Get The Best Help In The Property Market

With the stamp duty holiday creating a considerable level of activity in the housing market, it is likely many buyers and vendors will benefit from information and guidance. Whether this is your first-time in the market, first timer selling or it has been a while since you last bought or sold property, a helpful reminder is never a bad thing.

At Prestige & Village, we believe the role of skilled and experienced professionals is vital. We are pleased to say we have helped many local buyers and vendors. Also, in recent weeks and months, we have assisted many people take their next property step in a challenging time.

No matter what move you wish to make, we are here to help you as best we can.

We also know there are many other professionals who can assist you in moving home. We believe conveyancer’s have a big role to play in the housing market. However, it appears many people are unaware of what a conveyancer does.

Do you know what professionals help you in the housing market?

In a survey carried out by My Home Move Conveyancing, many respondents were unsure of what service a conveyancer offers.

Close to 40% of prospective home buyers said they were unsure of what conveyancers and solicitors do. More than 25% of respondents said they were unsure of what stamp duty is.

21% of respondents said they were unsure of what to look for in a new home. However, the most commonly cited features buyers are looking for were open fires, a double garage and increased storage space.

Things to consider when looking for a conveyancer include:

Who will hold responsibility for the transaction?
What qualifications does a potential conveyancer hold?
Will your choice of conveyancer personally manage your case or will they rely on assistants?
What methods of communication is preferred by your conveyancer and legal representative?
Does your conveyancer have a strong track record?

The cheapest option is often not the best solution

As with many things in life, you need to consider what represents value for money. If a low-cost solution doesn’t provide you with what you need, it is not a viable option.

The Legal Ombudsman advises; “While it’s a good idea to get quotes, remember that buying a house is in all likelihood the biggest financial outlay you’ll have in your life. By all means make sure that you’ve got a competitive quote but don’t become consumed with getting the cheapest.”

The following advice is also provided by the Legal Ombudsman, “A few quotes are usually enough. If you’re spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a house, in the overall scheme of things once you’ve got a few quotes to compare ask yourself whether it is a good use of your time to spend days ringing around twenty lawyers in an effort to save maybe £20 on legal fees?”

The Advisory provides a checklist on what a good conveyancer offers to home buyers:

The firm should specialise in residential conveyancing or at least have a specialist conveyancing department.
You should be told who will be handling your case. Ideally you should be given their direct line.
They are technologically advanced enough to employ; online case tracking, e-mail & SMS update systems.
Operate on a ‘No completion, no fee’ basis.
Operate on a ‘fixed fee guarantee’ basis.
Are on all major lenders’ ‘Approved’ panels.
Operate extended opening hours.
Provide you with a ‘Client Care Letter’ upfront.

At Prestige & Village, we care about our community, and supporting others. We aim to provide you with as much help and assistance as we can. If you have any property or housing questions, please feel free to contact us today.