Online Conveyancing

united4ever

Just been given an online quote which is £664 - about £300 cheaper than other quotes.

They say this cheap price is partly due to the facts they don't have overheads such as plush offices in central London so they can pass this saving onto the customer. Also mentions there is no need for a face to face meeting as contact can be made through email, phone calls and post.

Would you advise against using this kind of solicitor? Given I'm an FTB I was hoping to save money on a solicitor if possible.

MushyPeas

Hiya

I'm buying a leasehold flat, have looked at online conveyancers and now have got one through my mortgage advisor, a deal for only 240 pounds. What about finding out if your estate agent/mortgage advisor can get you a discount?

The last property I tried to purchase, the initial fee was 499 + VAT, but I ended up paying 1000 because there were a lot of complications. It might be worth getting one which agrees to a set fee, if possible. Also, you might want to choose a company where you get the solicitors fees back if the purchase falls through (though of course you will have to pay for any searches etc). As I am on purchase 3 with the first 2 falling through I would have saved myself over 1500!! But then I did pay for a good solictor, so feel the fee was fair. Now I have been through the process twice I don't mind going to someone who is predominantly online, as a slightly more experienced FTB I feel I know some of the questions to ask!

Good luck

united4ever

Thanks for the advice.

It's a new build I'm buying which won't be ready till March. I don't think there's an issue of it falling through as there is no chain.

It's also a shared ownership flat with me buying 60% so perhaps this might be a complication.

Thanks again

united4ever

Forgot to mention too re estate agent/mortgage advisor, I've not got my mortgage yet as it's too early (the mortgage offers generally only last for 3 months but I won't move in until March). So I have no mortgage adviser/estate agent to ask yet.

Life_On_Mars

I used an "online" conveyancer. To be honest, I wasn't impressed with the service although I did save some money.

The only "online" aspect is the occasional update on progress on their website and via text, but this is really not that useful as you tend to know when you have signed the contract or paid the deposit anyway!

I found it quite frustrating that they insisted on sending everything by snail mail when an email would have been quite acceptable and far more efficient.

The only good thing is that you don't have to meet them face to face.

I also bought a shared housing property and the housing association I bought/rent from was not keen on us using a solicitor not on their list of prefered or recommended ones. The reason being that they knew about the intricacies of shared ownership.

The biggest saving I made, however, was on not paying any stamp duty as we're in a disadvantaged area - no thanks to the solicitor for that, though

So I wouldn't say don't use an online conveyancer (and as a first time buyer I've got nothing to compare with). The money you save you can probably use to put towards furniture or something useful.

kebl0826

united4ever wrote:

Thanks for the advice.

It's a new build I'm buying which won't be ready till March. I don't think there's an issue of it falling through as there is no chain.

It's also a shared ownership flat with me buying 60% so perhaps this might be a complication.

Thanks again

I considered online conveyencing but since my deal is also SO I decided not to take the risk. I found a local place which has experience of dealing with SO purchases and spoke on the phone to one of the partners.

They are charging 495+vat for the paperwork plus about £300 for the searches. I will have to pay £45 for money transfer fees (I think) and depending on my mortgage lender, they may instruct my solicitor to act on their behalf. This will be another £100-£150. In total I expect it will cost a grand.

I got 2/3 other quotes which were £400-500 more.

lynzpower

personally for SO Id get someone you walk into. there will be a firm locally or in Manchester that you can use.

I havent used onlline conveyancing, I was going to after hearing some good reports on here,but I used someone that another MSEr recommended.

They are based miles away from me, but im phoining regularly.

when i bought I definately needed that face to face contact, now Im selling im more confident. But not confident to use online conyancers.

Dranny

We used "Online Conveyancing" (Drummonds in Chester), in our house purchase and they were 1st class.

Called us regularly with updates, mailed us when they said they would, and even gave us a binded folder with our search results at the end of the transaction.

Nothing but praise from myself here.

Our "selling" solicitors, were a Sunderland based company - Hodgson Maggiore - thru https://www.CheapCheapConveyancing.co.uk

They were useless. I wouldn't reccomend them to anyone.

Online Conveyancing were brilliant.

You pays your money and takes your chance I suppose.

Dranny

mooncalf

for the record. i found movingahead to be completely useless. very slow and distant in their approach. wanting me to take out extra insurance to indemnify themselves. overall it was a nightmare experience!

You are better getting a local solicitor who has got an idea of the local area and can work more efficiently. We got a local one and did everything by phone and snail mail and went in once to sign the papers and that was that. Much calmer experience as we dealt directly with one person as opposed to these call centre type conveyors!