Conveyancers suggested by estate agent?

Surrey_EA

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

Whatever else you do, do not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, use Countrywide who are part of Bairstow Eves. They lost me my buyer through incompetance

This is invaluable advice!

I've yet to have a single good experience with Countrywide Property Lawyers.

Countrywide employees are forced to push the services of CPL, and as Countrywide own a large number of EAs - Bairstow Eves, Mann & Co, John D Wood, Hamptons, GPees, to name only a few, then inevitably some people will fall for the sales pitch.

DaftyDuck

Hmmmm. I'm afraid I'm going to disagree with pretty much all of the above... because you are selling, not buying. Were you buying, I'd agree 110% (aargh!) but selling is a bit different. If you keep on top of things yourself (and you posted, and are obviously thinking, so probably will), there are advantages in this situation to using the Agency Solicitor.

There really is often better communication - after all, if the solicitor is dealing with six or seven simultaneous deals with that agent, there's regular contact. There's also the continued [STRIKE]backhanders and[/STRIKE] goodwill and service that each look forward to. The agent has an additional interest in seeing the sale through well, as the solicitor doesn't want to waste their time/no-sale-no-fee either.

Make absolutely sure there is really no fee for no sale. Get it clearly in writing. Keep on top of the paperwork and keep chasing your selling estate agent to chase the solicitor - then you can nip at his heels too!

However, for anyone buying a house who might consider the Agency's recommended solicitor... Well, I certainly wouldn't.

{Which isn't true - I have, effectively. I'd already chosen the firm beforehand, and got a quote. The agency quote was lower from the same firm - shock horror... They matched their own quote as it were, and purchase went through smoothly. But, it was one of several solicitor firms they recommended, the one they'd suggested I avoid I had already identified as ghastly, so it might actually have been a good, honest Estate Agent... I think I need a lie-down and some gin!}

littlemissbossy

When we moved house last year our estate agent recommended a solicitor to us.

She was so helpful, friendly and professional, we felt very lucky... our estate agent on the other hand was a total nightmare!

walwyn1978

As above. Go and speak to them face to face or over the phone. Check the wording and clauses in their contracts. If you're happy with them and their fees, then fine. If not, keep looking.

That said, my experience is that the in house legal stuff TENDS to be slow and poorly done in comparison to an independent. Although I may just have been unlucky.

hazyjo

littlemissbossy wrote: »

When we moved house last year our estate agent recommended a solicitor to us.

She was so helpful, friendly and professional, we felt very lucky... our estate agent on the other hand was a total nightmare!

It's different if they're recommending a local one - I'd go with that too. But if it's their in-house one, run for the hills...


Jx

VultureDodger

HUGE thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. Your advice is invaluable! I have made a note of some local solicitors / conveyancers in the local area, who have been recommended to me by friends and family. I'll start giving them a call today