So how do you find a good solicitor when buying a house? Having a good solicitor is vital when you are looking to buy a home. You will need a solicitor if you are a first time buyer, downsizing, using the right to buy scheme or buying a shared ownership property.
You want to make sure that you are getting the best service, at the right price. Sometimes it may be better to pay a little more to ensure that everything is followed correctly.
How do you find a good solicitor?
Things to consider when looking for a solicitor;
- Someone who your family or friends have recommended; this means that they have a proven record and you have people who can vouch for the service that they provide.
- Who your housing association has recommended; Housing association staff will have dealt with many solicitors, and their recommendation should be taken into account. However, you should consider whether or not the company has connections with the solicitors firm as this could be why they are recommending them.
- Ask your mortgage broker, lender or Financial Adviser; as these will also know the industry and will know of solicitors best suited for you
- You should make sure they are accredited with the relevant organisations
- You should of course consider the price of the service as you want to make sure that you are getting a good deal as well as a good service.
Before choosing, you should always compare conveyancing solicitors quotes.
How are shared ownership solicitors different from outright sale solicitors?
Buying a home through shared ownership is not the same as buying a normal(not the word) house as one is typically leasehold and the other is typically freehold, there are exceptions of course. Therefore, the sale process is not the same but it is similar. The main difference is that mortgage lenders will offer different rates for shared ownership properties and they will have to meet conditions that the housing association/provider has set.
There are also a few legal differences between the traditional sale and a shared ownership sale, but the solicitor will take care of this. You can compare shared ownership solicitor quotes here, or you can research elsewhere.
How much do solicitors charge?
There are a few costs that property solicitors handle and you should consider them all when budgeting costs. These fees are;
Their own fees; their hourly rate, fixed fees or percentage of the sale.
There are also searches which will need to take place before you buy your home. Your solicitor will handle these for you, they include;
- Local authority searches
- Land Registry searches
- Environmental searches
- Water authority searches
so you should ensure that you incorporate this into your budget.
There are many factors that you need to consider when choosing the right solicitor for you. You should consider reviews from other people, including your family and friends, the time it will take to complete, the price, and the quality of the solicitor. Good luck!
