conveyancing, online or local?

DVardysShadow

Online conveyancing supported by a call centre in India anyone?

Richard_Webster

Always look at all the small print and especially their "Terms and Conditions" where some "online" practices hide lots of extras that aren't obvious from the original quote, but which you will generally get stuck with paying, e.g expedition fee for completing in less than three weeks from exchange, acting for lender fee which in some cases is more than than the conveyancing for the purchase, completing SDLT form fee, "professional indemnity contribution", archive fee, etc, etc.

gemstars

My experience has been that my local solicitor has been great, my vendors online company [words removed by MSE team] have been an absolute waste of time.

Soot2006

Recommended (by partner's boss) local (5 minute drive) solicitor ...

Pop in to drop off documents, pop in to discuss purchase, pop in to sign contracts. Supporting local business // competitive price & upfront quote including all fees.

Happy enough that I wouldn't do it any other way now.

dfarry

I'm with Arc Property Solicitors at the moment... so far so good although I would say that the conveyancer working on my Sale is faster at coming back than the one working on my purchase, but things are moving forward and I can usually get through to either one of them on a non 0870 number or by email quite easily.

I think alot depends on who is dealing with your case file and whether you are prepared to do a bit of chasing up from time to time.

Karl.P

I recently bought a repo in Leicester, and went through the same dilema of whether to go via the estate agent recommended (extortionate), other local (very expensive), online (cheap to expensive, and varying reviews).

In the end I did something different, I went with "Richard Webster" who frequently posts extremely helpful advice to this forum. Whilst not as cheap as some of the online offerings, was still extremely competitive, and processed everything efficiently and to my satisfaction.

From instruction to completion was less than three weeks, could have been quicker, but I wasn't in in that much of a rush. Also got a small refund as it was cheaper than originally quoted.

For the record, other than this transaction and reading MSE posts I have absolutely no connection to "Richard Webster". I do however hope that I will be able to use his company again for any future work of this type.

gilfill

GO LOCAL!!! Ive just almost finished a purchase thought buying online would be cheaper. No hidden cost? yeah right get half way through and then got letters adding more costs, i had to take it on the chin because i needed to complete on time but there is no substitute for a good local solicitor my advice, get a cheap quote online take it to a local solicitor and see if they can match in or get close... Dont use ABODE conveyancing, total lack of communication and hidden costs.

lindos90

All of them seem to be around the same price, but its good, efficient service im after really, as that makes all the difference.

Dont seem to be able to get local recommendations, none of my friends have moved recently, so I feel im 'sticking a pin in the phone book' at the moment!

confused31_2

Karl.P wrote: »

I recently bought a repo in Leicester, and went through the same dilema of whether to go via the estate agent recommended (extortionate), other local (very expensive), online (cheap to expensive, and varying reviews).

In the end I did something different, I went with "Richard Webster" who frequently posts extremely helpful advice to this forum. Whilst not as cheap as some of the online offerings, was still extremely competitive, and processed everything efficiently and to my satisfaction.

From instruction to completion was less than three weeks, could have been quicker, but I wasn't in in that much of a rush. Also got a small refund as it was cheaper than originally quoted.

For the record, other than this transaction and reading MSE posts I have absolutely no connection to "Richard Webster". I do however hope that I will be able to use his company again for any future work of this type.

:rolleyes: 4 posts and your singing the mans praises, and the post below yours looks very suspicious, richard webster seems to know a lot about hidden cost's, id bet my hat hes the one who knows how to add the hidden cost's because hes probably a master at it.;)

kakar

Would highly appreciate if someone could recommend a good conveyancing local firm within Ealing and Wembley area. Also,
is it advisable to go for a "fixed fee" OR "no purchase no fee" solicitor.

I am a FTB and am new to all this so any additional information is more than welcome.

Thank you very much.