If you're buying or selling a property, you've probably been looking up conveyancers online, comparing prices and trying to figure out which one. you should choose. If you've got that far, you will have also seen that there are generally two types of conveyancers to choose from - local or online only. Since this can be a little confusing, we wanted to highlight the difference between the two, and which would be a better choice for you.
The Benefits of Local Conveyancing
When you work with a local conveyancer, you're working with someone who is just that – local. That means they’ll have a good understanding of the local market, have great relationships with the local estate agents and mortgage lenders, and have a network of contacts to make the whole process go more smoothly for you. They might even know the solicitor or conveyancer of your buyer/seller!
A local conveyancer can also offer you a much more bespoke, flexible service. This is especially good if you prefer a personal approach and a single point of contact. Since it’s a significant financial transaction, this can be a big bonus. May local conveyancers also have experts in all areas of conveyancing, including the more specialist issues like shared equity purchases, transfers or equity and lease extensions.
Finally, a local conveyancer is more likely to be up-front with their quote, without any of the hidden costs down the line. So you’ll know from the first glance what you’ll be paying. Yes, it might look a bit more expensive on the face of it, but when compared to an online conveyancer it often works out cheaper.
Why is Online Conveyancing a Risk?
Of course, online conveyancing is a valid option for many people, and it’s a popular service. But as people who are in the business, we can see some problems with the online conveyancing model that you as a buyer or seller might not realise. In particular, these are the main risks we often see:
National coverage means less knowledge: One of the biggest issues with online conveyancers is that they work nationally. This might seem like a good thing, but it means that they don’t have any of that local knowledge or those connections that can make the process of buying a house much easier for you.
A different person every time: With a local conveyancer, you know who you’re dealing with. But online conveyancers are manned by teams of hundreds, sometimes qualified, sometimes just trained to take information and pass it to the right people. Either way, you won’t have a dedicated account manager, and you might not even speak to the same person when you call or email. Instead, you’ll likely deal with lots of different people, having to repeat information every time – which gets a bit dull!
Less experience: Following on from what we said above, you’re likely to get a conveyancer with less experience and knowledge than a fully qualified local conveyancer. So, while online conveyancers can be a better option for the incredibly simple transactions, when complex issues come up, they can come undone very quickly. And in our experience, very few transactions are simple!
Hidden Costs: Online conveyancers tend to price their basic services very cheaply, as a way of drawing in new customers. It can seem too good to be true, especially given how expensive buying a property is. Saving some money on conveyancing can be very tempting. But the way they do this is to hide some of the costs, springing them on you later down the line. When you take a closer look at what they offer, you’ll often find that it’s just the cost of the legal fee – and doesn’t include anything else involved in the conveyancing process.
Are Online Conveyancers A Risk to Your Investment?
Buying a property is the most expensive transaction you’re ever likely to make. And while it might seem simple on the surface, it’s anything but. Conveyancing on its own is a complex process, and you often need an experienced conveyancer to guide you through the process.
Online conveyancers often need to keep their margins tight, which means they have to do large volumes of work to make a profit. This means they usually hire a lot of different case handlers, all of who will be supervised by one qualified conveyancer. Like we mentioned earlier with simple processes this is fine, but as soon as there’s an issue it makes things more complicated. And complicated issues mean a risk to your investment. Is that a risk you want to take on the biggest purchase of your life?
At Hudson Conveyancers we’re a friendly, local conveyancing firm manned by qualified experts in everything conveyancing. When you work with us, you can be sure you’ll speak to the same person every time, and someone who is knowledgeable in the world of conveyancing. If you’d like to know more, or just find out about how we work, just get in touch with the team today to book your free consultation.
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