Pros / Cons of asking agent to recommend solicitor

sebadee

Hi,

So we had an offer accepted and I am trying to find a solicitor. I have been through the online companies available, but they seem a hit and miss. I don't really have anyone local that I know of, and the ones I have tried are pricey (400 to 500 more then online)

I thought of asking my agent. I understand he will likely get a kick back for recommending someone, but also of benefit will be that he knows the solicitor, has worked with them before (I will insist that is a factor).

Any flaws you see in this way of thinking?

Malmo

You'd be well advised to read [URL=" https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4767543this useful and informative MSE thread[/URL] on how to choose a conveyancing solicitor, before you do anything.

Then read this article to understand what "good" looks like for quotations and what to expect from a good quotation.

rosie383

Just to give an actual picture of how much the fee to the EA would be. We were going to use an online firm recommended by the EA. The fee was around £750. The EA was going to pocket almost £500 for making a phone call. The solicitor would get the rest. The firm in question were DC Law who incidentally were very good when we were using them for a sale and purchase which didn't go through in the end. We switched to RMNJ after seeing them recommended here and they have been great. Can't fault them so far.

Apo

sebadee wrote: »

Hi,

So we had an offer accepted and I am trying to find a solicitor. I have been through the online companies available, but they seem a hit and miss. I don't really have anyone local that I know of, and the ones I have tried are pricey (400 to 500 more then online)

I thought of asking my agent. I understand he will likely get a kick back for recommending someone, but also of benefit will be that he knows the solicitor, has worked with them before (I will insist that is a factor).

Any flaws you see in this way of thinking?

I made that mistake of going with the solicitor that estate agent recommended. I thought it would be fast purchase since they worked with the solicitor before. It has been 4 months and my solicitor doesn't move his finger without being asked. I wish I found my own solicitor.

I realize now that how important to find the right solicitor. Choose a good solicitor and make sure they have online system that you can follow the progress of your purchase.

sebadee

Maybe I will give RMNJ a try, I have heard good things of them a few times now.

stator

Look in your yellow pages or local free property paper for the adverts for local solicitors firms. Get quotes from the local firms with good reviews online.

Mocha61

Beware of solicitors recommended by your mortgage lender as well, not always the best choice.

Hoploz

There aren't any pros.

Ask around family and friends, or search online for a local firm with good reviews which you can visit for paperwork and signatures

G_M

Pros? :rotfl:

Cons? Too many to list.

Use someone local so you can pop in to get answers to questions face to face, to speed up delivering documents/signing, to be able to complain (if necessary) direct instead of at distance.

Bossypants

I know what the general trend is, but I feel compelled to point out that it is possible to get lucky (much in the same way that it is possible to win the lottery). For my (currently ongoing) purchase, there was a huge amount of competition for the property, and, being desperate to secure it and therefore prepared to do just ab to be in the EA's good books. I thought I'd just change later if they were really awful, but by (I assume) sheer luck of the draw, I wound up with a senior partner handling my file (actually him, not an underlying - I have called several times to discuss things and he has always had my file immediately to hand and been able to discuss it knowledgably). He has proven much, much better than the local, hand-picked one I used for my last purchase, and I will definitely use him again when I need to extend the lease in a couple of years' time!

Kynthia

If the EA doesn't have links with any solicitors then they're likely to recommend someone who seems on the ball, is good at communicating and works quickly. EAs get to know about most local solicitors firms and would be a good source of information, but the problem is it's hard to trust them and be sure they aren't recommending someone who is going to give them a finders fee.