Cheaper local authority searches by third party

Paulaviki

greeneggsandham wrote: »

Looks like that's what I'm going to do, unless one of the other quotes I've requested comes back and is better. The agent is based quite far away, but with the rise of online only conveyancers, distance seems pretty irrelevant anyway.

See I decided to go for a solicitor who was local rather than going with the cheaper online companies. I'd much rather be able to go into an office and deal with them if needed, and that's what most people I spoke to suggested.

I don't think you can just go for the cheapest quote, buying a house is so expensive I think it makes sense to get recommendations and pay a bit more for better service etc.

But then plenty of people use the online companies!

greeneggsandham

Paulaviki wrote: »

See I decided to go for a solicitor who was local rather than going with the cheaper online companies. I'd much rather be able to go into an office and deal with them if needed, and that's what most people I spoke to suggested.

I don't think you can just go for the cheapest quote, buying a house is so expensive I think it makes sense to get recommendations and pay a bit more for better service etc.

But then plenty of people use the online companies!

Oh I absolutely agree, in principle I'd pay a little bit more for a local company. But the local ones are coming in at well over 30% higher, that's £300-£400 towards my removal costs (I'm on a very tight budget here!). I've also found from experience that paying more doesn't necessarily guarantee a better service, and if you get a lousy service from the more expensive option, it stings that much more! A recommendation would be ideal - maybe I need to make more use of social media.....

G_M

If you want to save even more money, do the Personal Search with the LA yourelf.

Make appointment, go along, read the documents yourself.

greeneggsandham

Funny enough, that sale fell through, but I've just had an offer accepted/sstc again a week ago, and am starting the process over again. The conveyancers I instructed last year seem to have dropped off the face of the earth, so I'm playing it safe this time & using a local solicitor.

Out of interest, if you did the personal search yourself, what would you be looking for?

kleapatra

I'm looking into this as my local council are currently taking a minimum of 10 weeks to do local searches which is ridiculous!

greeneggsandham

kleapatra wrote: »

I'm looking into this as my local council are currently taking a minimum of 10 weeks to do local searches which is ridiculous!

10 weeks! That will hold up the whole process! Definitely worth looking into alternatives. I think once I get the ball rolling I'll ask my solicitor how long they take in this area & maybe take matters into my own hands too.

G_M

greeneggsandham wrote: »

Out of interest, if you did the personal search yourself, what would you be looking for?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Which-Guide-Conveyancing-Consumer-Guides/dp/085202813X

See the chapter on searches.