House Selling & Conveyancing

Smoggie69

We are about to take our house to the market (again) with a local estate agent - we recently used an online, pay up front company, but became suspicious that as we had paid already they had no motiviation to sell our property.

Although we have not signed a contract with the new estate agent yet we have received numerous calls from their conveyancing arm.

My questions are when do we need to appoint a conveyancer, and also can we appoint a different company for selling our house and buying another? Does this make the process more difficult?

cayennepepper

That is strange, usually it is their financial adviser that pounds on people. EAs don't usually offer legal services, at least I have never experienced that. You do not have to go with them, no, don't let them put you under pressure. You haven't even sold your property! When you do employ a solicitor, he/she will handle the sale and purchase for you.

G_M

1) Never use the conveyancer the agent is earning commission for recomending. Find your own.

2) use the same one to buy and sell - unles there is a good reason, why complicate the process by dealing with 2 people, coordinating everything. It's just an uneccessary complication. Plus you might find the conveynacer charges less for 2 jobs.

3) when comparing conveyancing quotes, read the small print, and read this advice here.

4) with agents, if going for 'sole agency' agreement (usually cheaper), negotiate the length of the agreement as well as the commssion payable. If they say they can find you a buyer fast ("they will promise this!) ask why they need a 14 week agreement and ask for 8 weeks. Then if they are rubbish you can leave after 8 weeks.