20 Dec How to choose a conveyancing solicitor
There are two types of legal professionals that specialise in the buying or selling of property or land: conveyancing solicitors, and licensed conveyancers. Both of these are specialists in conveyancing, property law, and land law. They can guide buyers and sellers through the process and deal with the legal requirements of the sale or purchase.
If you are looking to buy or sell property or land, you will almost always need a conveyancing solicitor to help you. When choosing one, there are a number of things you should look for.
1. Experience and Specialism
Look for firms that are well-established and who specialise specifically in residential conveyancing. Look at reviews to get an idea of customer satisfaction levels. Avoid general solicitors.
2. The Personal Touch
A small or medium firm is more likely to be able to offer you a personal service. Look for firms which give you a dedicated case handler and conveyancing solicitor. Ideally, you should be able to contact them whenever you need to, so look for firms that will give you direct phone numbers rather than a switchboard number.
3. Technology
Progressive firms move with the times and embrace new technologies. Look for those who offer online case tracking and are happy to use email for correspondence and updates.
4. Client Care Letter as Standard
Ensure that the firm you choose provides a client care letter as standard. This letter provided a detailed line-by-line description of the services they will provide, together with a cost breakdown. You should only sign and return this letter when you are 100% happy to use that particular firm.
Conveyancing Experts
There are a significant number of law firms who have specialist conveyancing solicitors and licensed conveyancers. Many of these have useful online resources, such as the examples seen here: https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/Conveyancing-Solicitors.
5. Accreditation
Look for firms that are on the approved panels of all major lenders. This means that they can do legal work on behalf of the lender, as well as the buyer. This keeps costs down and makes things less complicated when it comes to exchanging contracts,
6. Protection Against Failed Sales
Because around one in three sales fail, look for a conveyancing firm that offers protection in the form of a no completion, no fee guarantee. Also, look at home buyers protection insurance policies.
7. Opt for Fixed Fee Conveyancers
Historically, solicitors have charged on an hourly basis for conveyancing work. But this can easily spiral out of control and result in massive bills. So, look for a firm that offers a fixed fee guarantee. This lets you budget accordingly, and protects you from additional charges should there be complications.
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