How do I choose the right solicitor?

As soon as you’ve agreed an offer to sell or buy a home, you will need to choose a solicitor.

Getting the ball rolling as soon as possible by instructing a solicitor or conveyancer is often a good indication of showing your intention to move. The quicker you can start sending the paperwork through, the quicker you can be moving into your new home.

How do I choose the right solicitor?
How do I choose the right solicitor?

But how do you find the right solicitor or conveyancer?

There isn’t much difference between the two – both professions are fully regulated and insured. (Solicitors by the Solicitors Regulation Authority; Licensed Conveyancers by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers). However a solicitor is a qualified lawyer and will have extensive training in many aspects of law, which can be helpful if you are dealing with a particularly difficult transaction or a situation, such as divorce or land disputes, where legal knowledge beyond property conveyancing law would be necessary. If it is a pretty standard transaction, a licensed conveyancer can still the job and often at less cost.

The best way to choose the right person is to shop around. Ask friends and people who have recently moved for recommendations. Estate agents might be able to recommend someone, but watch out as you might be footing a hefty commission fee for the favour.

Another growing area to consider is online conveyancing, which offers a lesser quality of personal service but can be a lot cheaper.

There are 3 things you need to consider when choosing a solicitor:

  1. How much support do you need? If this is your first time buying a home, you may want a more personalised, face-to-face experience. Think about how you like to communicate. Are you happy for everything to be done through a smartphone app, or do you want a mix of telephone calls and meetings? If you go for the high street option over online, check what hours they are open. An online system is likely to be 24/7 and you can do it from the comfort of your own home.
  2. How important is local knowledge? Traditionally when moving house, families would always use the local solicitor but the rise of online conveyancing has challenged this practice. The benefit of using a local solicitor is that you can quickly pop into the office to sign things without having to rely on posting delays.
  3. Cost? Online conveyancing can appear to be a lot cheaper but don’t be fooled by low prices. Make sure you get all the costs upfront first and check any feedback about their service; how quickly can they get back to you? The ideal situation is to shop around so you can make a fair comparison with other services.

If you have are thinking of buying or selling your home, you may find some of these services useful: