Do you pay for Conveyancing costs if you work for a Solicitor?

SAVVYSHOPPER

Thanks Nikki for your post - of course I expect to pay for all the searches etc - I have worked for the solicitors for 27 years and do understand conveyancing transactions but thanks for your opinion I feel you have hit the nail on the head

xxSS

G_M

I work for a building firm.

I recently bought a plot of land and am planning to build a house on it.

I am happy to pay the architects fee, and for the bricks etc, but surely the firm will build the house for me no?

sonastin

Nicki wrote: »

This completely misunderstands how the economics of a solicitors firm works. The solicitor or clerk doing the work will be paid the same amount whether or not they do OP's conveyancing free or not. Provided OP pays the disbursements the partners will lose no money by not charging her unless they have to turn work away because they are doing OP's work (which is highly highly unlikely). All the partners lose by doing the work free of charge is the opportunity to make a profit on that piece of work. As for why - they don't have to of course but it is a customary professional courtesy in this industry.

I understand perfectly well how solicitors firms operate but we clearly view economics from completely different angles so I shan't debate this any further. Professional courtesy and industry custom is a different matter.

captainpants

I work for solicitors too and I think it really depends on what kind of partner you get. i've worked for partners who do stuff for free for their staff and others who wouldn't dream of it. It's more a personal thing though it seems a bit strange that others have had their conveyancing fees done for free......though was it the same partner who did the work for free? Perhaps he/she is sick of doing freebies.
The benefit of going through your own firm is that you can keep an eye on what's happening more so than if you had the conveyancing done by an external firm/person. If it were me, I'd probably pay the reduced fee despite it not being a huge discount. Still offer to do the typing but do it in working hours...not in your own lunchbreak!

timmyt

SAVVYSHOPPER wrote: »

I have worked for my current employer for approx 27 years and have recently asked them to act for me to purchase a flat. I mistakenly thought that they would not charge any conveyancing fees apart from the disbursements but was today informed that they would do it for a 'substantial discount' of £300. Whilst I realise that buying a flat is more detailed and therefore more expensive than the conveyancing on a house I do not feel that £300 is a 'substantial discount'. Could I please ask if anyone who works for a Solicitors has received free conveyancing or am I being totally unrealistic?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice/opinions

xxSS

To my annoyance we offer free conveyancing for staff (save disbursements of course).

Why does it annoy...because staff expect to jump the queue, that you drop everything for them, they can call or come over or hover while you see to them......and yet staff can see for themselves how manic conveyancers are.

conveyancers are the single busiest employee of a law firm...client file after client file after client file, breath...client file client file, toilet break...client file.

but staff members should know better not to expect anything other than the same level of excellent service they offer to clients, if not slightly less if they are getting it for free, as paying clients need to take priority if the business is to stay afloat to give you your free legals in the first place.

so maybe they think you are going to be always second guessing them, and getting second opinions on MSE and quoting back what you learn... and so £300 will see them through the insanity....just a question, as I bet you are lovely.

SAVVYSHOPPER

thanks timmyt - yes I am lovely - think I may get them to do the conveyancing but suggest they stop the fees out of my wages at £5 a week - lets see how that goes down!

xxSS

G_M

As an alternative you could do the conveyancing yourself.

If you got stuck, just come on here and I'm sure Timmy would be happy to help you out......

Hammyman

SAVVYSHOPPER wrote: »

Forgot to mention that I had offered (before I found out that they would be charging me) to do all the typing etc in my own time either in lunch hour or after work, suffice to say that I will not do this if I go ahead with instructing them at this price

Also other members of staff have had their conveyancing costs for free and have moved several times, so have had lots of transactions covered completely free of charge (except of course the disbursements)

And who pays for all the searches and the bank transfer fees or were you expecting to pay nothing at all, thus costing your employers?

kirwell81

The firm I work for offer free conveyencing to their employees (minus outlays). It is however in my contract that this is offered and I think there has to be a gap of four years before I can use this service again for free.

SAVVYSHOPPER

Hammyman if you care to read my posts properly you will see that I mention paying for disbursements several times

SS