We've finally accepted an offer! - Online conveyancing??

dekh

Hi,

The problem with the panel introducers is that they charge the client an extra fee for the introduction (sometimes quite hefty fees).

For a £150,000 sale on-line you could get: Total Estimated Charges £339.81 if you go direct to a conveyancer - including fees and disbursements.

Cheers

Poppycat

dekh that post will be removed see referral forum also this post below

REFERRAL POSTS

Posts from which site users gain are permitted only on the Referrers Board. This includes links to rpoints etc threads. Any posted elsewhere will be moved to the Referrers Board. Links to the referrals board from the main forums are not allowed.

This also includes members saying "Please PM me for code" or "check my post on referrers". The overriding rule is that no advertising is allowed on the main forums.

dekh

Ooops, sorry post edited.

I don't get any benefit, I don't own the site, I am proud of the quote system though, it's the only one I've found that complies with the Solicitors Regulation Authority Rules. And people will get a genuine discount if they've come from the MSE boards.

Off to edit another post!

Cheers

ZCC72

On-line solicitors are all well and good if you are not too concerned about the length of time a transaction takes, or being able to speak to the same person more than once! It is generally difficult to get to speak to the "case handler" (that's the person dealing with the matter), and is akin to speaking with a call centre! However, if (as previously said) you have a straightforward freehold title, with no defects, no access issues, no restrictive covenants or S157 agreements, etc, you will be fine. However, if you do encounter these issues, then chances are there will be lengthy delays. The problem is, as a lay person, knowing whether you are going to have these problems before you start. Low cost is not necessarily the route to go - it would depend on your circumstances and preferences.

dweeby

ZCC72 wrote: »

On-line solicitors are all well and good if you are not too concerned about the length of time a transaction takes, or being able to speak to the same person more than once! It is generally difficult to get to speak to the "case handler" (that's the person dealing with the matter), and is akin to speaking with a call centre!

Is this something you have experience of?

Because, I'm currently using Abode (link above). I have a direct dial phone number, direct email and direct fax for my solicitor (not "case handler"). I prefer to email, but generally get an answer within a couple of hours. The only person I've ever had any contact with is the solicitor (called Dean!).

Whilst our situation is a simple one, conveyancing is currently going really quickly. Who've you used, and what's your experience been?

ZCC72

dweeby wrote: »

Is this something you have experience of?

Because, I'm currently using Abode (link above). I have a direct dial phone number, direct email and direct fax for my solicitor (not "case handler"). I prefer to email, but generally get an answer within a couple of hours. The only person I've ever had any contact with is the solicitor (called Dean!).

Whilst our situation is a simple one, conveyancing is currently going really quickly. Who've you used, and what's your experience been?

I am glad you have found a good one Dweeby - to answer your question, I am a conveyancer, who has previously worked for both on-line conveyancing firms and in High Street practice. I am not tarring all on-line firms with the same brush, as there are some very good ones out there, but due to the high level of cases usually taken on by each fee earner, it is sometimes not possible to deal with complex matters. As the fees are "low" (by the time a chunk of the costs have been taken by the referal company!) then there is a "make 'em cheap, stack 'em high" vibe.

From a practitioners' point of view, I much prefer to see my clients in person, build a relationship with them, and by doing this, help them achieve their goals in the least stressful way!

I can honestly say, however, that I have not yet dealt with Abode, and am glad your experiences have all been positive - I look forward to working with them in the future!

Richard_Webster

I am glad you have found a good one Dweeby - to answer your question, I am a conveyancer, who has previously worked for both on-line conveyancing firms and in High Street practice. I am not tarring all on-line firms with the same brush, as there are some very good ones out there, but due to the high level of cases usually taken on by each fee earner, it is sometimes not possible to deal with complex matters. As the fees are "low" (by the time a chunk of the costs have been taken by the referal company!) then there is a "make 'em cheap, stack 'em high" vibe.

From a practitioners' point of view, I much prefer to see my clients in person, build a relationship with them, and by doing this, help them achieve their goals in the least stressful way!

I can honestly say, however, that I have not yet dealt with Abode, and am glad your experiences have all been positive - I look forward to working with them in the future!

I generally agree. The abode website at least makes a great point of condemning the extras that we have been complaining about on this and under threads but like ZCC72 I have never actually encountered them in practice.

I think one of the problems with factory operations is that as soon as there is something not straightforward they basically haven't got the time to explain it to the client so some grey area issue can appear completely bad (or not a problem at all) possibly because of the way the explanation has been oversimplified to the client.

dweeby

ZCC72 wrote: »

I am a conveyancer, who has previously worked for both on-line conveyancing firms and in High Street practice.

Ooo-er... so you are someone who knows what they're talking about!!!

Sorry if my post appeared to be confrontational.

It's ages since I dealt with a local firm, but our overal experience has been good. However, we've had very simple moves with no complications and I'm sure the "pile them high, sell 'em cheap" approach is true.

I just like paying less!

ZCC72

dweeby wrote: »

I just like paying less!

Don't we all!!

dekh

Not all on line conveyancers are "call centre" operations. I don't think Richard, for example, - even though I would say he is an online solicitor - he's here right - is a call centre operation. Feel free to correct me.

It's difficult to work out who a lot of the people advertising as conveyancors are.

abodeconveyancing for instance were incorporated in 2002

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/f3111cd09b7369b41578d460e93fcd9f/compdetails

So they aren't solicitors.

If you can get to it, their about us page has:

"abode charges an administration fee of £75 + vat, for each sale or purchase and £50 + vat for a remortgage WHICH IS FULLY INCLUDED IN YOUR ONLINE QUOTE as part of "Total Fees". Preferential rates for conveyancing have been negotiated with reputable firms around the country."

So you pay a referral fee to abode for the priviledge of them passing a solicitor on to you.

The big problem with this is demonstrated on these boards. A few individuals have recommended abodeconveyancing but the work has been done by some random solicitor around the country and you won't necessarily get the same firm of solicitors never mind the same solicitor as the person giving the recommendation.

Not all solicitors are equal in ability and dilligence.

Any website owned by a solicitor must clearly state who the firms Partners are whatever the website is called so if the website doesn't say it, it can't be a solicitor you are talking to - or they aren't following the rules.

Your initial letters should say who is really doing the conveyancing and your quote and bill should say how much referral fees were paid out by you to the introducer.

There are moves within the Solicitors Regulation Authority to ban referral fees altogether. I think this can only be a good thing. Remove the no added value middle men who often charge more for the referral than the solicitor gets for doing the job!

When you come across a "cheap conveyancing" site try to work out how much they get and how much the solicitor gets and see if you can get to the solicitor direct.

I would, however, be interested to know how much abode paid for it's inbound links on the web, and how much it is paying each month to maintain them. But that's something I'm unlikely to ever know...