Online Solicitors - Help + advice needed!!!

Gem+Dave+Kaci

Hiya,
Can anyone offer any advice about using an online solicitor?? Saw an online company mentioned in another thread (http://www.legalmove.com/quotestand...spx?dcode=LM504) which charges £277 each for both sale and buy + VAT which seems pretty reasonable compared to some of the quotes I've got from other companys, but how much would I actually be looking at paying in total??

I am buying and selling (moving from a £100K flat to a £135K house) and am trying to keep costs as low as possible!! The house we're looking at is stamp duty exempt.

Thanks!!!

distilled

Don't even think about it! When you call you can never speak to the same person twice and the process just drags on and on. Basically you're dealing with a call centre and we all know what that's like.

Shop around on the High Street and you'll have a much less hassle free move

Good Luck

Dan29

You should be able to find a local solicitor for not much more money. A friend of mine used one of these online solicitors and apart from not knowing your local area, they can be a liability - his sale and purchase nearly fell through as a result of their ineptitude.

Sujamjen

Try for a 'No move No fee' local solicitor, at least you only have to pay for the searches if the sale falls through!

tochun

I used the internet to find a cheap legal offer for a remortgage. I came across what appeared to be a website with a dodgy sounding name - https://www.cheapcheapconveyancing.co.uk. They basically link you up with solicitors who charge a very competitive rate.

Maybe I was fortunate, and what I was doing was very straightforward but on the same day a company based near Newcastle called me (I am based down south east) and they have been brilliant. Prior to signing up with them I checked out their credentials online and also with on the law society website and they appear to rate very highly.

Cost was at least half what the next cheapest quote I received and the whole process has been extremely seamless. Upon receipt of my signed mortgage deeds (last Tuesday), I am due to complete the remortgage tomorrow.00

One thing I have noticed is that the person who I was initially liasing with is no longer there (he was a clerk of some sort and not a solicitor). However, I have experienced no delays or issues with communication throughout the matter.

Please note that was I was doing was extremely straightforward - remortgage on a freehold property.

I can forward their contact details if you pm me.

coupleuk

UPDATE: I just found this old post of mine. Do NOT use these people, they turned out to be absolutely useless and tried to keep charging us more money.

I am currently using an on-line company called PropertyLawPartners.

I can phone and speak to the same person - no problem.

I can send an email on a Sunday and, expecting a reply on Monday, I actually received it on the Sunday afternoon !!

They work on a no sale-no fee basis.

They are licenced and they are regulated by Council for Licencing Conveyancing Service.

They also inform me they are on the approved lists of all mortgage companies.

I have no problems in recommending them (and I have no business association with them either).

Oh, they are low cost too !!

Paul

UPDATE: I just found this old post of mine. Do NOT use these people, they turned out to be absolutely useless and tried to keep charging us more money.

Happy_saver_4

Sujamjen wrote:

Try for a 'No move No fee' local solicitor, at least you only have to pay for the searches if the sale falls through!

Would a solicitor offering this fee structure not be charging a higher fee when a sale concludes? Someone has to pay for all his abortive work - sometimes produced by messy/inept buyers and sellers. That is part of the reason EA's fees are so high, as they charge on the same kind of basis.

I have always failed to understand why people should not expect to pay for any work carried out; as per their instructions. They actually expect other people to pay for their abortive work; perhaps brought about, because they've changed their mind. :mad:

If all buyers and sellers paid for the work carried out on their behalf the fees for house buying and selling would be reduced

Pennywise

Happy_saver wrote:

I have always failed to understand why people should not expect to pay for any work carried out; as per their instructions. They actually expect other people to pay for their abortive work; perhaps brought about, because they've changed their mind. :mad: If all buyers and sellers paid for the work carried out on their behalf the fees for house buying and selling would be reduced

Exactly!! That is the trouble with taking Money Saving to extremes. No-one wants to be exploited or ripped-off, nor should they be, but people have to accept to pay a fair price for the goods and services they want. Time and time again you see high charges for "hidden" extras to compensate for a low (or free) price. In my opinion it is better to pay a fair price for a good quality job.

Ember999

I used Conveyancing Direct for my recent purchase and I cannot recommend them highly enough! I was able to speak the the Solicitor whenever I wanted, they got my purchase through in under 8 weeks, they were very proficient and they are linked to all mortgage lenders and are regulated by the same body as other high street solicitors. I didn't need to travel hundreds of miles to sign papers (was buying a property 2 1/2 hours away in a different country) and the whole process was quick and painless and a very reasonable price.

kingshir

Happy_saver wrote:

Would a solicitor offering this fee structure not be charging a higher fee when a sale concludes? Someone has to pay for all his abortive work - sometimes produced by messy/inept buyers and sellers. That is part of the reason EA's fees are so high, as they charge on the same kind of basis.

I have always failed to understand why people should not expect to pay for any work carried out; as per their instructions. They actually expect other people to pay for their abortive work; perhaps brought about, because they've changed their mind. :mad:

If all buyers and sellers paid for the work carried out on their behalf the fees for house buying and selling would be reduced

Oops pressed 'thanks' instead of quote! Anyway, my solicitor didn't charge more, was very competative in fact and didn't drag his feet either - perhaps because he knew if he did and it fell through they'd be no money in it for him!

mazfg

Thanks for that everyone, I've just put for a quote with:

http://www.cheapcheapconveyancing.co.uk/

and

http://www.conveyancersdirect.co.uk/ is that right, because there is a similar called:

http://www.conveyancingdirect.net/index.asp


Anyway hope to get a good deal