Conveyancing solicitors....any recommendations?

[beaver33]

Morning all....DH and I are planning to put in an offer (our first!!) on a property today. We're obv v naive about how the whole thing works, but our main issue is a need to move very quickly.

In a nutshell, I'm nearly 5 months pregnant, and our rental agreement runs out in mid-Feb and we don't want to have to renew for another 6 months.

Can anyone recommend a good, speedy conveyancing solicitor?? I'm told they don't exist, but there must be someone out there who's had a positive experience...

We're in London, but have also been told we can pick a solicitor anywhere in the country - is that right?

[wendybird77]

We used www.movingahead.co.uk. Leanne was excellent and we went from offer to moving in in 5 weeks. There is a form on the website for a free quote. We've used her twice and she's been great both times.

[Rhubarbgarden]

Meaby and Co in South London are excellent. They pushed ours through very quickly.

[LondonSuperTrooper]

If you find a good one, then please share.

In the meantime, I can tell who NOT to go to. Langleys Solicitors in Micklegate, York are absolutely useless and utterly rubbish!

[notcitrus]

Use one nearby so you can drop docs off there and importantly be nice to the receptionist!
We used one recommended by the estate agent and the agent down the road.

[legalalien]

We used this lady

www.macdonaldoates.co.uk/people/clare-dove/

She was extremely helpful and efficient, and refused to become involved in the various dramas being created by both parties' estate agents.

We are in london too.

[RatherNot]

If time is of the essence, it may be worth looking at an attended exchange (where your conveyancer 'attends' the office of the vendor's, clutching your deposit) or asking for your searches to be fast-tracked. Both will cost more but might be worthwhile as you'll want time to settle before the baby. Good luck!

[pjp51]

I am a Licensed Conveyancer (Specialist Property Lawyer). Although I deal with all aspects of conveyancing I am providing advice in relation to your exisiting tenancy.
I asssume you have an assured shorthold tenancy which ends in mid February. However, unless the landlord has served you with a notice of at least two months to bring your tenancy to an end in mid February your tenancy will continue beyond mid February as a periodic assured shorthold until the landlord gives you at least two months' notice or you give the landlord at least one month's notice on the basis that your rent is payable monthly.
I hope this helps to put your mind at rest about having to commit to another six months if your can't complete your purchase by mid February

[Baubleswithdiamonds]

What happened with Langleys London? They are on our mortgage lenders' approved list... we were given no choice who to instruct...

I had a very positive experience with Kate Mitchell of Sutton-Mattocks

[nocake]

We used Simpson Millar (find them online) and were very happy with their price and service.

[LondonSuperTrooper]

Baubles we have been given Langleys by our mortgage provider and have no choice in the matter (well we can get our own solicitor but mortgage provider will not pay for them).

I have them found them inefficient and really hard to get hold of. My solicitor does not return phone calls or emails. I am still waiting for a reply to an email sent 27 November!

I have complained to them and to my mortgage provider to no avail. I have threatened to report them to the Law Society if they don't get their backsides in gear. I am simply fed up but keep trying to be positive in that I am saving £1.5k by not using my own solicitor.

Which branch of Langleys have you been given?

[Baubleswithdiamonds]

Same branch as you london - our situation is a little complicated so we are using more than one - neither for free though. They have been fine so far but I was a bit at not being able to choose and not being able to use a local approved solicitor.

[anameforahouse]

I would say make sure you get a proper solicitor, don't go for the cheapest option. We did. We dealt with a very nice conveyancer. Nice as she was, she simply didn't have the knowledge a properly qualifies solicitor does, and was unable to give us proper advice on issues which came up in the sale. I got more useful info from talking to two random solicitors on the phone whom I wasn't even paying than from the conveyancer firm! There was a proper solicitor there but we never got to talk to him.
They also passed on a £300 charge from the buyers solicitor which I felt they should have questioned. I questioned it with them, got no helpful advice. I did my own research via google, turns out I didn't have to pay it all. So their cheapness could well have been a false economy!

[LondonSuperTrooper]

baubles which solicitor is dealing with your case?

