Once you’ve found your perfect property in Bristol, you’ll need to find a conveyancing solicitor to handle the transaction, unless you already have one lined up.
Finding a reliable and trustworthy conveyancer needn’t be a stressful task though, as long as you do some research and ask the right questions.
Here are some tips from Northwood Bristol on how to find the best solicitor.
1. Ask family and friends for recommendations
This is the number one action you can take to ensure you find the best conveyancing solicitor. If you have family or friends who have moved in the past couple of years’, then ask them who they used and how much it cost.
Even if they don’t recommend their conveyancer, it will help you know who to avoid and you’ll still be able to get a rough idea of the cost involved.
2. Ask your estate agent for a recommendation
Most estate agents have conveyancer contacts and will be able to recommend or refer. It’s important to bear in mind that you shouldn’t feel pressured into going with their recommendation, therefore, make sure you do your own research on the recommended conveyancer to check if they’re someone you’ll want to do business with.
3. Don’t automatically go with the cheapest quote
Buying a property in Bristol can be an expensive process and it’s tempting to cut costs wherever possible. However, as the old saying goes, ‘If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.’
A quick Google search will throw up plenty of conveyancing services for as little as £150-£200. These kinds of services are usually fraught with danger, where corners are routinely cut, and avoidable delays are part of the process due to the mountain of cases they’re trying to manage at once.
And while you might get lucky and find a great one, you generally get what you pay for, so it’s best to look for two or three quotes from reputable solicitors to get a more accurate idea of cost. Bear in mind too, that there can often be lots of hidden costs in the small print, which end up amounting to the cost of a reputable conveyancer anyway.
Something else to consider is that saving money immediately could end up costing you a lot more in the long-term.
Because the cheapest conveyancers will often cut corners to plough through cases, they’re more likely to miss things that can come back to bite you in the future, such as covenants, or environmental concerns related to your property.
So do your research, and don’t get sucked in by the price.
4. You don’t have to stay local
You can choose a conveyancing solicitor who’s based anywhere in the country, so you’ll have a very wide pool of solicitors to choose from.
Many people wrongly believe that a conveyancer needs to have ‘local knowledge’ of the area, but this isn’t the case at all.
If the property purchase is straightforward then you don’t necessarily need to meet your conveyancer in person.
If it’s a more complex purchase, for example where an existing boundary is to be altered, or a property is being divided then it may be easier to find someone local who may wish to visit the property.
However, in most transactions the conveyancer is unlikely to set foot in the property, so you will have a lot of choice.
5. Ask plenty of questions
When contacting prospective conveyancers, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions to help you feel comfortable. First and foremost, you’ll want to know if they are registered with The Law Society or The CLC.
It’s also important to choose a law firm that specialises in conveyancing, so find out how many transactions they’ve carried out and how experienced they are when it comes to property law. After all, there’s no point looking at a solicitor who specialises in divorce to handle your property transaction!
A good conveyancer will help your transaction to run as smoothly as possible and keep you informed of any hiccups promptly. They’ll also be easy to contact and have a direct phone number and email address to reach them on.
So, when you’re doing your research, find out if you’ll have one contact assigned to you who’s going to be easy to get hold of. It will make for a much smoother transaction in the long run.
Looking for a conveyancer in the Bristol area to help with your house move? Northwood Bristol are your local property experts. Call us on 0117 9635777 or email bristol@northwooduk.com to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.
