Conveyancing house purchase

[Deleted User]

I am buying a house for cash, to live in myself. I’ve always used the same conveyancing firm for previous house purchases. This house is contract ready, so I will pay the search fees separately on completion. What’s the best way to find a conveyancing firm and is it better to find one in my new area or does it not matter? Thanks in advance for any advice.

AdrianC

What do you mean by "contract ready", and why would you bother with searches AFTER completion?

fiveacre

If you've always used the same conveyancing firm presumably they weren't that bad, why not continue using them?

user1977

AdrianC said:

What do you mean by "contract ready", and why would you bother with searches AFTER completion?

I'm guessing they mean the vendor is providing the searches (but they're being paid for on top of the price, which is pretty common with auction properties).

[Deleted User]

user1977 said:

AdrianC said:

What do you mean by "contract ready", and why would you bother with searches AFTER completion?

I'm guessing they mean the vendor is providing the searches (but they're being paid for on top of the price, which is pretty common with auction properties).

Thanks, you’re right. The vendor is paying upfront for the searches - these are already underway - and I pay on completion. It’s not an auction property, this has started to become a more common practice in my area. 

[Deleted User]

fiveacre said:

If you've always used the same conveyancing firm presumably they weren't that bad, why not continue using them?

Thanks, I’ve emailed them asking for a quote. Most comparison sites don’t take into account “contract ready” and are charging for the searches as part of the quote.

user1977

Deleted_User said:

fiveacre said:

If you've always used the same conveyancing firm presumably they weren't that bad, why not continue using them?

Thanks, I’ve emailed them asking for a quote. Most comparison sites don’t take into account “contract ready” and are charging for the searches as part of the quote.

Well, you just take that off, they're not going to charge you for searches they're not ordering. But you presumably want them to do everything else, and will want their advice on whether it is genuinely "contract ready"?

Mickey666

Deleted_User said:

I am buying a house for cash, to live in myself. I’ve always used the same conveyancing firm for previous house purchases. This house is contract ready, so I will pay the search fees separately on completion. What’s the best way to find a conveyancing firm and is it better to find one in my new area or does it not matter? Thanks in advance for any advice.

I've always used the same firm of solicitors for all my house purchases, even when they not local to the property, and never had any problems related to their location.  I can't see any particular advantage to using a conveyancer local to the property.