Recommendation for reliable property conveyancing... is AVRillo good??

[sweetnessnlight]

Hi all

Does anyone know a good property solicitor / conveyancing firm? I've heard so many horror stories so want to go off a referral really. First time buyer here needing advice!

Also - and this might be a silly question - do you know when you actually have to pay the fees? For example - do I have to pay most fees up front, or are there any where you pay just a low amount to get the ball rolling before they do all the legal work around searches and so on? Seems crazy to pay like £700 up front, to kick start a process, only for a survey to then find out everything is wrong, by which point I don't need things like searches and so on which lots seem to ask for up front payment for.

I've heard of one (A V Rillo) who do a 60 day no-payment guarantee where you can cancel if you're not happy with their service for example. Not sure how trustworthy their online reviews are...

For example, if I choose to pull out of a sale after a poor survey, or if the bank valuation finds I'm paying too much and the vendors don't negotiate down, I am nervous about paying for heavy solicitor fees when all I really need them for at this stage is to just allow my broker to find me an official mortgage.

HELP!

Thanks a lot in advance

Check out your local high street solicitors. Cheap on liners use unqualified staff and you can't get face to face contact. You may pay a bit more but you will have a much better service. This is not an area in which to cut corners.

Really, don't use an online service. Always use a local firm of solicitors with a good reputation for conveyancing. Always ask for a fixed fee.

Ask your friends and neighbours for recommendations. I have sent so many people to the firm I use because they are excellent and everyone I have sent agrees. Not the cheapest, but technically good and very responsive.

They will ask for some money on account (usually a few hundred) and then the rest before completion. So yes you will need the money to pay them before you have completed on your purchase. It is a different story if you are seeking as they will take the money from the sale proceeds.

selling!