using an online solicitor??

meggymoo87

Hey

I thought I'd just pipe up and say that I just recently bought and sold a property using an online solicitor and it went really smoothly. I mainly spoke to the same person and when I called in and they weren't in for any reason (usually when I was calling at 7pm after work. The person I did speak to knew my case really well. they were really patient with me. There were some cowboys outthere when I was getting quotes but these handled things really well and all costs were upfront. I;m not sure if I can mention the name of the company but they are called 1st property lawyers and they are part of my home move.

Leory

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Thought I wasn't allowed to do that!

They can always pm me and I'll tell them.

i think it is touting for business that isnt allowed - we berate bad ones, and some have been recommended also.

Depends on if it looks 'iffy' - like the post above. Not posted in two years and then posts here recommending a particular one, and also bumps an old thread to say the same

ILW

I like the control of being able to turn up on their doorstep and have a "full and frank" if things are not going to my satisfaction. I would pay the extra few hundred for that alone.

johnthebar

meggymoo87 wrote: »

Hey

I thought I'd just pipe up and say that I just recently bought and sold a property using an online solicitor and it went really smoothly. I mainly spoke to the same person and when I called in and they weren't in for any reason (usually when I was calling at 7pm after work. The person I did speak to knew my case really well. they were really patient with me. There were some cowboys outthere when I was getting quotes but these handled things really well and all costs were upfront. I;m not sure if I can mention the name of the company but they are called 1st property lawyers and they are part of my home move.

Interesting. I'm deciding which solicitor to use at the moment and I have a quote from 1st property lawyers. They aren't the cheapest online option, but they seemed the most professional on the phone. However their quote came in at just under the price of a local solicitor who had a long chat with me and was pretty frank about exactly what searches etc. were needed. I think I am probably going to go with him.

Whatever you do stay away from referrals from EAs with their own conveyancing firms. The quote I received from them was astronomical

Gwenrose

molly22 wrote: »

hi
im about to purchase a property.

are online solicitors the way to go?

what should i be looking for and checking on?

thanks
molly:)

We went through Abode and used an online conveyancer for buying our bungalow, which is our 5th and final home. After buying four other homes and using local solicitors, I have to say online was by far the best service we have ever had. No waiting for appointments. or having to wait until the solicitor was in the office to sign a document. On one occassion exchange was put on hold as the solicitor had gone on a three week cruse.
I recommended online to our friends who exchanged contracts and completed in six weeks. Unfortunatly the bungalow they are trying to buy is being sold by the owners using a local solicitor, who is hardly ever in the office, does not live local and lacks communication skills with other solicitors. Our friends are now living in their touring caravan as they did not want to lose their buyers and after selling their home in August are still having problems buying the bungalow they want, a lot caused by the sellers solicitor.

I would recommend online to any one and so far every one that has used them, on our recommendation, have been very happy with a straight forward and quick service and have not been charged any extra.

There is also another plus. If the sale falls through, you don't have to pay any costs, apart from searches, a lot of local solicitors will not give up any of their time without demanding some sort of payment.

motherofstudents

I would say if you can, go with a personal recommendation whether it is online or otherwise. We had a shocking experience with an online conveyancing company and it has put me off. Most 'normal' solicitors use email and phone these days so I would go with them.

MissMessy_2

Abode have alot of of negative feedback in relation to Beaumont Legal.....

We have just instructed Abode BEFORE we read all the reviews and now regret it... on the last 3 attempts to call our solicitor they havent been there, once no one at all answered the phone. I asked a list of questions last week and have had no reply not even a curteous I will get back to you.

Raised our concerns with Abode about the amount of complaints Beaumont Legal had received and they have ignored me completely...

I also raised my concerns with MSE as Abode is listed as a co with good feedback from MSE users, which is not true... you only have to type them in the search bar.... and have had no reply from them either


I would seriously advise using a local company that rely on good word of mouth as Abode couldnt care less!

mazinmouse

The vendors of our current home were tighter than fishes backsides and used an online company as they obviously felt that was more 'cost effective'. They were so inept that I suspect our solicitor rather enjoyed the sport of it all - he certainly ran rings around them.

timmyt

ttd14 wrote: »

On-line solicitors won't give you the time or quality of work that a locally based conveyancer can and should give you. Being dealt with as a person and not a reference number means you will find local conveyancers easier to approach, not to mention more reliable.

There are too many problems that can occur with on-line solicitors and considering that you're intending to spend the most you likely have done in one single purchase, I know I'd want someone who I could actually talk to rather than e-mail.

agree 100%, problem is many people on this website go cheap and then raise their problem in the forum. ironic

MissMessy_2

timmyt wrote: »

agree 100%, problem is many people on this website go cheap and then raise their problem in the forum. ironic

Whats ironic about that? This is a money saving forum so obviously members of the forum will be looking for cost cutting products and services!!

The problem really lies with Martin Lewis featuring these cowboy companies in his Self Help articles for purchasing??