Where to Start
As we all know, buying and selling a property is one of the biggest things you will do, and we understand that this comes with a certain amount of worry and stress. Whilst you will only do this occasionally, or maybe only once in a lifetime, choosing the best solicitor for you and your specific requirements is crucial. Your choice can impact the outcome of your sale or purchase and how smoothly the whole process moves forward to completion.
Who is best to ask for Advice?
We now live in a world where we don’t do anything without seeking recommendations or checking several reviews first, from making a major purchase to booking a restaurant so why would this be any different. Recommendations are always useful either from friends, family members and also the estate agent who is dealing with your property.
You may not go through this process often, but Agents work with numerous solicitors for sales and purchases daily and have a great working knowledge of which solicitors have a reputable background, and unfortunately ones that don’t. Excellent Communication between your agent and solicitor is also vital if your chosen agent does their own in-house sales progression from sale agreed to completion, as we do here at Crosskeys, to ensure a seamless process.
Our recommendations are selected carefully through years of working together and most importantly positive experiences and outcomes for our buyers and sellers. We always know it is our reputation on the line too when we give recommendations! Cross Keys Estates can make solicitor recommendations, if desired, to suit the individual needs of your sale and or purchase.
Fees and Comparing
We also recommend you obtain 2-3 solicitors’ quotes from recommendations. This way, before deciding, you can compare the initial quotes and decide by liaising with the solicitors, which one you feel you have the most confidence in and whether they are the right solicitor for your transaction. Solicitor quotes can vary depending on the solicitor’s expertise and the complexity of your transaction i.e., if it’s a Leasehold. Is it a listed building? Remember, the cheapest option is not always the best option.
Is Local Best?
In our experience the answer is simple … YES. It’s common and frustrating that unfortunately most out of online solicitors, whilst seeming the less expensive option, quite often may not respond to you, emails will get lost and calls get missed with no returned contact. A local solicitor can offer the reassurance of knowing you can arrange an appointment to meet with your solicitor to raise or go through any concerns in person.
In addition, and equally as important, is a good knowledge of the local area and its properties which can be very different in different parts of the country such as radon gas, knotweed and unusual restrictions or covenants that seem specific to this particular part of the world, all of which can be easily navigated by local conveyancing experts. Our advice would always be to choose a local solicitor.
Every Client is Individual
One of the main things is making sure your solicitor is made aware and understands your specific legal needs, so identifying your requirements from the start is crucial to avoid any bumps in the road. This can be anything from just a normal selling and buying transaction, to a transaction where there are more complex needs being a separation / divorce, a complex lease transaction or a probate transaction. Knowing your legal needs will help you narrow down the field of potential solicitors with the experience that will be required for your transaction.
Good Communication is Key
Good communication skills are one of the most essential things to look out for, especially in what could be a stressful and tough time. Effective communication can give you the confidence to trust and also build a rapport with your solicitor, along with managing all expectations by making sure you are both on the same page, at the same time.
Lastly, choosing the right solicitor is a decision that should not be rushed. Take the time to research by looking into reviews for the individual and the company, liaise with multiple solicitors (2-3), and consider all aspects including their fees, the communication received to date and most importantly, do you feel confident, and could you trust your appointed solicitor?
Summary
Hopefully, by following these steps, you can ensure that you are well-represented from the start with a pro-active solicitor, and with the confidence that you will reach a point of exchange of contracts and completion as smoothly and with as little stress as possible. However, where obstacles do come up, you as the client have the full confidence in your acting solicitor to deal with the issues promptly and go “The Extra Mile” where required.
