Help please! How to choose a solicitor for house purchase?

Only heard bad things about Countrywide

I think you can request a list from your mortgage company of the ones they accept. It doesn't matter if your solicitor is out of the area btw, with the advent of scanning etc you may not even need to visit them in person, I know we didn't when we bought our house

Thanks holey

I wasn't sold on the one they recommended- sounded a bit big chain ish for my liking!

I will check if my pops solicitor is whatsit registered then as that would be peace of mind using them.

Do not use countrywide and make sure no one in your chain does! Our buyers used them and 5 months down the line, we pulled out (it was never ending). Sold the next day and completed in 8 weeks.

id speak to friends/family and get recommendations. I always think going local is good x

I didn't think the solicitor needed to be based nearby? We got our solicitor from a recommendation from our mortgage broker, he was based in South Wales and we were in London. No issues as we did everything by email, phone or post. They were great value, we didn't pay London or South East prices

Thank you Italybride - will definitely not use Countywide then! how awful that the bank are recommending such shoddy service.

Thanks also erin, this is good to know, especially with regards to the price, the one the estate agent recommended was coming out at over £1000 (can't remember the name of that one)- I am maybe just being old fashioned!

I know. Our buyers hadn't moved in 30+ years and the estate agent recommended them. They get commission though. Just google them to find out how bad they are. They're based in wales too. It's a call centre so you deal with admin most the time rather than an actual solicitor. Aghhh!!

Actually shouted no at the screen when I saw Countrywide thank goodness everyone ahd already said don't go there!

I have chosen the solicitors I am using based on being extremely close to where I work so ease of access IYSWIM?

Ooh! Tentative hurray We used an independent one who H's dad had used, always best to go with word of mouth I reckon, is there anyone who can give you local reccs?

Sorry for making you shout P!! How far along are you now? (Not 'seen' you for a bit!) Hope all is well.

Thanks PB (we are not counting chickens just yet!)-i would definitely prefer an independent.

I will quiz the guys at work, there are loads in town I have emailed one but will quiz the guys at work- someone must have a recommendation for me!

I agree with everyone else you do not need to be close by. I used the solicitor my dad uses and my sister is using him to she lives in London and he is based in SOuth wales. I never met him only to do the signing everything was done via email and letters.

Go with what you feel comfortable with, and also what people recommend as well!

^^^the results of a 3am start and half a bottle of red haha!

Eta that was aimed at my other post not you murphy! Thanks for the reply I will ask around for sure, my brother has not long completed so will find out who he used, I am in Birmingham his lot are Stoke based so not a million miles away really.

We have a suggested moving date of 11th April but contracts haven't been exchanged yet and there doesn't appear to be a date to do that so have no idea when anything is happening. At the moment it is extremely busy at work plus packing up the house is suckign up my internet time! I have ahd a chairty come round tonight and take away three quarters of the furniture and the house is quite echoy! Still feels like I have loads to do but the attic is empty and I am def gettign there?

It will probably all snowball at once!! Loving the positivity in your post you will be there before you know it!

I went for the best and used an Otter ? Don't know if she would want me to say on here but I think she's still on maternity leave in any case.

God I am a dope at times. I wouldn't want to intrude on her mat leave but she may be able to give a recommendation-might PM her if I don't feel too cheeky! Thanks Saisi!

You don't have to use one nearby, we didn't.

Our solicitor was fabulous and am more than happy to recommend her.

If you wouldn't mind Laura? If you want to email me rather than post here (deleted)

ETA thank you!

Thanks flora! I did smell a rat with the recommendations so it is good to have that confirmed. Have you exchanged yet?

Congrats Kjay!! We've also had an offer accepted on a house - well, 5 weeks ago! Sadly the seller's haven't found a house yet, so we're just sat twiddling our thumbs waiting for them as don't want to get things rolling unti they find somewhere!

Definirely agree with the asking people you know in your area - that's what we've done, she does cost a little bit more sadly, but it's worth it knowing that she's good at replying to our questions quickly and doesn't mind daft questions from a first time buyer like me!!

I would use someone local, purely for the reason that you can turn up there and shout at them when they are (inevitably) crap and slow. We used one based in Norwich and it was an absolute nightmare. They were no worse than the previous ones I used which were local but at least I could go round there and ask wtf was going on. Also, it made things much quicker with signing papers etc.

I used to work in conveyancing, for Countrywide, in fact! My OH's Aunt and her partner are management there - if you would like to know more about them I could certainly put a word in for you and make sure you're handled by one of their better lawyers (it makes a massive difference!!) - It's been about 8 years since I worked there, but one of the selling points was the no move no fee - if your house falls through you'll still be charged by any other lawyer for any work they've done so far (which can essentially double your legal bill) whereas Countrywide won't charge you if you don't complete (this may have changed since I was there???)

Let me know if you want any info

Otherwise, a point to note, is that you don't need to choose a lawyer close to you - if a lawyer is recommended/has a good rep/reasonable price and lives up the other end of the country to you - that's fine.

Sorry I replied before reading everyone elses comments ?

Thank you Perox-how frustrating for you-bet you are itching to get things going. I will keep fingers crossed your seller gets a wriggle on.

Flora yes please! Love house flashes, I am trying not to go over board with excitement levels and pinterest just encase anything goes wrong!

Don't worry sillywrong, still interesting to hear your point of view! No need to be sorry that's an example of why this place is so good-lots of people with lots of different experience.

I think I am swaying toward finding one local, thanks again everyone for the replies

Thank you!!

I'm back from maternity leave ?.

Seriously, Countrywide are horrendous, absolutely terrible to deal with. Most of the time you won't be dealing with a qualified solicitor, you'll be dealing with a "case handler" who has no legal training whatsoever.

Local is good, in the sense that you can have a face to face meeting and go through the plans etc, but certainly not essential. I've acted for tons of my uni friends and their friends and friends of friends who live all over the country and I never meet them. Just go through everything by email and phone.

Most decent firms are CQS accredited these days, but you can check on the Law Society website.

Feel free to message me on FB if you want to chat about it more.

Thanks very much Knees- I am just sitting down to get some quotes etc so I will PM you if I get stuck. Your Maternity Leave seems to have gone quickly!

Have emailed you Kjay. Not sure if you got it. Let me know if not and I'll resend it.