Choosing a solicitor

As soon as you begin house hunting it is a good idea to also start solicitor hunting. This is because once you've found a place you like, your solicitor's details will be the first thing the estate agents ask for.

The solictor is the hub of the whole house-buying process and will carry out all of the legal work involved including checking all legal documents and establishing with the local authority that there are no development plans which will have an adverse affect on your property. They should also liase with estate agents, mortgage lenders and the seller's solicitor so its worth spending some time deciding which firm to use so that things can go as smoothly as possible.

Try to appoint someone who has been recommended by family or friends. If not, the law society can supply details of your nearest one.

Before choosing a solicitor it is worth getting a few quotes as the fees for conveyancing vary. You can expect to pay about £550 in fees for a property costing £100,000. Some of the money will be asked for up front to cover land registry and local authority searches.

Remember that however elusive and difficult to get hold of your solictor may appear, you are paying them for a service, so make sure you ask their advice on any queries you may have. 

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