Among the top causes of stress in adult life is the conveyancing process. In addition to all the paperwork, legalities, and technicalities to address, there is the matter of saving up enough money for both the sale and the conveyancing costs. True, a conveyancing calculator can give you an idea as to your costs, but there is no program that can give you a number with a 100 percent guarantee given the many factors that come into play.
As such, it is important to choose the right conveyancer for the job. While there is no possible way to expedite the process to a speed that you hope it might take, the right conveyancer can perform all the necessary tasks and ensure their prompt and proper execution.
Choosing the right conveyancer may be yet another stressful choice on top of an already stressful endeavour, but it is nevertheless an important choice that must be made. To that end, we have devised this guide that talks about all the concerns that must be carefully considered before deciding on a conveyancer.
Are their services priced fairly?
This concern takes the biggest chunk of all of them. If you are buying a house, you likely cannot afford to spare more than you have to make sure the process goes smoothly. It is important to cut down costs, which will ensure your financial capability even after the purchase has been made.
That being said, fair does not always equate to cheap. There are plenty of cheap conveyancing options out there for those with lower budget, but many of these provide no guarantees as to how quickly the process will be finished. While there is no predicting all the hitches and issues that might be found, there are still more reliable options that charge more in exchange for better results.
Are there any hidden costs?
Another important concern in pricing is if there’s a possibility that you will be charged more over time. Before officially signing everything, make sure you understand the terms of the agreement completely. Are all fees included? What fees will need to be shouldered should they arise? These are just some of the questions you might need to ask.
What about my timeline?
If you need the process to be done in a week or as soon as possible, you will likely need to invest more in a conveyancer with the means to do so. This means well-equipped and responsible personnel to handle all the calls and paperwork necessary.
With a more flexible schedule, it is up to you to decide what is valuable to you. There is a wider range of options, especially since there is no set deadline. You might be able to get away with more economically friendly choices that do not necessarily promise speedy delivery.
What about the pandemic?
It is understandable that you might have one or two concerns about the conveyancing process as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. Would you prefer to interact face-to-face despite the pandemic? Or would you rather the process done entirely remotely? Whatever your concerns might be, there are likely conveyancers who can meet these requirements.
This is also a fitting concern for those who have incredibly busy schedules that may or may not involve a fair amount of travel. It is important to hire a conveyancer who can adjust to the fullness of your schedule without compromising their ability to deliver on their promises.
How do I compare the services?
There are national conveyancing firms, small law firms, and online-only conveyancers, large regional law firms, and so on. All of these may offer some form of conveyancing service, with clear differences in both quality and offerings. Many of them make their offerings clear to potential clients on their websites, but here are some features you may want to watch out for:
-
An online portal for viewing the progress of your transaction any time
-
Automatic email updates for milestones in the transactions
-
A dedicated team or employee to address your concerns through phone and email
-
A Service Level Agreement to set out timescales for tasks
-
A no move, no fee guarantee
-
The ability to execute tasks on behalf of your mortgage lender.
Not every conveyancer will have all these features, so it is important to gauge which ones are valuable to you. Different firms and institutions will have different processes, so it is up to you to consider which ones are your biggest priorities.
How will the process be handled?
As we’ve mentioned before, different companies and firms will handle the conveyancing process differently. For example, while some will dedicate entire teams and employees to your project, others will have a conveyor belt-style approach. This means that there will likely be a different employee or team for every step of the process.
More often than not, companies who handle the process in this way will use online alerts to communicate with their clients. It may mean that you can check the website for the progress of the transactions, or that you receive emails in real time every time a task is completed. Whatever the case may be, make sure to have the contact information of the company in the event that you might have concerns.
If you prefer more to speak to one person consistently rather than having different people fulfill objectives independently on your project, you might be better off with a smaller firm. With smaller firms, one employee or two might be assigned to your case, allowing a small group of individuals to have in-depth knowledge of your concerns and requirements. Essentially, this is an option for those who prefer a personal touch in their transactions.
This might have the caveat of being less efficient and less prompt, depending on the load of the conveyancing process, but if you have a flexible deadline, this might not be a problem at all.
What fees should I expect in the quote?
The first thing you should expect is the legal fee. This is the firm’s fee, which will be based on your instructions. This may or may not include bank transfer fees, ID fees, credit check fees, and so on. There might also be professional charges and other additional fees down the line depending on what may arise. Sometimes, there will be a third party charge section to the quote which predicts whatever costs your firm may have incur in the completion of the process.
Another thing that will likely be included in the quote are the disbursements, which are third-party costs incurred by your firm that are passed onto the client at cost price. These are often different depending on whether you are buying or selling.
Finally, there are the hidden costs to worry about. Not every legal fee or professional charge is on every quote. To ensure you get fairly quoted, get an estimate with our online conveyancing calculator, which will give you an idea of what your total costs might be.
Final thoughts
There are few things that are easy about the conveyancing process, but the right conveyancer can make this process significantly less stressful for everyone involved. Whether you are buying or selling a house makes no matter; carefully selecting a conveyancer can improve everyone’s chances for a fair and equitable outcome.
If you need a conveyancing calculator to help you determine the costs, send us at Conveyancing Calculator a message. We provide instant online residential conveyancing quotations using our trusted and accurate calculator.
Trackback URL
The Trackback Address for 7 Important Concerns in Choosing the Right Conveyancer is:
