Conveyancing...

bkp

Hello All
In the process of selling our house, which is currently under offer. Struggling to find our place, but am getting pressure (not surprisingly) from our Estate Agent/Purchaser to instruct a solicitor. My Agent says creates the right perception, and keeps the buyer happy that things are moving.

I wanted to get some steer on whats the best way to keep the conveyancing cost down/mitigate the cost in the in event of the buyer pulling out or ourselves not finding a place and pulling out of the market?

Also there's a lot of online companies offering a conveyancing service, and local law firms too, but prices vary dramatically - anything from 1200 to 3000 pounds!

Cheers

hazyjo

You don't have to pay them anything yet, just say you'd like to appoint them and will instruct when ready.


I do think your EA/buyer was just looking for an excuse to politely chase you or make sure you were still actively looking/selling. Not something that can really be rushed though, is it... You do risk your buyers giving up though and losing them completely.


Could you consider renting for 6-12 months?


There are loads of posts re solicitors so you might want to try the search facility. Check out 2) on the sticky: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5383/house-selling-money-saving-tips

Thrugelmir

Solicitor needs to be on your mortgage lenders panel. Nothing is going to progress until you've found a property anyway. Don't feel pressurised.

bkp

Thanks for quick responses, i like the distinction between 'appointing' and 'instructing'...

Will play it cool

AnotherJoe

If my vendor hadn't appointeda solicitor sharpish id be actively looking for other properties and as soon as I found one I'd be off, giving you as much information as to what I was doing as they did me, eg none.

hazyjo

AnotherJoe wrote: »

If my vendor hadn't appointeda solicitor sharpish id be actively looking for other properties and as soon as I found one I'd be off, giving you as much information as to what I was doing as they did me, eg none.

Even if they hadn't found anywhere to go yet? I wouldn't have expected anyone to have appointed a solicitor or start the process in any shape or form at that stage - only once the chain is complete.

AnotherJoe

hazyjo wrote: »

Even if they hadn't found anywhere to go yet? I wouldn't have expected anyone to have appointed a solicitor or start the process in any shape or form at that stage - only once the chain is complete.

Fair point.

• So, if they hadn't found anywhere to go yet and had told me that then I'd still be looking but i would tell them when i found somewhere that was "solid" in case they decided to go into rental.
• If they hadn't found anywhere to go yet and had not told me that I'd deduce it from lack of appointing a solicitor, would still be looking and i would not tell them when i found somewhere that was "solid" in case it fell through.

Thrugelmir

hazyjo wrote: »

Even if they hadn't found anywhere to go yet? I wouldn't have expected anyone to have appointed a solicitor or start the process in any shape or form at that stage - only once the chain is complete.

I'd be concerned about the purchaser's attitude during the remainder of the process. If this was an early indicator. Though knowing human nature would be turn out to be equally as belligerant when the boot's on the other foot.