[Baubleswithdiamonds]

Hi london sorry, would rather not say as they have been fine so far - prompt and up to date with anything. I'm more irritated with the stupid system, which dictates which solicitor I can use (and we still have to pay for them!).

Really hope you get your problems sorted soon (DM me if you want to find out more about who we hsve),

[cq]

I can highly recommend Adrian Wright of Wilkins Solicitors in Aylesbury. (We live nowhere near Aylesbury).

We've used him for 4 house transactions over the years and he is always very thorough, down to earth and efficient.
Never had to put him under time pressure so I don't know if he's the fastest but we've never had to chase him or felt he was dragging his feet.

What I can say is that in every case we have had some legal anomaly such as shared rear access, lack of required building regs etc and he has always highlighted the issues to us and put the required squeeze on the vendors to get everything straight before we complete.

3 of the 4 four house purchases were carried out while we lived overseas and he took all of that extra complication in his stride.

I've recommended him to several friends over the years and I've never heard anyone say a bad word about him.

[Busyoldfool]

Another recommendation for Sutton-Mattocks here. Susan Goddard did mine and has acted for several others I know. London

[austenozzy]

mentors in bury st edmunds were great with us. hope this helps.

[kitchensynch]

The services provided at Ashworth Wimbledon Solicitors (www.ashworths-solicitors.co.uk); have been very pleasing for me. I had to sell the house and had troubles in finding the right party. Anyhow, I luckily did. I asked Ashworth to review the details and contract documents and take responsibility of whole procedure. They were professional and answered all my sensitive queries.
I was happy that the contract completed at the set date. All service packages were highly satisfying and provided at a competitive price. I am very delighted to further recommend them to anyone who are buying or selling their house.

[Misteranderson]

I used a great firm of solicitors recently through www.shareamortgage.com/conveyancing. I worked with Shehani who was great. I got mobile number, email and direct dial. You know what its like when you're pulling your hair out and just want to speak to a human, well that is what i got at Share a Mortgage. Better still, it cost me £469 all in - wahooo!!!

Well worth a call if you are moving; certainly helped me.

[Gemma77]

We are using simply conveyancing and they have been great - cant fault them at all.

What we have learnt is that no matter how good your solicitor is.... the process will still be drawn out if others in the chain have rubbish solicitors

[Jammygal]

Two things I would say;
1 Don't go for the cheapest! You want excellent service even if you pay a little more. After all this is one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make...why go poundland when for a little more you can get John lewis. Think how much the estate agents make comparatively.
2 Don't listen to the estate agents recommendations for solicitors. Most of the time they are receiving backhanders...corrupt I know but this is the truth of the matter.

[juneybean]

I'm using Howells in Cardiff and they have been very good for me, very pro active

[juneybean]

Ohh ffs old thread

[Greatwell]

I used SAM Conveyancing, part of the Share a Mortgage group.
I bought a flat three months ago and the process was done and dusted in three weeks.
I only had to deal with one solicitor, who was fantastic, and did actually pick the phone up when I had wanted news on progress.

I really respected that the initial quote was fixed - there were no hidden extras - and it was £529 including the VAT.

You really could do a lot worse than these guys if you need conveyancers, recommended.

[hospidium]

I agree with @Jammygal on both points. Do not just go for the cheapest solicitor you can find. Often some of the cheaper quotes have hidden fees attached to them, so be very careful. Make sure you get a fixed fee quote from whoever you decide to instruct. Some other points to consider:

1. What about using a licensed conveyancer? Often these can be considerably cheaper than a solicitor, but can in fact do exactly the same for you and manage your move.
   

1. Local or online - Do your research. Take a look at reviews of the solicitors you are considering and listen to any recommendations from trusted friends.
   

Remember this is probably your biggest spend of your life, so do your homework and choose the right one for your situation.

I have used the service from The Conveyancing Network but I have also used Homebuyer Conveyancing

Good websites where you can arrange a callback at a time to suit you and instruct your solicitor with a fixed fee price all online.

Bottom line is ... Do your homework, don't always go with the cheapest!