Conveyancing

What you need to know when instructing a Solicitor

Ask about

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Price

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Fixed Fee

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No move no Fee

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Keeping you Informed

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Personal Service

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Experienced Solicitor

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Referral Fees

 

Price

Price is important; it is the one thing that you can compare, or can you?

What often happens, is that you are quoted what appears to be a great low price to tempt you into instructing a firm however, when you look at the small print, you find, many so called extras, that significantly increase the amount you will actually pay. Click here to see a list. Never, ever instruct anyone without receiving a full written quotation and a copy of the terms and conditions.

Woodwards Solicitors

The “extras” listed are all included in our basic price

Our starting point is service, not price but we know how important price is and aim, always to be competitive, we do not believe you will get better value elsewhere.

 

Extras

Warning

Check the small print and do not accept estimates or unclear or confusing figures

 

Woodwards Solicitors

DO NOT charge extra for these items; others may.

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Acting for mortgage provider

 

(Some charge a fixed fee (typically £50 to £150); others charge the amount indicated in the mortgage offer - typically from £150 - £400)

 

 

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Completing Inland Revenue forms

 

( Typically £50 - £150 + VAT )

 

 

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Postage & Telephone calls

 

(Typically £25 - £50 but check)

 

 

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Early completion fee

 

(Could be something like £10 a day for every day under 4 weeks – most transactions complete in less than 2 weeks)

 

 

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Charging higher fees for searches than they cost

 

(By using a Search Company we save approximately £30, which we pass on to clients, others do not )

 

 

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Administration Fee

 

(Typically £25 - £50 but check)

 

 

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Professional Indemnity Fee

 

(Typically £25 - £150)

 

 

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Cheque clearance Fee

 

(Typically £10 - £20 but check)

 

 

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Searchflow Fees

 

(Possibly £25 but check)

 

 

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Copying fees

 

(Possibly £10 - £25 but check)

 

Fixed Fee

Most lawyers only give an estimate of their fees and you are likely to pay significantly more if matters become complicated or delayed. Always find out if the fee you are given is fixed.

In addition to the lawyers fees there will be expenses; for most transactions, these can be estimated with a fair degree of accuracy but occasionally extra expenses will be incurred that you will be responsible for.

Woodwards Solicitors

We offer a fixed fee and a detailed estimate of expenses.

 

No Move; No Fee

Does the Solicitor charge for his work if the transaction falls through? Most do and this can be a substantial sum.

If the transaction does not proceed, monies spent on searches, surveys and similar matters will be lost and are not recoverable.

Woodwards Solicitors

We will not charge you our fee if you do not move, you will still be out of pocket for search fees and may have wasted money on mortgage and survey fees but at least you will not have to pay a big legal bill on top of this.

 

Keeping You Informed

Will you be regularly informed as to what is going on?

How will you be informed?

How can you contact your lawyer?

Woodwards Solicitors

We will keep you regularly informed of what is going on.

If you have access to the Internet, you can go to our Website, at any time, to see the progress of your transaction.

We use the post, telephone, fax and e-mail to keep you in touch with what’s going on and you can contact us in the same way.

 

Personal Service

The level of personal service is likely to be the most influential factor in determining whether you are satisfied with the service you are given. A good indication of the level of service you are going to get is if you can, without difficulty, speak to the person who would be looking after your transaction and they can answer, to your satisfaction, the questions we have suggested.

Woodwards Solicitors

This firm is all about offering a personal service. If you like; telephone queues, call centres, answer phones, computerised voices giving you multiple choice options then we are really not for you. We have real people who answer the phone.

 

Experienced Solicitor

Ask the person who will be dealing with your transaction for their professional qualification (a Solicitor, Licensed Conveyancer or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives are all acceptable qualifications) and how long they have been conveyancing.

Woodwards Solicitors

Nigel Woodward has been a solicitor for over 20 years.

  

Referral Fees

Estate Agents often receive a commission or bonus for introducing you to Conveyancing firms. So, if an estate agent recommends you use a Conveyancing firm (especially if outside their local area) ask them what they “make out” of the recommendation. If they do not make anything out of it then it is likely to be a genuine recommendation, if they get a reward, it will be more difficult to judge the motive for the referral.

Woodwards Solicitors

We do not pay Estate Agents referral fees.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

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