How to choose a conveyancer or solicitor

If you're buying or selling a home, there will come a time when you will need to choose a solicitor or a conveyancer to help with the legal transfer of the property.

Legal professionals are extremely important in keeping the buying and selling process on track and on time - they handle your contracts, carry out local authority searches, deal with the Land Registry and transfer funds when it is finally completion day. So, with so much to do, it’s important to pick one that’s right for you.

What’s the difference between a conveyancer and a solicitor?

Both conveyancers and solicitors are fully regulated and insured professionals, and when it comes to handling your property transaction, will operate in a very similar way. However, it is worth noting the differences between the two before you get started.

Conveyancers are specialist property lawyers who are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, and who focus largely on residential property transactions.

Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and offer a much broader legal service and are able to deal with more complex legal issues. Their knowledge beyond property conveyancing law is necessary when dealing with the likes of boundary disputes or if the sellers are separating and using more than one solicitor.

Have they been recommended?

Recommendations from friends or family are a great starting point, but most estate agents will be able to recommend a local solicitor or conveyancer if you’re struggling to find one. Your mortgage broker or financial adviser might also be able to recommend a firm.

Customer reviews from Google can also be really helpful when searching for reputable companies with honest customer feedback.

Also, if you had a great experience last time then, especially if the same staff are there, then you are likely to get that again.

Here at Bennet Samways we have some amazing relationships built over the years with conveyances and we are always happy to recommend.

What’s their communication like?

Property transfers are complicated and can often be time-consuming, so a solicitor or conveyancer who communicates well and gives you regular updates will make the whole process less stressful.

Having a key contact is essential, so find out if you will have a named individual looking after you and your sale. Ask if there are specific times when you can contact them and if they have a system that allows you to track how the purchase is progressing.

Also, don’t forget to check if they have any annual leave booked that could impact the transfer and ask who will step in if they're away. If holiday or sickness cover isn’t available, it could delay your house sale or purchase by a couple of weeks.

Understand and compare conveyancing fees

There are three different types of fees when it comes to conveyancing:

• Hourly rate
• Fixed fee
• Percentage cost

It’s advisable to get a couple of quotes first and ask for a full break down so that you can make a direct comparison. Make sure you check whether the total cost will be a fixed or if it could vary according to the workload.

And the final price should be inclusive of everything necessary to complete the sale, including searches, monetary transfers, stamp duty or land tax costs and Land Registry fees.

Also remember, you pay for what you get so the cheapest fee is often not the best service and experience.