May, 2022
Moving home is stressful, however choosing the right conveyancer can be critical to ensure a smooth exchange.
We have created 5 top tips to help you choose the right conveyancer for you.
Conveyancing describes the legal process of transferring a property title from an owner to a new buyer. This process is key to every property sale. Both buyers and sellers are required to fulfil a number of legal responsibilities regarding the transfer of deeds.
Check that the firm you are considering using is regulated by one of the legal sector regulators. Only regulated lawyers and firms can do your conveyancing for you (especially if there is a mortgage involved).
Regulators ensure that, should something go wrong, you will be protected and have a clear way to settle any disputes if needed. Usually, regulated firms will have a secure badge on their website that you can use to check the status of that website and the firm behind it.
It’s worth thinking about the way the firm works with its clients and does that suit you. For instance, do you prefer to do things electronically or in person?
While it is important to ensure you receive a full and clear quote, price shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision on who you appoint.
Recommendations from family and friends are a good indicator of a quality service, as are reviews on sites such as Trustpilot and Feefo. The quality of the service is far more important than the cost.
Check if the quote you have received is a fixed fee or not and ask for a detailed breakdown of exactly what is included. For example, does it include charges for searches, Land Registry fees and Stamp Duty? If not, you will need to factor these costs in on top of the quote for the legal work. Furthermore, if your purchase is non-standard, (for example, if you are buying a leasehold property or using Help to Buy) there may be additional legal costs involved.
When you’re shopping around, let conveyancers know if anything might be out of the ordinary to ensure the quote will be an accurate one.
Once a price has been agreed for a house sale, estate agents will often recommend a conveyancer for you to use. If you don’t know who you will be appointing this can be a useful starting point in looking for a firm, but you should still shop around.
Your estate agent should tell you if they are receiving a fee for the recommendation, and your conveyancer is also required to do so. If they don’t mention it, make sure you ask them so that you understand exactly where your money is going.
HS Homes of Solihull is a small independent estate agent based in Shirley, Solihull. If you are interested to know what your home is worth, call us on 0121 430 4448. Alternatively, click here to book a free market appraisal.
