Living here buying there - where to appoint a solicitor?

downshifted

We are living in the West Country and buying in kent - do we appoint a local solicitor or one where the new home would be? Any pros and cons?

goldbyron

Appoint a sol that you trust - one that is recommended possibly? The only thing I can think of is that you may wish to go in at one point to sign contracts etc. However I am sure that most things are done via post/online now anyway so it won't make too much odds. Just get one that will be contactable in some way and will be thorough.

JimmyTheWig

Solicitor there will know the area which might help.
Solicitor where you are is convenient if you need to go in.

I'd say choose one in the area where solicitors are cheaper!

kmmr

Personally I'd just find a recommended one that someone trusts. My solicitor is somewhere far from me (I don't even know where!) and I have never met him, but never had the slightest problem. Contracts are posted back and forth, and he is very quick at answering emails, and always available to take my paranoid calls.

He has been used in about 10 purchases between all my friends, and none of us have met him, or had any trouble.

So I would say focus on finding someone recommended, who you trust, who takes your calls, and worry slightly less about the location.

Although that is not generally the advice in this forum, it is just my experience.

clearing_out_my_pockets

Where in Kent are you buying? I can recommend my solicitor.

jonewer

If or when we ever have an offer accepted, we are going to use a local solicitor. Its better IMHO to have someone close by to stab a finger at if things go awry.

Patr100

Communication is the key . if you have a local sol who is too busy elsewhere and rarely answers his phone then it's little help to you while you should only need to physically attend infrequently specially if a sol can use email etc (which some rarely do I find)

Kittenonthekeys

I'd definitely say choose a solicitor local to where you're buying every time - and I speak from bitter experience. Being on the point of exchanging contracts on the sale of our house in the South East to buyers who have chosen solicitors based in Cardiff, these solicitors have decided to make a huge song and dance over a minor legal technicality common to this town which is delaying the sale and which would not even have been remarked upon by any solicitor familiar with this area.

Owain_Moneysaver

Solicitor who knows the area and has been conveyancing houses man and boy for forty years and knows where the local drains block up etc ...