My Conveyancer asking to pay extra to fast track my case

karanthbenaka

My conveyancer has received the draft contact from the seller lawyer last week and I am not sure what they are now working on. When I contacted them today, they said that it would take 8 to 12 weeks to complete the process. When I requested them to do it quicker, they asked me to pay an additional fee of £500 + vat to get it done within next 3 weeks. I have already paid them £800 so far. Is this quite normal? can they fast track the process for the additional fee? does every conveyance do this?

bruich76

Conveyancing takes as long as it takes. The solicitor is quite right to ask for more money if your demands are unreasonable in terms of pushing for an early completion if it is to the detriment of all his other clients.


You have to remember that a solicitor can have 250 files.

Guest101

bruich76 wrote: »

Conveyancing takes as long as it takes. The solicitor is quite right to ask for more money if your demands are unreasonable in terms of pushing for an early completion if it is to the detriment of all his other clients.


You have to remember that a solicitor can have 250 files.

Or it's a conveyancing centre that basically factory lines the process?

hazyjo

Why do you need it quicker? Buying a new build? Baby on way? Got to exit current place?


If none of the above (or something else), I'd just go with the flow. Do things as quickly as you can, but the whole process does take an average of 12 weeks.


If there's a chain, forget doing it faster as everyone else is very likely to take 12 weeks-ish.


Jx

ST1991

What happens if the seller is delayed for any reason...?

Things take time to ensure they'\re done properly and carefully - which is what you want when buying a house..!

CBeardsworth

My conveyancer estimated at the beginning that it would take between 8-12 weeks. She has returned enquiries, sorted searches etc generally within a 24h period and it is still taking 8-12 weeks because of other people's solicitors. I don't know if its normal to charge extra (mine hasn't and she has been very efficient) but I also don't see how they can promise it will be done in 3 weeks.

alumende27

I'm sure the know full well they won't get it done within 3 weeks even if you do pay them more money and will blame the other party and circumstances outside their control. Read the terms and conditions very closely if you are tempted!

Don't think I've ever had a house sale or purchase go through in less than 3 months and the longest took 556 days to get to exchange of contracts. House moves always take longer than expected, except when you don't want to move any earlier...

DigForVictory

I wouldn't pay for an accelerated process as the others likely haven't.
Enquire frostily as to just what this additional money will accelerate?

G_M

They might be able to fast-track LA searches for an extra fee, but there will still be factors totally outside their control which could slow things down.

TBagpuss

Are you sure that this isn't an extra fee to expedite the searches?
Many local authorities offer a fast-track search option for an extra fee - this might mean that the search would come back in 3 weeks instead of (say) 5 or 6. There can be huge variations between different local authorities - I know near where I live, Council A takes abut 2 weeks, council B takes 6-8.

Your solicitor or conveyancer can't guarantee a particualar timescale for completion, as this depends on the sellers, their lawyer, and on anyone else in the chain, plus your lender and surveyor etc.

I suppose it is possible that your conveyancer might offer an enhanced service where you pay to go to the head of the line, rather than waiting your turn with their other clients, but it's not something I have come across.

Personally, I'd ask your conveyancer what, specifically, the extra money is for and then decide whether it is worth it to you.

glasgowdan

I wouldn't pay it, and unfortunately you're already tied with this conveyancer. Ours were good and we could have had a 24 day move in date after beginning the process if we chose but we asked to wait 2 more weeks after then due to our situation and so on.