls to avoid. Being local also makes it easy to pick up and drop off documents quickly, meaning a faster turnaround and a more personal experience. A local conveyancer is more likely to be there on hand in person to help complete paperwork and guide you through the process.
2 Cheap is not always cheerful
Whilst it can be tempting to try and save a few quid, remember cheaper services often rely on large volumes to make it pay. The more clients a conveyancing solicitor is forced to take on, the less time they have to focus on you and your sale/purchase. Slower transactions, a lack of progress and updates, and difficulty speaking to their assigned conveyancer are often the feedback we receive from people who have engaged with cheaper companies. Client frustration is often more evident with online remote conveyancing services.
3 Experience and competency count
Working with a qualified lawyer with many years of experience in residential conveyancing is essential. This is a specialist area of legal practice, and an experienced professional will be able to handle your sale or purchase more efficiently and effectively. Industry figures show that as many as one in three property sales fall through in England, some of which result from issues or delays attributed to poor legal conveyancing.
4 Look out for hidden fees
Before you opt for a conveyancing solicitor, determine all their fees and when you are expected to pay. It is common for some fees to be deducted from the transaction's proceeds or incorporated into the lending. Whilst others will need to pay upfront or on completion. Also, find out what you may incur if you decide to pull out of a transaction or if it falls through.
5 Find out who will be handling your transaction
It is essential to double-check which individual conveyancer you will be dealing with your transaction at the company. Find out if they will be personally managing your work or if they will be passing it over to less experienced team members and overseeing it.
The Property Hive Estate Agents in Doncaster have many years of experience in dealing with a wide range of conveyancing solicitors, some good and others not as great. So if you would like some more advice about what to look out for, just give us a buzz.
