Advice regarding choice of conveyancer/solicitor for FTB!

Gavin83

Wondered if I could get some advice regarding conveyancer/solicitor choices. So we're first time buyers who have just had an offer accepted on a house so we're now in the market for someone to handle the legal side. We've done some research, checked reviews and had some recommendations. We've narrowed it down to the following:

• A local firm 5 mins walk down the road. These have come highly recommended but they haven't inspired me with confidence so far. Despite having all the details and being corrected they've now placed the wrong stamp duty figure on our quote 3 times. I know is doesn't technically matter but I worry if they get such a basic detail wrong what else they'll get wrong when it does matter.
• Another place which has come recommended but is several hundred miles away.  
• A third place which have been very impressive in their correspondence so far but they're twice the price of the other two. These are based in Cambridge, about 15 miles away.
• Another local one but we're still researching.

It's also worth noting this is on paper a fairly simple sale. The only slight difficulty is we're using a Lifetime ISA but we aren't borrowing money, don't have difficult circumstances and there isn't anything obviously challenging about the property. It's also a freehold house. So I've got the following questions:

1) How important is who we go with given the above? I'm expecting that the cheaper companies will be slower and will need more correcting.
2) How important is distance to your solicitor?
3) I believe the reason why the 3rd option is more expensive is because they're a proper solicitor rather than a conveyancer, which I believe makes a difference. Given our circumstances aren't too complex do we need this extra service?

I'm expecting its somewhat a case of you get what you pay for but I obviously don't wish to spend the extra if there's no need to. By all means if there's anything I've missed or you've got some other advice let me know.

Thanks all!

moneysavinghero

You get what you pay for.

Being local is not of major importance. Everything can be done via post. But having the option of popping in (even the 15 mile one gives the option) can be handy occasionally but not necessary.

Where the more expensive service may come in handy is that they wont have as many other clients to deal with. You will get better communication and possibly a speedier service.

grumiofoundation

I’m with you, quoting the wrong SDLT wouldn’t fill be with confidence! 

We did use a local solicitor but we only went there once during the whole process, and we could have done that by post. 

In your OP you say you are using lifetime ISA but aren’t borrowing money (does this mean you aren’t using a mortgage?). 

Because one of the conditions of using LISA is you must be buying with a mortgage. 

https://www.gov.uk/lifetime-isa

Gavin83

grumiofoundation said:

I’m with you, quoting the wrong SDLT wouldn’t fill be with confidence! 

We did use a local solicitor but we only went there once during the whole process, and we could have done that by post. 

In your OP you say you are using lifetime ISA but aren’t borrowing money (does this mean you aren’t using a mortgage?). 

Because one of the conditions of using LISA is you must be buying with a mortgage. 

https://www.gov.uk/lifetime-isa

Apologies, I should have made this more clear. I meant we aren't borrowing money from family or similar, our whole deposit has been saved by us. We are however getting a mortgage. We've got an 85% LTV ratio.

I'm also aware it's important for the solicitor to be on your lenders panel so we're in the process of checking this as well.