Feedback on our idea

Hoowla

Hi,

Hopefully this isn't too spammy but I want to get some good critical feedback.

I want property buyers and sellers thoughts on our new platform we are creating. Our system will allow solicitors to give instant access to buyers, sellers and estate agents to the current status of the conveyancing process.

From my own experience it can be frustrating when buyer or selling constantly ringing around the estate agents and solicitor to find out what stage we are at. You also are never really sure if the buck is being paste.

Our idea is to reduce these phone calls and allow buyers and sellers a free website to get an instant overview of the conveyancing process. This will be possible because solicitors will manage the conveyancing work from the website and everyone logged in can add group notes to add even more transparency.

Do you think as buyers or sellers this is something you would find useful and use?

kingstreet

Isn't there already such a site and as it depends heavily on the solicitor keeping it updated, is about as much use as the proverbial...?

Kiran

I presume that the solicitors/agents would be paying to use the service? The solicitors I use I've always found you call them and get an instant answer or if they need to look into things they will call you back. I may have been lucky with the ones I have used however I think it's been faster doing it this way than it would be logging on for answers and also more efficient for the solictors not to be filling in extra online data. Not meaning to sound negative but unless the system could be autiomated in some way then I dont think a buyer would see an advantage.

Hoowla

kingstreet wrote: »

Isn't there already such a site and as it depends heavily on the solicitor keeping it updated, is about as much use as the proverbial...?

Your right. If a system only had the solicitor updating everything it wouldn't be as good. Our idea is to allow everyone buyers, sellers and estate agents to update notes to the system with information they know. Also the system would replace the solicitors current software so if they didn't use the system the conveyancing job wouldn't get done, so their information is auto updating.

But you have identified a good point that it would only be as good as the data entered.

Hoowla

Kiran wrote: »

I presume that the solicitors/agents would be paying to use the service? The solicitors I use I've always found you call them and get an instant answer or if they need to look into things they will call you back. I may have been lucky with the ones I have used however I think it's been faster doing it this way than it would be logging on for answers and also more efficient for the solictors not to be filling in extra online data. Not meaning to sound negative but unless the system could be autiomated in some way then I dont think a buyer would see an advantage.

Thanks for replying. Solicitors would pay, estate agents would not. The system would be 100% automated for solicitors in regards to information for the sellers and buyers because it replaces their existing case management software so they just do what they normally do but our system gives a report to everyone if they want it. You are right it wouldn't work if it was an additional task for solicitors. Our aims is to reduce their work load in answering calls not add to their admin.

Itismehonest

I think it could be open season for litigation particularly if you allow the general public to participate.
The other point which springs to mind is that solicitors would just pass the cost of such a site on to their clients making the process even more expensive for the vendor/buyer

Hoowla

Itismehonest wrote: »

I think it could be open season for litigation particularly if you allow the general public to participate.
The other point which springs to mind is that solicitors would just pass the cost of such a site on to their clients making the process even more expensive for the vendor/buyer

The litigation point is interesting. What litigation do you think would be a problem?

Cost wise solicitors are already paying for software so based on our research we would be competitive or less. So for most solicitors they way be able to pass on a cost savings on hopefully.

googler

Most solicitors will either be using manual tracking within their offices, or will already have a software solution, whether that's an off-the-shelf one, or bespoke.

Why would they want your solution?

Itismehonest

Hoowla wrote: »

The litigation point is interesting. What litigation do you think would be a problem?

Cost wise solicitors are already paying for software so based on our research we would be competitive or less. So for most solicitors they way be able to pass on a cost savings on hopefully.

Anything thrown open to the public usually tends to have the potential for litigation. You, as the publisher, could also become liable.

Would everyone's transactions be available for all to see or could you ensure total privacy between solicitor, estate agent & client? Unless the latter I think a great many people (EAs, solicitors & general public) would shy away from any such site. I'm not sure how lenders would take it, either.

googler

Most solicitors will either be using manual tracking within their offices, or will already have a software solution, whether that's an off-the-shelf one, or bespoke.

Why would they want your solution?

If they're working manually at present, an external website adds an extra updating task at every stage.

If they have a system already, you either need to integrate with, and receive a data feed from, that system, or persuade the solicitor to drop what they have at present, to embrace yours.

Hoowla

googler wrote: »

Most solicitors will either be using manual tracking within their offices, or will already have a software solution, whether that's an off-the-shelf one, or bespoke.

Why would they want your solution?

Good question. From the systems we have already seen by visiting a handful of solicitors our will offer everything and, in most cases, more than their existing system does and cost less due to no install or maintenance/upgrade costs.

The system will do everything current conveyancing software does and integrate e-signatures, where possible. It will also give you all the benefits of a cloud system e.g. it remove the need for third party backups. On top of this it will reduce the number of phone calls from estate agents as they will be able to login to the system to find out what has been done.