Whether you’re a first time buyer or seasoned mover, the process of finding a new home is exciting. However, it’s important to have the right assistance by your side to help make things run as smoothly as possible. Choosing the right conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer can make a huge difference to the process of buying and selling your home, but how can you make sure you’re making the right choice? This article covers some of our top tips for choosing the right conveyancer for you.
To find out more about the entire conveyancing process, download our free guides here:
Why is finding the right solicitor or conveyancer important?
Your conveyancer assists with the legal side of your transaction. This includes dealing with contracts, searches, mortgage offers, transfer of funds, the Land Registry, and more. Without this legal side of things, the transfer of ownership from one owner to another can’t happen. So, it’s a vital part of the home buying and selling process!
It’s important to choose the right conveyancer who is suitably qualified and you feel comfortable working with. You’ll probably have a lot of contact with them throughout the process, and they can really make or break your experience.
Bear in mind that finding the right conveyancer doesn’t just mean finding someone to handle the paperwork. It’s also about choosing someone who can be a trusted guide to help you navigate your property transaction. By carefully choosing the right conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer, you can start your property journey with confidence and have peace of mind that your transaction is in safe hands.
Should I choose a solicitor or a conveyancer when buying a house?
The terms solicitor and conveyancer are often used interchangeably. So, which one should you choose? There are slightly different qualifications to become a conveyancing solicitor or a licensed conveyancer, but they both perform essentially the same role, ensuring the legal transfer of ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer.
Where they differ is in their qualifications and who they are regulated by. To become a solicitor, you must train in different areas of law and so are usually qualified to offer a wider range of legal services. Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Licensed conveyancers are trained in property sales and purchases only and are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
So, which one to choose is a matter of personal choice. As long as you are choosing someone with suitable qualifications and experience, for most transactions it usually doesn’t matter whether they are a solicitor or licensed conveyancer.
Tips for how to choose a solicitor or conveyancer
When it comes to choosing a solicitor or conceyancer, what should you be looking out for? Here are our top tips to consider:
Credentials
Ensure that the conveyancer and the firm they work for are appropriately qualified and regulated to carry out the work. One to look out for is the Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation. This means you can be assured the firm operates to the highest standards. If you’re a buyer using a mortgage, choosing a firm that is also on all major lender panels will help to avoid problems and delays.
Experience
Experience is invaluable in the conveyancing world. You should ask your conveyancer if they have appropriate experience with similar transactions. This is especially true if your transaction has additional complexities, such as leaseholds, shared ownership, and new builds.
Transparent fees
Your conveyancer’s fees should be clear from the outset. Understanding the fee structure can help you plan and avoid nasty surprises. A trustworthy conveyancer should be happy to provide a straightforward breakdown of the fees you can expect to pay – this is what we do here at Setfords.
Communication
Communication should be clear and open from your very first interactions with your conveyancer. This is key to a successful working relationship. You should feel able to freely ask questions and seek updates from a conveyancer who is happy to provide them without judgement.
Look for recommendations
If you’re trying to choose a solicitor or conveyancer, asking people you know for their recommendations can give you very valuable information! Getting a real-life recommendation can be helpful, as you can get a first-hand account of the conveyancer and their services to help you decide if they are right for you.
Check their website
Often, looking at a conveyancing firm’s website will give you lots of insight into how their operate and serve their clients. You could also consider looking at their social media for more information. Do they seem professional and knowledgeable?
Search for reviews
Finally, one of the best ways to know that you’r making the right choice of solicitor or conveyancer is to look at reviews for the firm. Are they generally positive? Do they highlight areas that are important to you, such as clear communication or problem solving?
At Setfords, we are proud of the great reputation we have built for our conveyancing services. We have over 10,000 Trustpilot reviews and a consistently ‘Excellent’ score, with reviews from real clients like you. Click the button below to read more:
Conveyancing at Setfords
At Setfords, we have a unique model enabling our lawyers to work flexibly. They’re not tied down to a rigid structure or harsh targets. As such, they have more time to dedicate to you, the client, and deliver a truly personal service.
Plus, when you engage a Setfords lawyer, you’ll deal with them from start to finish without being handed off to a junior member of staff. Our lawyers have an average of 18 years of experience, so you’ll be getting partner-level expertise for a surprisingly affordable price.
Finally, we invest in the best technology, so it’s easy to work with your lawyer from almost anywhere in the world.
If this sounds like the sort of conveyancing firm you’d like to work with, please get in touch today to discuss how we can help you:
A guide to conveyancing
We understand that the conveyancing process can be confusing, but we’re here to guide you at every step of the way. Download our free guides below for more information about the buying and selling processes:
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