Recommendation for doing the legal aspect of the transaction?

pph

Hi - apart from personal recommendation, are there any special tips for getting a trustworthy solicitor at rock bottom price?

All the people who I could ask for a recommendation aren't so canny (stingey?!) when looking for deals.

Any secret gems out there / online you'd like to share please?

GMS

Rock bottom price usually means rock bottom service.

I have a solicitor I know is spot on and gets the job done right and with minimum fuss. Not cheap but not expensive either.

You may end up saving a few quid but dealing with poor service.

pph

Yes indeed, pay peanuts etc...

Just looking for a cheeky magic solution. Maybe there is someone out there for example who offers a better rate for FTBs like me?

:]

Senior_Paper_Monitor

Was about to reply with near identical wording to GMS.

There are various public websites giving out ludicrous factory style conveyancing quotes - we get an approach about once a week (and at every conference we attend) to introdcue via one or other trade version - we have registration with 2 of these and never use them based on our recommendation (same basis as GMS) of a mid priced/mid sized firm who we have used day in day out for 5 years with never a problem and instant access to the department solicitor and senior partrner if we need it (which we rarely do - and so far not because of any issue generated by the firm).

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

There is many a slip possible in a house purchase and missing something at this stage - and yes it certainly does happen - may bite you hard when remortgaging or selling.

Thrugelmir

pph wrote: »

Any secret gems out there / online you'd like to share please?

Buy the property for cash and do the conveyancing yourself.

GMS

pph wrote: »

Yes indeed, pay peanuts etc...

Just looking for a cheeky magic solution. Maybe there is someone out there for example who offers a better rate for FTBs like me?

:]

Which mortgage lender are you looking to use?

Some lenders offer free legals and/or cashback towards. Free legals will not cover all of the costs. Check exactly what is covered.

Much of the conveyancing costs are set such as Land Registry fees. The only difference is in the actual cost of the legal work.

Pay a proper solicitor/conveyancer to do the job properly and it will be done right. Farm it out to a factory style operation where an admin assistant (no disrespect) does the job and problems may occur. Plenty of these firms about as Senior Paper Monitor states.

If you employ a bricklayer to build a wall it will be a good job. Save a couple of quid by asking the fella down the pub to do it and you could end up with a wonky wall.

As a FTB you are committing to the biggest financial commitment of your life. Why raise possible problems for the sake of a few quid?

pph

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Buy the property for cash and do the conveyancing yourself.

LOL! I'll save some deposit for lottery scratch cards too ;]

Leon_W

I'd just like to echo what GMS and SPP are saying.

It really isn't worth trying to scrimp and save on what is probably the biggest purchase you will make. I'd be asking myself what corners are being cut with some of these ludicrously cheap conveyancing warehouses. Wolstenholmes anyone ? LOL.

In my experience they quote a low base fee then generally stick it too you with all the other fees. Only the other day I saw a base quote for £99, can it be done for that ? Well, no it can't quite frankly.

What you ideally want is a recommendation. Sometimes an estate agent or mortgage broker will have a prefferred solicitor which is not as bad as you would immediately think. Yes, the agent or broker might receive a fee for the introduction BUT you know damn well that the solicitor will probably do a good job because it will mean no more work for him if he doesn't !

These types of solicitor will usually take calls from the agent, broker and client, might not be the cheapest of the cheap but generally do a good job and you get to speak to the same person every time.

Conveyancing warehouse type solicitors usually try and avoid calls at all costs. I have had a few occasions where they point blank refuse to speak to me regarding a case because "we are being paid by the client not you" . Charmed I'm sure.

Therefore I would say you pay for what you get, but by paying maybe just a little more you'll get a much much better service from everyone involved in the house buying process, agent, broker and solicitor.

Regards

Senior_Paper_Monitor

...... and I've got a recently completed case where the 'free solicitor' would accept the calls (or at least one of his girls on the desk would) while I sorted their !!!!-up out and earned
myself £14.65 in premium line phone calls in the process !

Leon_W

I have gone as far as informing clients who insist on using these outfits that they, and they alone will have to deal with them. I refuse to keep repeating the same thing to somebody different every time you call.

It's worse than calling British Gas or BT.

Obviously, if they use a "proper" solicitor then I have no problem, but I'm certainly not spending many extra hours of frustration to a premium rate phone line (if they'll talk to me in the first place) because someone wants to save £50.

Harsh but fair.

£14.95 ? SPM . Why should you have to carry this is beyond me. Very unfair.

pph

OK I think I am getting a clear message from this thread....! :]

Thanks all, promise not to scrimp.