Remote Conveyancers

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 MeMeMe 22 Jun 2021

For reasons I'm not going into we selling a house that we live some distance from. There's no estate agent involved but we do obviously need a conveyancer. 

What's going to cause us the least hassle, getting a conveyancer local to us so it's easier for us to visit them if necessary, or getting one close to the house so that they know the area?

Also is there an advantage, or is it even possible, for the same conveyancer to work for both parties?

 chris_r 22 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

The same conveyancer can't act for both sides. Conflict of interest.

Close to you for signatures & document drop offs might be useful, plus physically going and harassing them when you don't hear anything for 4 weeks. There's no need for them to know the area/property providing they are in the same nation (eg don't get an English conveyancer for a Scottish property sale).

 stubbed 22 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

In my minimal experience (3 houses bought) I would say find one near to the house as they know the local area, for searches etc. I don't think you'd need to meet them these days.

I think it's a big disadvantage to have the same conveyancer working for both parties. You want one that only has your interests in mind.

 neilh 22 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

Agree with others, a disaster if the same one acts for both. I suspect that professionally they are not allowed to do that anyway. If they say they can I would not trust them at all.

 Alkis 22 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

Just don't use one of the big national companies and *especially* do not under *any* circumstances use Premium Property Lawyers.

 thomasadixon 22 Jun 2021
In reply to neilh:

Separate offices are allowed to act on either side of transactions (subject to certain requirements) and it does make things faster.  Harder for one side to blame the other too.

 Toccata 22 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

I used Beaumont Legal (Wakefield) to buy a house in Derbyshire. Perhaps not the most slick organisation but only cost £800.

 Snyggapa 22 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

I used one that I had used before , small "two partner one office" type local solicitor - he was used initially because he was local, then used again when we moved away because he was good and pragmatic the first time, then again from a longer distance because he was still good.  £800+vat which I thought was fair.

All done remotely these days although it may be more painful if you have no initial relationship and hence they have to do a "prove who you are" type thing.

I would stay away from chains and low cost conveyance, for me it was valuable to be able to phone up the man who half-owns the company for an update - even if he wasn't likely to be actually doing much of the monkey work, he did at least do the title checks and explain the covenant restrictions and risks. 

 neilh 22 Jun 2021
In reply to thomasadixon:

I would dread to think what happens in the event of a dispute. It may be allowed but is it sensible.....no.

 thomasadixon 22 Jun 2021
In reply to neilh:

It’s non contentious work...

If you mean between lawyer and client then it’s exactly the same as having separate lawyers (yours is yours and has liability to you).  Happens all the time FYI.

 Hooo 22 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

I would prefer to use one local to the house. For my first property purchase I used a conveyancer that was recommended but not local. They weren't aware of a local scheme that meant the sale was exempt from stamp duty, so I paid this unnecessarily. To their credit, when I found out and told them they immediately sent me a cheque for the stamp duty that I'd paid, but I only got this because I happened to hear about the scheme myself.

 neilh 22 Jun 2021
In reply to thomasadixon:

Just because it happens all the time in other legal areas does not exactly fill me with confidence in the event of a dispute between the parties in a housing conveyance.

Buying a house ...no way would I ever entertain the same legal or conveyancing adviser as the other party.

I would not entertain it.Too cosy and conflict of interest springs to mind.I would want somebody who protects my interest and my interest alone.

And although its usually non contentious until such a time as suddenly against the odds it becomes contentious.

Post edited at 15:39
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 thomasadixon 22 Jun 2021
In reply to neilh:

It happens all the time in this particular area of law.  Up to you what you do, of course, but I don’t think your concern is warranted.  If it gets contentious conveyancers step out anyway, they don’t do that kind of work.

 Qwerty2019 22 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

Use the best one you can afford.  Either by recommendation or by experience.  Any other suggestion is bollocks.  Its a major purchase and a good conveyancing solicitor can save you 10x in heartache and money.

My wife has worked in private and commercial conveyancing for over 25 years.  They are constantly run off their feet, pick and choose their clients (They quote cost based on customer & job, not on percentage) and give the best service they can.  I am in the middle of buying a new house and i have had the pleasure of seeing the reems of paperwork they have gone through for me (Free of charge).  There were 4 A4 pages of queries and issues on the sellers paperwork (New build so should have been bullet proof). However they are still inundated with idiots who think that they are a more worthy cause than others.  My wife had a guy on the phone the other week who wasn't even being represented by her firm of solicitors.  He was trying to bypass his own incompetent solicitors to get the searches etc hurried up.  His own solicitor phoned up the next day to apologize.

Lets put it this way.  My wife handed me some paperwork i had to sign and get witnessed by someone at work.  She marked everything in pencil for me and the witness.  We still managed to mess it up and put the address in the wrong box.  I am one of those idiots She reckons at least 50% of people are unable to complete a form and return it to her.  Then they blame her when she has to get it completed again.

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 neilh 22 Jun 2021
In reply to thomasadixon:

You have summed up for me why I would not use conveyancers for a house purchase... it may get contentious... and then you get caught out....you are left in the middle not knowing which way to turn.

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 neilh 22 Jun 2021
In reply to Qwerty2019:

Spot on.

 MG 22 Jun 2021
In reply to thomasadixon:

> It’s non contentious work...

House buying, that famously non-contentious process that always proceeds without a hitch.

 thomasadixon 22 Jun 2021
In reply to neilh:

Sorry maybe I’m just not explaining well...anyone who specialises in this area is a conveyancer regardless of qualification.  Anyone who does that will likely not take on the work if it turns contentious (that’s for litigators), most lawyers specialise and don’t act outside that specialism.

It can only turn contentious (in legal terms) after exchange, anyone can pull out up to that point.

Post edited at 16:37
 LastBoyScout 23 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

If you're only selling, use whoever you can get a good recommendation for, regardless of location.

Local means it's easier to fill in forms and they won't get lost in the post (like what happened to us last year with one document, despite being sent recorded), but that's about it.

Use a small company, though. Be aware that some companies these days are just a front for big off-shore conveyancing companies - can get away with it, as so much can be done online now. Actually worked in my favour when I sold my last house, as my buyer's team didn't ask any awkward questions about my then neighbour.

 Babika 23 Jun 2021
In reply to MeMeMe:

Go for a named recommendation from someone who has used the firm very recently. Local doesn't matter. 

As others have said, you get what you pay for. Don't be too penny pinching or you will have massive stress. 

My least stressful conveyances have been the 4 I did myself, both buying and selling. Its legal but becoming increasingly difficult as the other lot often refuse to deal with you claiming money laundering. Sigh. 


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