Is better to use a local solicitor or an online one

kinger101

In both transactions I've been involved with, the other party has used an online conveyancer, and they've been really really dreadful. I've tended to use local ones, one was just dreadful, the other slight better but still not very good.

I'd never use an online one, but I'd try to get recommendations for a local one from people who've recently purchased/sold.

If you're a FTB, don't be afraid to ring the vendor's EA....they're usually good at getting things moved along.

franklee

We used a local solicitor. IMO it was helpful to sit across the desk from them with all of us looking at the same paperwork, plans etc. so that we could point and have a conversation asking our questions knowing we were all talking about the same thing and all hearing the conversation. She knew that in our area local searches take a long time so advised us to kick them off at the start to save delays and also knew who to chase should that be necessary. We hand carried documents into the office. It seems to me there is often something not signed by someone that needs a last minute rush. Incidentally we found her sectary helpful - after dropping a document off it so happened she invited us to wait while exchange took place which was nice (albeit unusual). Oh and we also asked the solicitor if she knew a local surveyor and she recommend someone local who we found very helpful. That said most of the other nitty gritty was done by email.

slightlychilled

I'm using an online solicitor at the moment. To be honest she's not good, if I was not on the ball I would be in all sorts of trouble. I don't see though how choosing anyone local could guarantee anything else - you'd still have to be informed and be able to check to make sure all was going smoothly. Almost everything is done by email so I would still advise picking the cheapest.

BrassicWoman

local; I took 2 weeks out of the process by being able to sit down and run through things that were minor that I did not care about so she should stop doing.

[Deleted User]

I'll add my twopenneth aswell !


I recently exchanged and completed a property sale, my buyer used a local company (in the town we both live) and I used an online one, the local company were appalling, both in their timeframes and service, whereas mine were probably the best I've ever encountered !


I think best to listen to the reports of local users, in your home town, aswell as some research of your own and decide from there - it has to be a very individual decision.

Rambosmum

Just to add, I've used both online and local, all been fine. Never met my solicitor in either case and never dropped papers off by hand. Until my most recent sale, where we are using a friend.

elverson

Ask around for recommendations from friends and family.

steampowered

People mean different things when they say "online solicitors".

Using a solicitors firm in a different part of the country is fine. Your solicitor doesn't have to be local.

But I think you need to be careful of the cut-price conveyancing factories. Maybe they are fine for very simple transactions, but they are not really equipped to deal with problems - they are not solicitors. Check reviews on trustpilot before instructing.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

A word of mouth recommendation from friends, familiy or colleagues is a good starting point. Many "local" solicitors will still conduct business mainly online, but dealing with a small independent firm is very different to being on hold to a call centre.

I used a reassuringly expensive local solicitor. This is the most stressful and expensive purchase of your life, £200 is nothing in the wider picture.

tiredoflife

Get recommendations as per elverson said.

We went local as they were recommended and local. I could nip out in my lunch hour and drop paperwork off etc.