Buying your home is probably one of the most important financial transactions of your life, so getting it done right is really important. This means making sure that the people you employ to act on your behalf need to be the right people for you.
When choosing a conveyancer, here are a few top tips to help make sure everything goes smoothly;
- Don’t be afraid to ask trusted family and friends for recommendations. Like everything else, personal experience and recommendation from trusted sources is a great starting point.
- Make sure the firm you choose is properly qualified and registered for conveyancing work. Conveyancing is a specialist area of the law and it’s important that your representative is an experienced licensed conveyancer or solicitor with plenty of experience in this field of expertise. Check the firm’s registration with their accrediting bodies.
- Don’t just go with the conveyancer recommended by the estate agent. Like all business sectors, many firms will have reciprocal arrangements for recommending new clients. This might not always be in your primary interest.
- Make sure the conveyancer is aware of important information before they quote you. For example, are you a first-time buyer? Is there a lease or other agreement in place on the property, will the property be subject to a mortgage, will you be using a government scheme to help you buy your home, etc. In order to get an accurate quote, you need to provide the detail that is relevant.
- Decide how best you’d like to communicate with your representative. If a face-to-face discussion is important, you’ll want to use a local firm. If email or telephone is more convenient then an online or remote service might help.
- Remember the importance of local knowledge! Sometimes, there is nothing better than local knowledge. If your conveyancer is buying and selling property in the area on a daily basis ‘red flags’ are more likely to be triggered even before formal searches have been completed, such as plans for new roads, sewage works and housing developments! Local knowledge can be very useful.
- Confirm whether your quote is just that, an approximate estimate, or a fixed fee. Then check whether it includes all the additional expenses and add-ons such as search fees and any additional fees incurred acting for the lender (as they will usually be asked to act for them too) and VAT.
- Go for value - not the cheapest! Remember, your representative is dealing with a very big personal asset/liability. Don’t skimp here. That doesn’t mean the most expensive is the best either!
Related articles:
Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide
Recent posts
Budgeting over the Christmas Period
4 days ago
The most wonderful time of the year can easily turn into the most expensive time of the year. Watching the pennies doesn’t mean that the Christmas festivities have to stop, following a few budgeting tips can mean you still have a special Christmas and don’t go into the new year in debt.
Preparing your home to sell in winter
8 days ago
December is usually a less desirable time to buy as many people don’t want to move over the holidays. However, prospective buyers do start to look at this time. Selling your home in winter may require a bit of extra attention to showcase your property at its best.
We look at why mortgage rates increased following the Bank of England's choice to reduce the bank rate, and should you fix now?
UK 2024 Autumn Budget: Housing
30 Oct 2024
On 30th October 2024 the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves delivered the Autumn budget which we had previously been warned would be “difficult”. Below we have summarised the main housing points.
Talking about money with kids
23 Oct 2024
In an increasingly cashless society, money is an intangible concept for children to grasp. In the days of coins and notes, kids could see money as something physical you require to purchase goods and services.
In order to help teach your children about money, we have listed some tips below;
Labour Autumn Budget Predictions: Housing
18 Oct 2024
The UK’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves will deliver the Labour government’s autumn budget at the end of the month, we take a look at what could be announced in relation to housing.
Recent research from Halifax has revealed the most sought-after locations for first time buyers in Britain.
The data which was taken from the Halifax House Price Index looked at areas outside of London where those looking to purchase their first property were buying. Despite high property prices and increased rates, these first time buyer hotspots have remained popular.
How can I look after my mental health?
7 Oct 2024
Taking care of your mental health means looking after your emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. There are several ways we can practice self-care that will help to improve our physical and mental health. This can help to reduce our risk of illness, manage stress, and boost our energy levels!
More information
Trusted by
