Help - Any Conveyancing Solicitor Reccomendations - wolstenHolmes, Moving Ahead ?

Sunny2good

Hi,

im a FTB and Im looking for a conveyancing solicitor and was wondering whether anyone had any recommendations? Or any other tips on who NOT to use.

could not find a good solicitor locally. I have looked on reallymoving and the quotes i get are from solicitors for whom i cannot see any feedback online.

My research has come up with Wolsten holmes and Moving Ahead

wolsten holmes, cheap but with mixed feedback.

Moving ahead, who are not cheap but seem very good according to their website and some reviews. But not alot of reviews available.

As a MSE, what price would you be ready to pay for a good solicitor. And as a homebuyer, what are the things that you would look for when chosing a solicitor. Property im looking to buy is in Dagenham RM10 and is for £197K.

lastly, my property has a HIP. Does the solicitor still require to do things like, Local Authority Search, Environmental Search, Drainage Search and Chancel Search (It would also be great if someone could tell me what these searches included ?)

Kind Regards,

Sunny

lovemotown

DO NOT TOUCH WOLSTENHOLMES WITH A BARGEPOLE.

Do a search of Wolstenholmes in this forum, (not Wolsten Holmes) and read up before you make a mistake you will regret!

Sunny2good

Thanks, I will avoid them after reading bad feedback on this site

anyone heard of MovingAhead ?

DVardysShadow

Whatever you do, think carefully before using a conveyancer you find on the internet. If it is a call centre based outfit, think doubly carefully, remembering that call centres can make a frightful mess of a simple energy, phone or internet service, so the scope with a property purchase is much larger.

If you can find nothing locally, look slightly further afield. Better to have a solicitor with an office you can visit.

burek93

Try Fidler & Pepper Solicitors they can give you an instant quote online and it’s not an estimate like lots of conveyancing companies. You will also deal with the same person throughout.
If the property you are buying has a HIP it should already have a Local Authority and drainage search in this HIP pack, so you will not need to pay for these. You don't have to have a environmental search or chancel search if you don't want to its not compulsory but most solicitors would recommend it as its checks that the property isn't on a flood plain, etc.

Hope this helps and good luck

irisandalex

Hi, I run the website trustedlocal.com . When we moved recently we used a solicitor who is registered on my site. He was very good. Think he only has the one feedback rating to his name so far though. I dealt with him solely over telephone and email, never met him face to face.

I'd definitely recommend using a small firm or one man band, I very much liked not having to call a call-centre!

overandout_2

I am currently using MovingAhead to buy a property - I'm a FTB. So far, keep fingers crossed, they have been professional and efficient.

I'll let you know more once there's something to update on the solicitor side of things

overandout_2

And yes, the property I had has a HIP but it is too old - and my solicitor suggested that we do all the searches again. I believe when the HIP is more than 6 months old (somebody correct me if I am wrong), searches are recommended

And I went for quality - as a good conveyancer would definitely speed up the process. And also, when I need to get in contact, I like that I am able to speak to only one person dealing with my case than different ppl in the team all the time.

Richard_Webster

I was quite impressed with Moving Ahead's website and I think they show photos of the people you will deal with - so why not ring one of them up and ask the points about searches etc and see how well they explain things.

In fact I have just got a quote from their website which I felt was very reasonable.

By the way I do not work for them (and I suppose I am a competitor) as others will tell you - I am simply saying that if I had a friend who lived round their area who couldn't use me then I might well suggest he gave them a go!

char1iecha1k

I have just had the Wolstenholmes experience. Avoid at all costs

Mike_Gordon

Four months after completion my solicitors and the managing agents are still awaiting relevant paper work and fees due from Wolstenholmes. Letters go unanswered. as do emails, phone calls and the like. I am seriously contemplating reporting them to Trading Standards as the Law Society's procedures for complaining appear as good as those used to censore MPs!