Tips to choose the right Solicitor when you are on the move.

Moving home is one of the most stressful times of our life, and the need to use a professional is viewed as a necessary evil by most. How you go about choosing which Solicitor to use is sometimes as scientific as playing pin the tale on the donkey!

People choose an Estate Agent based on 'previous experience', a 'recommendation' or maybe a friendly face; the choice of a solicitor is in many cases more removed than that, few people obtain a number of quotes for the work, fewer still speak or see the solicitor that will be dealing with their conveyancing.

There are a number of factors that should be taken into account when choosing your solicitor, especially if you are choosing for the first time.

Cost:
It is important to obtain a few quotes I would recommend 3-5, many firms work on a fixed fee and some will charge by the time taken, the cost of the work will vary substantially in some cases. Costs also vary across the country however, if you live in London there is nothing stopping you for appointing solicitors in Manchester or Sheffield. You can locate a firm easily through the internet; indeed many of the building societies use firms without a consideration to the location of the client.

Relationship with your estate agent:
This can be very helpful if your solicitor has permission to talk to your Estate Agent, speed, communication, your stress and the human factor can be improved, in a time of increased reliance on technology you can never underestimate the effectiveness of one professional picking up the phone to another in order to overcome an obstacle.

IT:
Most solicitors will not want to talk to you on a regular basis just to tell you that this piece of paper has come in, however you may want to know everything when it happens. Many firms can now provide this information through the use of IT ‘case tracking’ usually available through the firms web site, it will tell you what will happen, what has happened and when to anticipate things, some link to mobile phones via SMS to keep you updated, brilliant for those who crave information. If you favor high usage of IT just ask.

The personal touch:
I recommend vetting the firm, you will get a feel for their level of service:
- When they quote
- Via their web site
- By speaking to them, either on the phone or if they are local, face to face.

So if you are moving in Manchester, relocating in Leeds, or shifting in Sheffield, don’t be rushed into choosing a solicitor, feel comfortable before you make your move.

Sarah Maple writes about commercial solicitors and conveyancing solicitors