what makes a good conveyancer?

timmyt

Seriously now....

There are so many conveyancers out there. From £99 to the top notch prices.

What are the most important factors for you in deciding who will do the legal conveyancing when you buy/sell a house?

(Convencers take note of the replies and look to adopt the sensible comments):

CloudCuckooLand

Pick local - you don't know when you might need to run a piece of paper to/from the solicitor. And if you don't want to risk your passport being lost in the post (for anti money-laundering ID), then walking it round is one less worry...

Have never done a telephone/remote conveyance, so maybe it works for some, but imo being able to sit down, go through paperwork/issues is a good idea on something so important.

I know MSE is about saving money, but a cheap, impersonal service might turn out to be an expensive false economy.

I still use a local firm from my first house purchase 20+ years ago, the same person has handled 3 transactions in fact, and will do so again at some point this year, probably.

"Trust, confidence, efficiency, accuracy and reliability."

david29dpo

I couldn't agree more.

mortgageslayer

Yep. We used local, and whilst they might not be the most dynamic company, or quickest, or cheapest (!) they are 2 minutes from my work. I've been able to pop in every week to sign documents etc, and that time is invaluable!

delmar39

Agree with all of the above. We're in a three way chain. We're using local as are our buyers. Buyers buyer is using one from the London area and there's been no end of delays in their part just because of the way they do things and because the local solicitors haven't dealt with them before. Local solicitors know one another and tend to know how they all work.

princessamy86

Conveyancers who pick the damn phone up are always a good start! If I can't speak to them, and nobody else can speak to them then the sale is bound to be a bumpy ride. Internet conveyancers are the worst for this-the person you need is never there, or the phone is just not picked up at all.

I completely agree that local is usually the best way about it, every sale I've dealt with that has had a non-local solicitor involved (with ONE exception) has been really hard work, simply because as another poster pointed out, none of the solicitors in the chain know the out of towner. There's a lot to be said for knowing that John @ John and Co's wife is expecting a baby.

GDB2222

I go to a local solicitor. He is contactable (one-man band) and very conscientious. He charges £500 (excl VAT) for a freehold purchase up to £250k and £75 more to cover purchases up to £750k.

The key words for me are:
Conscientious
Thorough
Cautious

harding1985

I went for an online company been truely superb so far. I cant fault them.... All communication via email and post. We are exchanging contracts after 4 weeks :T

Bargain price too.

pastmybest

harding1985 wrote: »

I went for an online company been truely superb so far. I cant fault them.... All communication via email and post. We are exchanging contracts after 4 weeks :T

Bargain price too.

Care to name them?

harding1985

Beaumont Legal

Can't fault them one bit at the moment. Mind you we are first time buyers so its a pretty straight forward purchase.

They also have an online case tracking service, every time there's an update with my case I receive an email.

timmyt

Harding1985 - 1. do you have a solicitor for your fee 2. if it one and the same person alwyas acting thrughout 3. can you call in and get through to your conveyancer?