Do I need a solicitor or a conveyancer?

Both are regulated – solicitors by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and conveyancers by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers. In terms of handling property transactions, they will be operating under conveyancing practices and procedures that are nearly identical. However, it should be noted the main difference, as you tend to see, is the price difference when you compare quotes for conveyancing.

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Licensed Conveyancing Solicitors Reading are specialist property lawyers, focused mostly on residential property and carrying these types of transactionseveryday.

A solicitor is a qualified lawyer, with many years of training in various aspects of the lawand can provide a whole range of legal services such as divorce or taking a person to court.

When should I use a lawyer rather than a conveyancer?

A qualified solicitor can be the best choice if you are dealing with a very difficult transaction. For example, if there is a boundary dispute. A lawyer with knowledge of unlawful property conveyancing will be required. For most scenarios, a conveyancer isable to handle your transaction from start to finish at a more reasonable cost.

If you get a mortgage

If you’re trying to decide between conveyancer or solicitor when you get a mortgage, there are a few things you need to consider:

Mortgage lenders will only deal with conveyancers and certain lawyers that are on their “panel” and will usually pay the mortgage lender for this preferential treatment. If you do not use a conveyancer or solicitor on their panel normally you would have to pay the cost of bank representation.

Should I go with the recommendation of my estate agent?

Estate agents will often suggest the services of a local solicitor or conveyancer. However, you should be wary of this as they often receive a significant commission for this recommendation. This can add a large amount to your bill.  The risk is that they recommend people who pay the highest commission rather than one that offers the best service to you.More importantly, it can work to your disadvantage that estate agents know the ins and outs of your transaction. Find your own Conveyancing Solicitors Reading here.

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How can I find a conveyancer or solicitor?

The most effective way to find the right company for your purchase, is to ensure that you compare quotes from several different companies. This will greatly assist you in finding the cheapest conveyancer, ones who are rated the best or the nearest to your location.

When narrowing down your short list, you should pay attention to their reviews and reputation, not just their cost. Homeowners Alliance makes it easy for you to find conveyancers and lawyers that our members have had the best experience with, by showing you rankings alongside some reviews. It is based on feedback from people who have used a particular company and is designed to help you make a decision.