Don't know who's worse - solicitors or estate agents

tyler80

Chasing up our stalled property purchase once again with our solicitors after being told they were awaiting a response from the sellers solicitors. Well, it turns out that they're one and the same (different solicitors same firm) a fact never disclosed previously!

So another week gone and absolutely zero progress made, two responses to our questions about the delay which turn out to be crap.

At least with estate agents I wasn't paying for the privilege of being messed around.

martinthebandit

Actually I was thinking of going into the chemical testing business but instead of using animals I am going to use solicitors and estate agents.


After all I cannot see anyone forming an Estate Agent and Solicitors Liberation Front, can you?

Any idea of what size cage I would need to house them in?

betmunch

Which Solicitors?

I bet they are on Timmyt's list of who not to use

tyler80

Local solicitors, one with an office I can walk into and kick up a fuss

quatro

Both estate agents and solicitors love to play 'Pass the Buck' and give them credit they play it excellently. Nothing is their fault, it's always the other party [or the client!] who doesn't communicate, or who has 'crossed wires' [one of their favourite expressions often said during the course of the 'game' that is your life and future].
The fact that they get paid literally thousands of pounds to participate in this pastime as they are both usually on a 4 days week with short hours [well they often aren't contactable unless they are ready] and long dinner breaks - adds insult to injury.
They can also pop out for a 'valuation' if they fancy a change of scene and I have never, ever heard of a solicitor working on a friday afternoon!
Why clients are made to feel a nuisance when they want something done within a reasonable timeframe and which is what they are paying for is also beyond me.
I think they live in a different universe.

betmunch

tyler80 wrote: »

Local solicitors, one with an office I can walk into and kick up a fuss

That surprises me, what you described is typical of at least two of the largers Solicitors on the list that I have had the misfortune of dealing with!

kingstreet

In my experience, solicitors are slowed down because they have to await replies from buyers, sellers, councils, coal authority, lenders, uncle tom cobley and all.

It's difficult to be proactive, as they are reacting to the results of other investigations or enquiries and often only written replies can be accepted.

I'd say the fastest transactions are the ones where the buyer and seller both respond quickly to their solicitor's requests and ensure their responses are comprehensive, complete and correct.

There are bad ones, obviously. But the ones I deal with regularly are in before 9am are often still there well after 5pm and tend to eat at their desk, unless they have something special on that day. For most, I'd say Friday is the busiest day of the week and not being there on that day simply isn't an option.

devotee

Have nothing against solicitors and estate agents, mine were both fine. But try dealing with management agents! Fee for filling in two pages with yes and no answers from the management company to provide to my buyer - £490, and it's not even a qualified person's work! Fee to supply deed of variations £660 from the landlord. Might have just held a gun to my head

milliejo

why are the solicitors acting for both buyer and seller - there is a clear conflict of interest? does your lender know they are?

tyler80

why are the solicitors acting for both buyer and seller - there is a clear conflict of interest? does your lender know they are?

Seeing as we've only found out today that they are I doubt the lender knows.

As I understand it solicitors from the same firm can act for both buyer and vendor but both parties have to be in agreement.

Searches were all completed weeks ago, it's documents from the vendors we are waiting for.

kingstreet

milliejo wrote: »

why are the solicitors acting for both buyer and seller - there is a clear conflict of interest? does your lender know they are?

Clients with a longstanding relationship with a firm can use different solicitors in the same office of a firm. My vendors and I used the same firm last time we bought. If there isn't a longstanding relationship, it's acceptable for different offices of the same firm to act for each party.