Choosing a solicitor - Homeward legal

TranceNRG

Hi ladies/gents,
I'm a FTB and made an offer on a flat in Ealing, London which has been accepted with a purchase price of 355K. It's a share of freehold flat with 67 years left on the lease and this isn't going to be an issue when getting the mortgage (confirmed by MA) but I'm looking to extend the lease soon (other co freeholder is also keen to extend the lease). I'm also looking to buy the share of the loft from other co freeholder to do a loft conversion in the future.

So I'm now looking for a solicitor ideally to do all of them. Hopefully I can find a good solicitor that I can have a good relationship with, not just for the purchase of this flat but for other projects in the future (lease extensions, lease amendment, future purchases,etc.)

My MA's usual contact has recently got married so not available but he got me quotes from couple of other solicitors. They all seemed to be located outside London.
I also got quotes from other solicitors whom were recommended by the EA.
Finally I got a quote form a company called Homeward Legal which uses a panel of solictors. And their quote so far is the cheapest by a margin. They've quoted £793.20 for purchase conveyancing and £8150 conveyancing disbursements. All the other quotes seem a lot higher (some more than 500 pounds).
The guy from Homeward Legal also said that it's important that I start the lease extension process during purchase (but lease can be extended later) so he said I should choose an extension specialist (they are based in Yorkshire) to do both the purchase and extension instead of going with a local contact who specialises in purchase.

Has anyone had experience with Homeward legal? Do you recommend solicitors? Do you have any advice for someone in my situation? (purchase + lease extension and possibly lease amendment later).

thanks
Cam.

TBagpuss

Make sure you pick a solicitor, not a convenyancer.

As the things you are planning are potentially fairly complex, I strongly recommend that you pick someone who you can physically meet, sometimes being able to speak to someone face-to-face can make a huge differnce, particularly for non-standard transactions.

Double and triple check the quote you are given. It's not uncommon for firms (particularly the on-line ones) to give what appear to e low quotes and then add on a lot of extras, which are usually things included in the quote for other providers. If the firm you are considering can't or won't give you a break down and explain what is and is not included in the quote, walk away.

TranceNRG

Thanks for the reply.

Why is it important to pick a solicitor and not a conveyancer?

The reason Homeward legal quote is a lot cheaper maybe because they are using conveyancers instead of solicitors? But then again the guy I spoke to said he was going to pick a specalist who can do lease extensions. Unfortunately they are based in Yorkshire so no face to face discussions.

I would also like someone who I can speak to face to face but a lot of these firms seem to be out of London.

All the quotes have give a breakdown of the charges.

Maybe I can go with Homeward legal for the purchase (save a bit of money) and do the extension with another solicitor?

shimano

I am from Ealing too, and would recommend you use someone local. I would start with Prince Evans or Elliots, Bonds and Banbury, both I have used for sales and purchases.

I am personally of a view that you should never skimp on a solicitor for what is a major purchase, and as the poster above mentioned, someone you can see in person etc.

TranceNRG

Hi Shimano! Was there any solicitor in particular you've dealt with? What were their fees like compared with the other quotes?

Also did you actually need to see them in person?

A lot of these conveyancing search companies and solicitors based outside London are saying you don't really need to see them face to face to carry out the work and that it can be done via phone and mail.

TranceNRG

Do you think it's important to be able to speak to the conveyancer/solicitor face to face?

shimano

I have used Prince Evans and Elliots, Bonds and Banbury. Using both now for a sale / purchase actually.

Cost wise it will probably be a couple of hundred more than someone you find online, but I personally find it worth it.

In a normal transaction you probably won't need to visit them, but I have found it easier to drop in and talk about some questions etc, rather than playing email ping pong. Also they know more of the area etc.

amnblog

You seem to be talking about one sort of service and getting quotes for another Trance.


If you want a personal face to face service in London the prices are not going to compare to a distance service outside of London.


If you think you want a 'relationship', pay for someone local.

TranceNRG

Surely you can still have a good working relationship with a solicitor even if you only deal with them over the phone?

I'm happy to pay couple of hundred pounds more but if it's 500 pounds more, probably not.

amnblog

If you are chasing the cheap quotes online you are not buying a 'good working relationship', you are buying a transaction.


It is 2 different things.

TranceNRG

Shimano, I rang Prince Evans and asked for a quote. So hopefully will get one soon.

I need to make a decision today about the solicitor.

As for extending the lease, is it important start this process during the purchase? This is what the guys at Homeward legal said.