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If you are looking for a conveyancing solicitor to help with property transactions, you have come to the right place as this article will help you choose the right one. Here is a mini-guide from Brian Barr to help you choose a good conveyancing solicitor.
1. Get Recommendations from People You Trust
Recommendations from people you trust such as your family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors can help you make an informed decision as the recommendations are not biased. People who know of a good solicitor are willing to refer you to the solicitor and help you avoid those solicitors who may have caused them problems.
2. Choose a CQS-Accredited Solicitor
CQS is the Law Society’s Conveyancing Scheme, a register of solicitors who are regulated and authorized by the Solicitors Regulation Authority regarding conveyancing that is the buying and selling of houses. Find out more on this at the Law Society website, 020 7320 5650.
3. Is There A Full List of Conveyancing Solicitors?
Yes. To find this list, visit the Law Society’s Find a Solicitor search facility (which is free to use). At the last count, there were 159,629 names on the official Law Society database of legal professionals.
4. Choose a Conveyancing Solicitor Near You
Even though you can choose a solicitor in the Outer Hebrides, it is easier to choose a solicitor near you as it will be easy for you to visit the solicitor’s offices if the need arises. Solicitors near you also understand more about local and potential problems.
Your estate agent may recommend a good solicitor (if they recommend one solicitor, ask if they earn a commission for every person they refer).
5. Don’t Hire a Relative
Even if your relative is a solicitor and gives you “mates ‘rates,” don’t hire him or her. Keep in mind that conveyancing is a business, not a social engagement. When you are in a contract race, you need a conveyancing solicitor who is on the ball and not one who does your conveyancing while doing more lucrative jobs.
National Reach
Ideally, the solicitor you choose should balance between the service of a local solicitor with the expertise and national reach you need. You should hire an experienced solicitor and an experienced firm that has worked on a national scale can be able to give you this.
Ensure that the solicitor you choose will help you get the right blend of service and expertise. You can achieve this by choosing a solicitor with local and national experience.
6. Ask How Much the Conveyancing services Will Cost
This is a very important question to ask the solicitor you want to hire. Avoid a firm that is vague about how much they charge for their services. Some solicitors have their own in-house conveyancing departments that charge lower fees than the senior partner of the firm.
There is nothing worse than getting a surprisingly high bill for “disbursements”, that is expenses the solicitor has incurred making inquiries on your behalf. While this may be unavoidable when problems occur, ensure that you get a written quote that gives you an upper and lower figure.
7. Compare 2 or 3 Firms
When getting quotes, listen to whether one firm sounds more helpful or more interested in getting your business than other firms.
8. Keep Nagging
It is not good for your solicitor to be silent. It may mean that a rival bid that you may not be aware of is being pushed through. As such, it is good to constantly contact your solicitor by phone and email. Only exchange contracts after checking that any agreed remedial works have been done. Get buildings insurance immediately after exchanging contracts.
9. There are Winners and Losers
Sometimes, you may lose out to a rival bid by no fault of your solicitor (maybe the rival bid put a higher offer). Nonetheless, you will have to pay your solicitor for their work.
10. Chapter and Verse
The Government site clearly says what the buyer and the vendor is each responsible for.
Range of Services
It is good to choose a firm that specializes in the area of law that is relevant to your situation as there are different specialties in law. For instance, if you want to make a personal injury claim, look for an experienced solicitor who specializes in personal injury law. If you are affected by a dispute over land, you should look for a firm the specializes in this area of law. Different solicitors have different skills. As such, you should look for one with the skills that suit your needs.
Reputation
Just like any other profession, all solicitors are not created equal. There are good solicitors and not so good solicitors. The good news is that there are many ways to know the reputation of a solicitor. Apart from word of mouth, online reviews can help you have a rough idea of what to expect in case you hire a certain solicitor. It is important to choose the right solicitor to handle your affairs. So, take your time when looking for a solicitor so that you can make an informed decision.
11. Don’t Delay
If you get a house you would like to buy, make an offer, insisting on exclusivity and requesting for it to be taken off the market. Ensure that you have your finance in place in advance.
