Seller's Estate Agent doesn't like my Conveyancer

claretparrot

Hi all,

First post and would really appreciate some advice! We are first time buyers and have just started the process after having an offer accepted a couple of days ago.

I emailed the seller's agent today to confirm our Conveyancer's details (he wouldn't mark the property as Sold STC until he had them). He rang me immediately telling me what an awful firm they are and that he would rather not work with them. Essentially he 'strongly advised' me to reconsider.

We are really too far gone to change our minds anyway, but has anyone come across this before? Is this just the agent's fairly excessive way of trying to persuade us to go with his own recommendation (so he can earn the commission)?

Thanks!

Comms69

"Thanks for your unsolicited advice. Since our relationship has progressed to such a point, i'd recommend you take up more exercise."

eddddy

Out of interest - what type of conveyancer have you chosen? Is it one of the online conveyancing factories? Some of them do seem to have poor reputations.

tealady

 i'd recommend you take up more exercise."

Had to think about that one!

claretparrot

eddddy said:

Out of interest - what type of conveyancer have you chosen? Is it one of the online conveyancing factories? Some of them do seem to have poor reputations.

Yes, it is an online one - MyHomeMove. A family member used them without complaint and their online reviews, whilst mixed like all of them, are on the whole very positive.

Wanderingpomm

It might be because they have found issues with leases in the past and are picky so the sales are slow. I.e doubling ground rents, lease clauses with covenants. Not all conveyances will see them. 

That’s not a bad thing, if you like them stock with them

k3lvc

Estate Agent has a duty of care to the vendors to progress the sale as smoothly as possible and no responsibility to you whatsoever. Any recommendation is more likely to be about achieving the objective than you using 'their' solicitor for financial gain. Obviously your call but it's far from 'progressed too far' to consider changing.

CheesyWiggles

Why should they consider changing? It sounds the the solicitor has done a good job for a previous client, imho.

sgun

My sellers estate agent absolutely hated our conveyancer - because she was thorough. Sellers had had issues in the past with various things which didn't bother us but the estate agents wanted to rush the sale through without these things being brought up. Go with your gut, if you like the conveyancer then stick with them. I would say though, having one in an office that I could go to in person was handy.

hazyjo

Presuming you need a mortgage, are they on your lender's panel?

claretparrot

Wanderingpomm said:

It might be because they have found issues with leases in the past and are picky so the sales are slow. I.e doubling ground rents, lease clauses with covenants. Not all conveyances will see them. 

That’s not a bad thing, if you like them stock with them

Possibly, although the property we're buying is freehold so that's one complication removed!