Does Covid-19 make online conveyancing a more appealing option?

Dee_FTB

I am currently using my home move for my sale and purchase and I have to say they have been exceeding my expectations. They keep me updated at every stage and answer emails within hours, the times I have called them if my conveyancer is unavailable they always call back within 2 hours.

Kyresa

Dee_FTB said:

I am currently using my home move for my sale and purchase and I have to say they have been exceeding my expectations. They keep me updated at every stage and answer emails within hours, the times I have called them if my conveyancer is unavailable they always call back within 2 hours.

Good old Premier Property (mostly unqualified) Lawyers.... The pride of the industry!!!....... 

xthrash

We used a local solicitor last time and I would recommend it - it makes life a lot easier (and quicker) to go in and sign documents and ask any questions you have at the time.
We're using a solicitor who's quite far away this time and everything has been done over email, a lot of documents can be filled electronically but there have been quite a few where the originals need signing and returning - this means you need to wait for them to be posted out, sign them (usually have someone witness it too) and then post it back. All in all, you're looking at about a week just to get a document signed. Whenever you try and call them, they're not available and emails are usually replied to the next working day.

JGB1955

I've just sold my fathers house (with a Power of Attorney).  I never met the conveyancer.  Dropped off some ID stuff with their receptionists - that was the only contact I had.

lisssa

I would have thought in the current circumstances using a small local firm will be a safer bet than a large online company . If this situation continues large firms won’t be able to operate as they currently are , especially ifs it a ‘call centre’ set up  and may need to scale down their force force , or work splint shifts . I have no idea about the rules around conveyancing but I would expect these large firms would have a challenge with staff working from home where there is a lot of personal customer data involved . 

davidmcn

lisssa said:

I would expect these large firms would have a challenge with staff working from home where there is a lot of personal customer data involved . 

I think the larger firms are more likely to have proper systems already set up for remote access, specialist staff who understand IT security, internal auditing etc - it's the two-men-and-their-dog firms who are more likely to be winging it.