Estate Agent's solicitors?

[bluecatt]

I'm just about to sell my house, and wondered what advice you have regarding solicitors.

I don't have a solicitor (my previous ones no longer exist) and if I go along with the Agent's own solicitors I save on HIPs and also don't pay if no sale.

I'm a bit suspicious of using the in-house solicitors. Anyone any advice here? Is it worth finding my own solicitor? Cheers

[meglet]

Its a difficult one to answer as we don't know the firms in question. If your agents are reputable then it stands to reason they would also recommend a reputable solicitors.

I would suggest you see what you can do to check them out. Perhaps the estate agents could put you in contact with previous clients who have used them.

[Frostygills]

Me and my sis in law both moved 6 months ago, she went with her EA's Sols we went with a friend who works as a conveyancer.

She started her process a good month before me and her sol was so useless when we ended up moving at the same time. Our chains were very similar.

Her main problems with them were, overly expensive, not available, ever! Lost docs, found out they didn't have all the docs they needed 2 days before completion. Requested money to be cleared early and said she needed new home insurance once a date for completion was set.

I would say ask around and see if anyone has used the EA recently, also call a few conveyancers in your area for quotes.

[Twenty20]

The estate agent will only be recommending a solicitor (and likewise a surveyor etc) if there's something in it for them i.e. they will make some money out of it. If youre happy with this then use them, otherwise shop around. Personally, I would never trust an estate agent's recommendation. I would use a local solicitor, any of them will give you a quote for the conveyancing, it might be handy to be able to pop in and chase things up or to sign documents etc.

You can organise the HIPS and energy assessment yourself. You will save money in the long term.

[spaced]

we used the same solicitor twice. They were orinally recommended by our agents. They were brilliant!

[buildersmate]

Licensed conveyancers are also entitled to provide you with this service. The website for the Council of LC is here.
http://www.conveyancer.org.uk/
Try for an over the phone quotation to compare prices - most solicitors will do this as well, but most allegedly just charge the price recommended to them by the Law Society - so there isn't in effect much competition between solicitors.

[meglet]

Actually, do you have a friend that can recommend a good solicitor?