long distance solicitor?

Contessa

Thanks for starting an interesting thread, which is relevant to me. When I move it will be 300+ miles away, so I think it better to use a solicitor is who is local to where I buy, to handle both buying and selling, rather than use the one who handled the purchase of our house many years ago.

Chinkle

When I bought my first flat in London I used a solicitor in Newcastle that had been recommended to me because they were cheaper. Didn't have any problems. It was leasehold, but I didn't find the lease too difficult to understand myself and just called them to clarify any sections I was concerned about. All the paperwork was posted to me and I signed and returned it the same way, although these were the days before money laundering checks, which I think may require you to attend in person to confirm your identity. Why not call them and see if they envisage the distance being a problem.

himbo

Definately local - makes life so much easier and when there are problemsm, always better to deal face to face.

olly300

As long as you:
1. Use a good solicitor
2. Have plenty of time particularly between exchange and completion
3. Have some local knowledge of the area you are buying
using a solicitor outside the area isn't a problem.

I tend to use solicitors for various things outside London and the SE as they are cheaper.

However I have the advantage I have friends' in professions who can certify my ID for money laundering purposes. Otherwise it's a hassle to get the right person to certify who you are and you have to pay.

Oh and most solicitors/other professionals are very good at using the telephone, email and fax if required. However to be honest you will only really need to use the post service to communicate with your solicitor in house buying.

steves_uk

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.. its been very helpful.

Steve

eddddy

I live just outside London. Quotes from local solicitors were almost exactly double the quote I got from the solicitor I used 100 miles away, in a less wealthy area.

When I had to send paperwork, I scanned and emailed it to him before posting it. This meant he could start work based on the copies, before receiving signed originals etc. It worked very, very well for me.

mr_rush

Used solicitor in Newcastle for 2 house purchases now - in Brighton and in London. Very efficient via email. No problems.

evoke

I'm using a useless long-distance solicitor. I used one of those 'find an internet-based cheap solicitor' sites like CompareAndConvey. It's been a cr*p experience so far. You're supposed to get a login to a web site showing the current status. That hasn't been updated since last October! I've never spoken to my conveyancer - she's always unavailable. You can only send emails to the administrators who know very little. Everything takes ages and i've had to complain through CompareAndConvery twice so far. The worst part is that the original too-good-to-be-true quote is going to end up costing me far more than a local solicitor would have cost.

My advice is to get a local solicitor who you can go and harrass and intimidate when he/she turns out to be useless.

Meatballs

I wouldn't go into a local solicitor, as I'd have to take time off work to get to see them. Our online one at the moment is sometimes really good and emails fired back in minutes, othertimes reply takes ages.

timmyt

joerugby wrote: »

We've done both and found it much easier to deal locally. One example is that letters can be collected or hand delivered which saved time. It also helped that our solicitor and estate agent knew each other.

dont been a cheapskate and run into legal problems when you come to sell (or even a few months after buying) by using any online outfit.

conveyancers don't see clients any more because people don't want to take time out of their day to see conveyancers...nor do conveyancers need to see their clients.

my work is 50% local and 50% national, and working where the property is located means nothing AT all, there is no advantage whatsoever. searches are all automated based on postcode.

post and email is usual, and handing something in doesn't help as conveyancing doesn't work that quick. if your lawyer has left it that late that you have to hand something in, then that is your fault for choosig them

so OP, sure sounds like the agent recommending that far away has good cause to recommend them...so ask THE AGENTS why so far away.

I find London conveyancers are paranoid and so not very fast and their contracts throw the kitchen sink at you....and they are might pricey.

but hey...read the posts and its your call