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Original poster

DIY conveyancing

18 replies

noddyholder · 16/10/2005 10:05

Have any of you done this?
Our solicitors last time were apparently some of the best for this area but the service was appalling and really expensive.We are looking at moving costs atm and with the estate agents aswell it is very costly.My dp thinks we could do it but I don't want a huge mess Any ideas very greatful Also if you have sold yourself any tips?

OP posts:
dinny · 16/10/2005 10:10

have you any conveyancing experience, Noddyholder?
if not, then I'd say a big don't do it!

dinny · 16/10/2005 10:10

you won't have anyone to sue if it all cocks up!

MamaG · 16/10/2005 10:12

I've been a legal secretary for 12 years and I wouldn't do my own conveyancing!

Why don't you try to find a licenced conveyancer? Often cheaper than Solicitors but just as good.

dinny · 16/10/2005 10:20

MamaG, our sale ballsed up last year due to a totally crap conveyancer our buyer used. Really inexperienced. Though probably get good ones, this year dh and I had decided we wouldn't go with anyone not using a solicitor.

Think it's a case of getting what you pay for, isn't it?

Noddyholder - our solicitor is doing our conveyancing on a no-sale no-fee basis (good as our sale collapsed last year and left us out of pocket)

Original poster
noddyholder · 16/10/2005 10:27

I am seeing the warning signs!I have no experience of conveyancing apart from a book which I have read through which I'm sure has simplified the whole thing and made it sound very attractive and easy!Thanks for your replies keep them coming

OP posts:
Freckle · 16/10/2005 10:45

The reason solicitors usually do conveyancing is because they are trained to do it and it isn't something which can just be done by looking at a book. Something might seem simple enough, but a solicitor would notice something seemingly innocuous but which could turn out to be incredibly important/expensive if missed.

Ring around solicitors, find out their rates and also ask for recommendations. If you're looking to save money, you'd save far more by cutting out the estate agents.

skinnycow · 16/10/2005 10:58

another vote for dont even think about it. Solicitors are properly trained. If you're thinking of saving costs, then get your own for sale sign made and save on the more wasteful cost of estate agency.

Im never sure why people think the solicitors costs are a waste of money whereas everyone is happy to pay the estate agent. Just out of curiosity, how much have you been quoted for sols fees and estate agency?

Original poster
noddyholder · 16/10/2005 11:20

Looking at the figures closely the estate agents are way more so that may be the road to go down.Estate agents fees are about 6000whereas the solicitor is only about 1000 if you take off the disbursements so I can see what the big costs are!

OP posts:
dinny · 16/10/2005 11:21

try negotiating the agent's fees, NH. we're paying 1.5% (multiple agency too)

Original poster
noddyholder · 16/10/2005 16:51

We haven't proceeded yet we have a couple of things to do in the house first but I can't believe it will be 10k or more just to move house!

OP posts:
skinnycow · 16/10/2005 16:58

i sat with a friend when various valuers came to appraise her property and not only did the price of the property fluctuate between £175k to £190k but the fees also varied between 1-2% plus VAT - extortionate!

Orinoco · 16/10/2005 19:52

Message withdrawn

Mirage · 16/10/2005 20:29

I wouldn't attempt my own conveyancing,but will not use estate agents when we sell our current house.Buying & selling without agents is easy & you'll save more than you would trying to do your own conveyancing.

jodee · 16/10/2005 20:41

I would also not recommend trying conveyancing yourself. Try ringing round a few and go for the middle ground. No-sale-no-fee doesn't necessarily mean you well get a better service; they catch you with their 'hidden' disbursements, or you may find there is no-one on the other end of the phone when you need to speak to someone and they don't call you back.
Agree with Orinico about mortgage lenders - they can be really fussy. I work for an honest sole practitioner, who doesn't charge extortionate fees, and some mortgage lenders won't let him on their panel because he's a one man band .. but a law practice of two crooks, now that's ok, apparently!

dinny · 16/10/2005 20:44

dh says freehold conveyancing not so tricky...

Orinoco, never heard of lenders being funny about licenced conveyancers...will that make them decline to lend?

Kaz33 · 19/10/2005 23:44

Freehold conveyancing relatively easy but no lender will lend it you do your own conveyancing.

mawbroon · 20/10/2005 00:06

I've worked in mortgages for a good few years now and would echo the earlier posts about lenders being fussy about who does the conveyancing. It's all about your solicitor being on the lenders panel or meeting the criteria to be accepted onto the lenders panel.

I certainly don't see the harm in reading up about it though so that you have an idea of what your solicitor should be doing and when so that you can keep on top of the situation rather than leaving it entirely in your solicitors hands.

HTH

Freckle · 20/10/2005 08:54

What normally happens is that, if you do your own conveyancing, the mortgage lender will appoint their own solicitors to deal with their work (normally your solicitor will act for you and the mortgagee) and the cost will be passed on to you. So you end up paying for a solicitor anyway and have to do most of the work yourself! Hardly worth the effort. Much, much simpler to market the property and save on the estate agents' fees.

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