Is my conveyancer being useless?

mrsmortgage

pinkteapot wrote: »

It's a tricky one... If you change to a local solicitor they'll start over from scratch. Four weeks will be tight and will be entirely dependent on the current waiting time for your searches. You'd also have to ring round solicitors to get quotes and explain that you need a quick turnaround and ask if they're up for that!

We sold last year to a buyer who needed a very quick transaction. I asked the EA selling our place for a recommendation for a solicitor in town who he'd dealt with recently on a quick transaction - i.e. one that he was confident could do it for us. Used the one they recommended and we exchanged five weeks after accepting their offer.

AS far as i can tell, my current conveyancers have done nothing, so it would be exactly the same? With the difference that they're local 9which might or might not speed things up).

babyblade41

check the title deeds . It will tell you firstly if it's registered, leasehold or freehold and most importantly what you see on the ground is the same that is on the title .

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry

pinkteapot

mrsmortgage wrote: »

AS far as i can tell, my current conveyancers have done nothing, so it would be exactly the same?

Not quite - it sounds like yours has received various bits of paperwork from the vendor's solicitor. That would all need to be re-sent. If this includes any original docs signed by the vendors (e.g. Property Information Form) then that will need redoing.

You'll also have to pay your current conveyancer for work done to date, as well as paying your new one.

Are you getting a mortgage? If so, is your conveyancer also acting for the mortgage lender? (you'd know if you weren't). You need to ask your mortgage lender to switch too if so.

In theory your current conveyancer should release the paperwork to your new one once they've been paid, but obviously they'll have no real incentive to get that done!

As you are this early in the process you could switch - it's definitely easier than further down the line. It just depends whether you can find a local one who you're confident will be better.

mrsmortgage

pinkteapot wrote: »

Not quite - it sounds like yours has received various bits of paperwork from the vendor's solicitor. That would all need to be re-sent. If this includes any original docs signed by the vendors (e.g. Property Information Form) then that will need redoing.

You'll also have to pay your current conveyancer for work done to date, as well as paying your new one.

In theory your current conveyancer should release the paperwork to your new one once they've been paid, but obviously they'll have no real incentive to get that done!

As you are this early in the process you could switch - it's definitely easier than further down the line. It just depends whether you can find a local one who you're confident will be better.

No they haven't done anything. I received a call from the EA asking if I have actually appointed them as they weren't communicating with the vendor's solicitors.

I've only paid them £350 so not a massive loss.

kingstreet

pinkteapot wrote: »

Have they received the draft contract from the vendor's conveyancer?

Please answer this.

Your conveyancer is reliant on this for a number of reasons. For example, many local authorities require the title plan which comes with the draft contract before a local search can be done.

The draft contract comes from the vendor's solicitor to your solicitor/convayancer.

mrsmortgage

kingstreet wrote: »

Please answer this.

Your conveyancer is reliant on this for a number of reasons. For example, many local authorities require the title plan which comes with the draft contract before a local search can be done.

The draft contract comes from the vendor's solicitor to your solicitor/convayancer.

I don't think they have. From a phone call with the EAs they claimed that my conveyancers were unaware that we had appointed them. But i'll call and ask them.

[Deleted User]

mrsmortgage wrote: »

The conveyancer hasn't had any communication with the vendor's solicitors (as far as i can tell).

No searches have been requested, as they've waited to have all documentation in (but have been paid).

So in short my conveyancers have done absolutely nothing.

The vendors solicitors say everything can be done on their end in two weeks.

Without the draft contracts from the vendors solicitor then the buyers solicitors can do very little.
Why are you so confident that its your solicitors that are rubbish? If they haven't had draft contracts then not much can happen

mrsmortgage

Deleted_User wrote: »

Without the draft contracts from the vendors solicitor then the buyers solicitors can do very little.
Why are you so confident that its your solicitors that are rubbish? If they haven't had draft contracts then not much can happen

I can confirm they have. So what's next?

babyblade41

you should receive the draft contract for you to check along with title .

Once you have received these to look at then the searches can get underway

Enquiries raised

I have used the same firm of solicitors for 30 years and they always send me the fixtures and fitting and property information forms to fill in really early on .

Deal with everything promptly as soon as you get it.

I can't advise on changing as you need recommendations of solicitors in your area.

Personally I won't touch conveyance companies

mrsmortgage

Well vendors say their solicitors have definitely NOT been touch with theirs. Somebody is lying but unclear who is (they;re also using a conveyancing factory btw, the PBs one nonetheless).