Top 20 checklist when deciding which conveyancer

timmyt

Here are some thoughts:

1. will I receive a solicitor, legal executive or senior conveyancer - OR will I have a clerk or someone junior and unqualified [bet your neighbour gets the former]
2. will I be allocated the same person throughout (save holidays of course) or a conveyor belt set-up
3. will they give me their direct dial and email or will you be forced to phone an 0845 and dial 1 for dummy and 2 for monkey
4. do they sound friendly and intelligent on the phone
5. is the quote simple to follow or do you suspect hidden charges
6. on a sale will they charge separately for repaying your mortgage or is it included in their fee as part of their job (the latter should be the case)
7. on a purchase will they charge separately for filling in a stamp duty form, acting for your lender, applying for or checking searches, or arranging chancel insurance...it should be included as part of their fee
8. do they offer 'no completion no fee' - not always a sign of quality though, as the law firms are able to offer this and take a loss on some deals as they make their profit from the remaining large quantity of clients they have, possibly an overworked outfit you want to avoid
9. on a purchase will they send you a written report summarsing the legal papers with attachments of the crucial ones (planning, guarantees, epc, drainage search, title plan, covenants) so you can keep this throughout your ownership - being your bible all about your property
10. will they charge you more if you email them with questions or telephone them...or is is all part of the service
11. can they be contacted after hours or at w/eds.
12. do they close during lunch - thus reducing their operating hours by 1
13. do they work strict 9-5pm hours - again not being the most enlightened firm
14. do they force you to go to a website if you want an update, rather than encourage you to speak to them on the phone/email or infact will they keep you regularly updated without the need for you to even want to ask
15. when getting a quote, do they ask what your timescales are - as this is a sign they want to be on the ball for you
16. price - are you happy with the price bearing in mind what they offer for it?
17. price - do they go on about how 'cheap' they are over all their other qualities
18. can they recommend the estate agent you are thinking of using in their same town - they should know as they will work with them all
19. do they have their fax number and personal email addresses on the letters they send to other lawyers - some don't forcing the other lawyer to use the post which slows the deal down
20. do they sound like they are a conveyancing factory/insurance company by the sound of their name. [other conveyancers in the chain will groan at the prospect of certain factory outfits as they have a reputation for being slow]


Note I did not focus solely on price. If you solely have that as your factor, then the law firm you choose may end up having as little respect for your property transaction as you have yourself.

Good luck, and I hope you get good law firms helping you.

timmyt

does anyone want one on tactics that Estate Agents can use, in case it helps to avoid wasting your time and getting a gad eventual price?