Before you jump right in and make a decision, there are a few things that you will need to consider so that you have everything you require, so that you can make an informed decision.
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Mortgage Lender
When you take out your mortgage, your lender will usually have an approved panel of solicitors. Choosing a solicitor that isn’t on their approved panel can lead to further complications later on down the road. If you have already chosen it is a good idea to ask your solicitors to register with that lender, but do bare in mind this can take some time and in a time dependant market this may cause issues.
Fees
All solicitors charges fee and this can vary depending on location and reputation. We all know that a house purchase can be a trying time on your finances so make sure that you have a healthy budget for all your conveyancing costs. You may find a conveyancer that is relatively cheap, but you should be cautious as the cheapest doesn’t mean they’re necessarily the best.
Finding out the solicitor’s fee structure before signing any contracts is important. It is good to know whether they operate on a fixed fee or a percentage of the property value. Some conveyancers will charge a percentage of your property’s value, much like estate agents, which could ramp up fees compared to traditional fixed fee solicitors Chester.
Recommendations
A good way of determining whether to take on a solicitor is to check what previous clients have to say about them as a conveyancer. Usually when a conveyancer has outstanding reviews from people that they have taken through the entire process, then you’ll be in safe hands.
Estate Agents
Estate agents have their own financial challenges and this usually leads to them having a prior agreement with solicitors. Solicitors will often recommend a conveyancer; this doesn’t mean you have to go with them. Due to the contract that the estate agents have with the conveyancer you may actually be worse off, meaning you are likely to receive a poorer service than if you were to go with them separately.
Communication
Communication is a big one. The property buying process can be confusing and full of terminology that is alien to you, especially if you’re a first time buyer. If you find a communicative conveyancer keep hold of them. You have enough stress with buying a property let alone having to chase solicitors. A well-informed, communicative and informed solicitor can relieve you of any additional stress and allow you to concentrate on other things like choosing removal services and getting your new house set up.
The whole process can be quite lengthy depending on the ties to the house, so choosing the right solicitor will probably be the most important thing you will do.