Hassling solicitor - am I being impatient?!

newbieFTB

Surrey_EA wrote: »

It would not be unusual for a conveyancing solicitor to be handling 100 or so cases at any one time. Therefore it is quite possible they have prioritising their work and dealing with more urgent matters first.

Yikes, Instead of leaving it three full working days I may leave it a week before poking her - that's an insane amount of work!

ThePants999

Acceptable response time for an email is a business day. If a solicitor can't manage that, they have too many cases.

Surrey_EA

ThePants999 wrote: »

Acceptable response time for an email is a business day. If a solicitor can't manage that, they have too many cases.

Depends on the nature of the email, surely?

Depending on the particular stage of the transaction, some cases must be prioritised over others.

david1951

ThePants999 wrote: »

Acceptable response time for an email is a business day. If a solicitor can't manage that, they have too many cases.

...or you aren't paying them enough money.

OnTheLadder

Hi NewbieFTB - I went through the same worries/concerns when buying my first house (approx 6 weeks ago). I felt like I was hassling my solicitor when perhaps my queries were simple/an experienced house-buyer may know. I don't think I was excessive - they seemed valid queries to me. It worried me at first, I thought she may get annoyed but I found that just ringing/emailing regularly to get updates and ask my questions was the best way. Also, you are paying them a lot of money! Yes, they have other clients but you're a client too and deserve a response. At the end of the day, if emailing regularly/talking regularly to get updates gets the house purchase completed more quickly, then it's worth it. That's my view anyway, I understand they may have a lot of cases but you should be able to ask your questions and expect a response

ThePants999

Surrey_EA wrote: »

Depends on the nature of the email, surely?

No. "I'm on the case, I'll get back to you in a week" is fine if the nature of the email is such that it can't actually be answered immediately. A week of silence is not.

That's what happens in my company, anyway...

ThemeOne

In theory you get a more responsive service if you use a solicitor geared up more for property professionals.

My single experience with one of these still left me somewhat underwhelmed - yes they were a little better (only a little) but a lot more expensive.

gycraig_2

Are the questions important questions in reality ?.

If it's just a question for information purposes for yourself rather than something needed for you to progress I can see the lack of urgency.

sparky130a

newbieFTB wrote: »

I'm paying a lot of money for their services so am a bit dissappointed at the speed of reply. In my line of work I reply to all emails the same day, usually within an hour of receiving it!

I'd say that's wholly unrealistic. The question would need to be severely urgent for that timescale to apply.

newbieFTB

gycraig wrote: »

Are the questions important questions in reality ?.

If it's just a question for information purposes for yourself rather than something needed for you to progress I can see the lack of urgency.

Yes, I'd say it's important as based on their answer I will need to take some action.

newbieFTB wrote: »

I'm paying a lot of money for their services so am a bit disappointed at the speed of reply. In my line of work I reply to all emails the same day, usually within an hour of receiving it!

sparky130a wrote: »

I'd say that's wholly unrealistic. The question would need to be severely urgent for that timescale to apply.

I never said I expected them to reply the same working day or within the hour (as I would) - I was asking whether me chasing them after three clear working days was being impatient!