conveyancing solicitor..any recs? SW London/Surrey.

Sarahpuggy

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good solicitor to do the purchase of our flat. We are first time buyers and hoping to secure the flat for £165000, maximum 169, 950.

We are in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey but dont mind where they are. Or if anyone has any recs for online companies..

How much should we look to be paying altogether?

I know the stamp duty is 1%.

Thanks.

Sapphire

I live in dear old KoT, and there is a good solicitor who does conveyancing near the bridge opposite John Lewis. Unfortunately, I can't remember their name. The charges shouldn't be more than around £4–600, but it's best if you obtain a quote from them.

Where are you buying? (I own a place in north Kingston - lovely area in between Thames and Richmond Park.)

Unfortunately, prices seem to have rocketed around here, though it doesn't bother me too much since I can stay put. :T

Sarahpuggy

Hi...

I know where John lewis is, i'll have to see if i can see it. Ive only been living in Kingston for 4 months but its lovely! We live on the border to Surbiton.

We are buying in Morden, on the New Malden side as yes, we cant afford Kingston!

Thanks for the recommendation i will have to have a look at the weekend.

Sarah x

Sapphire

Just looked up their name in my paperwork and it is Russell-Cooke. They are at Bishops Palace House, Kingston Bridge, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1QN. Tel: 020 8546 6111.

. . . and I hope one is allowed to post contacts like this here. :eek:

Good luck with your purchase!

JennyW_2

you don't need to get a solicitor who's local to you. We have just moved to Thames Ditton (from Walton) and my solicitor is in Liverpool - top bloke and very good to communicate with. Always returns calls, we emailed most days - communication is so important with your buying and selling. Oh and very reasonable prices too (much cheaper than surrey solicitors)

epoman

Try John Cooke at:

Amphlett Lissimore
Crystal Palace Branch
Greystoke House
80/86 Westow Street
Crystal Palace
LONDON
SE19 3AF

Tel: 020 8771 5254
Fax: 020 8771 9276

Used twice now and find the firm competitive and very efficient.

tazgirl

Also really, really good is Nick Hill at Hill Johnson in Surbiton (small offices, just near Sainsburys). He's just done our move (out from Surbiton), and was fantastic in quite a stressful situation - also knowledgable about leasehold if that's important. They charge pretty standard fees - again around £4-500 (don't have paperwork with me), but don't spend it on swanky offices or designer suits. Nick is very calming but he/offices don't look like anything special - spend more time concentrating on doing good business than 'marketing' I think!

tazgirl

Meant to add - it is sometimes useful to have someone local. We used online service for 1st flat purchase and ended up in middle of the night drive to Bradford to drop off signed documents to stop whole chain collapsing... was MUCH easier to drop into office in Surbiton one evening after work to go through paperwork!

CB1979_2

would also recommend getting local, least if you have problems with them, you can go in and see them.

I decided to go with a slightly cheaper solicitor in Manchester (I'm near Croydon) Antony Hodari, Sheridan Wall was her name.

all promises tracking service, direct phone line, blah blah blah and they were rubbish, towards the end of the sale she went on holiday 2 days after asking me to discuss when to complete yet she decided it obviously wasn't important to let me know that!

so either get a recommendation from a distant solicitor or get a local one.

trets77

having a solictor near by can be of benefit. i used to put all correspondance with my solictor straight through the office letter box personally by hand to speed things up and avoid things getting lost by royal mail. also they cannot say they have not recieved something then if you starting cracking the whip about exchanging contracts

get a good one though not one that is lazy or overworked !!!!

i reckon i cut my exchange of contracts by 2 weeks by doing this and by being in regular touch with my solicitor telling her to hassel the other solicitors in the chain .( knew she was good from my first move)

teapot_3

Hi there

I'm based in Redhill surrey and I am currently using a solicitors in Bristol called Convey Direct to handle both my sale and purchase. They are really good and I used them also 4 1/2 yrs ago when I moved to my current property. I find their rates reasonable and they are very prompt in replying to calls/questions etc and sending out paperwork.

tel no is:0117-9252525
http://www.vwl.co.uk/convey_direct.html

Good luck