subject: Choosing A Property Solicitor [print this page] The legal procedure concerning the purchase and sale of a property is referred to as conveyancing. A solicitor who monitors whether the procedure is appropriately carried out is known as a conveyancer or a property solicitor.
While signing off a deal, some people may opt to eliminate the services of a property solicitor altogether thinking that they can manage the conveyancing part on their own. This may turn out to be a high risk strategy as you may struggle to take care of all the legalities on your own. It is always advisable to seek the help of professionals and opt for an experienced property solicitor to deal with the matter.
A property solicitor has several tasks lined up for him/her. No matter whether it is a purchase or a sale deed, some of the procedures are common in all cases. These include:
Conducting local searches
Offering recommendations and legal advice
Drafting and assessment of contracts
Management of the collection of funds and their subsequent transfer
Managing the land registry proceedings
Dealing with the payments and stamp duty charges
While appointing property solicitors, you need to keep a few things in mind and take the final decision after you have carefully weighed the pros and cons.
1.It is advisable to employ a solicitor who has been referred by your associates or acquaintances.
2.The fee of the property solicitor is also a point of consideration. There are some who charge a fixed rate while there are others who will charge you an amount that is a certain percentage of the property value. Some additional charges may be applied that cover paperwork or any other issue that calls for some added expenditure.
3.It is not always the right strategy to employ the services of a solicitor who agrees to work for a negligible fee. You may as well regret your decision in the future when you might have to spend a substantial sum in solving related conveyancing issues that might crop up later.
4.Hire a solicitor from a law firm who is completely familiar with the local lease rules and laws for example, the city of London may have a set of complicated leasehold arrangements which the provincial or rural solicitors may not be familiar with.
There are solicitors who also offer their clients the scope to track the progress of their case online. You can also receive regular updates from your solicitors office stating the details of the case in a documented form.