DIY Conveyancing and selling

Alwilb

hoohoo wrote: »

I recently sold my house doing the conveyancing myself. It required me filling in a few forms (which I would have had to have filled in anyway) and writing five letters, mostly one paragraph replies to the buyer's solicitor.

I didn't have to visit the other solicitor to exchange contracts nor did he visit me.

It was all very easy and painless and I saved a ton of money; those five letters would have probably cost me £500-£700.

As for being stressful for my buyer, they didn't care two hoots and seeing as everything was turned around the same day I received it, the only hold up was at their end.

For a straightforward sale, if you fill in forms and write letters for your job anyway this will be no big deal. Otherwise, it's probably not for you.

I think what you're missing is that just getting through the process doesn't necessarily put you in the same position at the end. It's standard practice for the seller's solicitor to prepare the contract for sale. Presumably you allowed the buyer's solicitor to do this, allowing them to draft a contract more favourable to their client and less favourable to you.

You also put a lot of the burden on the buyer's solicitor who will presumably, justifiabily, increase their costs because they have to do more work because you don't have a solicitor to do it. This could, and should, lead to the buyer reducing their offer to take into account the additional costs they have incurred due to your decision.

G_M

Alwilb wrote: »

..... It's standard practice for the seller's solicitor to prepare the contract for sale. Presumably you allowed the buyer's solicitor to do this,
why do you assume this? When I sell, I draft the contract! I never rely on the other side to do my work! (and the contract is a standard form, with names, addresses, price etc attatched. OK, a few optional extras depending on circumstances, but as I said earlier, where circumstances are complex, a DIY is inadvisable)
allowing them to draft a contract more favourable to their client and less favourable to you. see above

You also put a lot of the burden on the buyer's solicitor
errr... how?
who will presumably, justifiabily, increase their costs because they have to do more work because you don't have a solicitor to do it.
again - how? As said, when I DIY I do everything a solicitor would have done on my behalf (except giving undertakings as discussed earlier)
This could, and should, lead to the buyer reducing their offer to take into account the additional costs they have incurred due to your decision.

No logic to your argument here...

However, to other readers of this thread, I again stress, do not attempt this unless you are really up to the job. There IS a lot at stake.