Everyone loves a bargain, and sometimes the low-cost option may be good enough for what you need. Maybe the cheapest option does not taste quite as good, or last quite as long, but you can live with that because you’re saving money. But what if the ‘low cost’ option not only gave you a worse service, but ended up costing you more than a trusted brand? What if the headline price was not the same as the bill you get presented with at the end? Welcome to the potentially dangerous world of cheap conveyancing deals!
Topics to be answered in this article
Comparing conveyancing quotes
A house is almost certainly the most expensive thing that anyone will buy, with hundreds of thousands of pounds changing hands. It is a highly regulated area, with many legal steps to safeguard both the buyer and seller. There are many steps where delays or mistakes can result in unwanted outcomes. Each sale is unique, with different problems that need to be solved and legal aspects that need to be resolved.
It is absolutely right that when buying or selling a house, you should look around and compare what different conveyancing firms can offer. How experienced are they? How easy are they to communicate with? And yes, how much will they charge?
When a low price does not mean a low cost
Some “low cost” conveyancing companies offer an online quote calculator, which can throw out a very attractive headline price. This is where you should proceed with caution, as the displayed price is created from the answers you have given and a set of assumptions that may or may not have been made clear. To ensure you are comparing apples with apples, here are some questions you should ask:
- Does the headline price cover all the essential work? What is not included?
- What happens if there is an unforeseen delay, or change of instruction?
- Are there any hidden extras? In what circumstances would I need to pay these?
- Does it include disbursements, if so which ones?
Who will be conducting the work? - How quickly will the work be carried out?
- What updates will I receive, when and how?
- What recourse do you have if there is an error or mistake?
In our experience, some online quotes do not include work which we consider as standard and necessary to complete a sale or purchase. This can include things such as acting for a lender in procuring the release of mortgage monies on a purchase or redeeming a charge on a sale, drafting and submitting the Stamp Duty Land Tax Return and Land Registry application to change the register, all of which are vital components of a sale or purchase.
Why Goughs offer excellent value
At Goughs, we like to discuss your sale or purchase at the first contact so that we can get a good idea of the work involved, understand your needs, and help you understand more about us and the service you would be getting. We can then provide an estimate that gives you the most accurate reflection of the cost of the work we will undertake for you. There will be no hidden fees. It is also an excellent opportunity for you to meet and get to know the lawyer who will be dealing with your conveyancing, something you cannot often do when using an online company.
Goughs have been located on the high street, serving the local community, since 1882. We are well established in six local towns. We pride ourselves on the excellent, trusted and truly personal legal services we provide to each of our clients. If you instruct Goughs, you will have a named lawyer who will handle the case from start to finish, ably assisted by their legal assistant. Having named contacts means that there is always someone you can get hold of should you need any help, this is something experience suggests is invaluable. A house sale or purchase can be very stressful, and it is important that you know you can pick up the phone or come into the office and discuss your query. We are there every step of the way to answer your questions and ease your concerns.
How can Goughs help?
The easiest way to find out about how Goughs can help with your conveyancing, is to come and talk to us. We can explain what we do and give you a chance to see what we offer. With a team of experienced conveyancers, you can be assured of the best possible service. Providing buyers and sellers with a dedicated property lawyer, Goughs have successfully completed over 1,500 conveyancing transactions in the past year.
If you’re looking for an experienced property solicitor near you, someone who knows Wiltshire’s property market inside-out, someone that will take you through the process step-by-step and complete your purchase as quickly as possible, please get in touch.
