Anyone bought a property while not living in UK

[Letslet]

We are overseas at the moment but I went back to the UK a few weeks ago and offered on a house. My estate agent has stated that if we use their conveyancing co we won't need to come back for exchange/completion. However if we use another conveyancing co we will is this true? Just had the quote from EA's conveyancers and quite expensive compared with other competitors but we live a long haul/expensive flight away so don't want to risk having to come back to complete paperwork if EA turns out to be right . Anyone have experience of this?

And this is why EAs get a bad name.

We're in the Southern Hemisphere and have just bought a house (Surrey). Our solicitor communicated by email and the only paperwork we had to send by airmail was a returned signed copy of the contract.

Completion took place a couple of weeks ago

Tell your EA to behave.

yes, I think your EA is pulling a fast one - why on earth would you not need to return if using their conveyancing co, but you would with any other one?

If their's can do it without you returning to the country, surely another one can too??

Make a few phone calls to other solicitors. I would purposely NOT be using the EA's conveyancing Company now, purely on principal!

We bought our home in the UK whilst we were overseas and it was all done via email and post! It was no problem in the slightest!

I did it 20 years ago, before email! The EA is a lying bollock! Doubt anything else he tells you as well.

We just bought in berkshire from kuala Lumpur using our chosen solicitors ....the ea is obviously lying.

furthermore, the EAs buddy might possibly be gving him a christmas present at your expense.

We sold our house in Scotland while living in the US and had no issue and sold our US house after moved back to the UK! Both times our estate agents/realtor did all communication by email and we couriered documents overnight via UPS.