My best friend’s step-father is a conveyancer. I am hopeful that I'll be able to get preferential pricing for conveyancing, However if that does not come materialise, what level of costs would I typically be looking at for conveyancing in Alcester?
It’s wise to seek 3 or more like-for-like conveyancing quotes. Do use our search tool on this page. The quotes do contrast greatly but the service one can expect differ between conveyancers as is the case with the vast majority of professional services.
The Alcester conveyancing firm that I appointed last week on my house acquisition in Alcester have without warning shut down. I chose them because I had to have a solicitor on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel and my family Alcester lawyer was not. I paid them money on account. What do I do now?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them straight away so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers may be able to assist.
Me and my brother have a semi-detached Edwardian property in Alcester. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Barnsley Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??
You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Alcester and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also enquire as to the situation with your conveyancing lawyer who carried out the work.
How does conveyancing in Alcester differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Alcester come to us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is built. This is because house builders in Alcester usually purchase the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Alcester or who has acted in the same development.
I have been recommended by a couple of local estate agents in Alcester to choose a property lawyer on your site. Is there a financial incentive for Estate Agents to market your lawyers over a competitor’s?
We refuse to offer any commission for sending work in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as home movers will think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.