Buying or selling a house is not a task that should be taken lightly. It may be one of the biggest financial transactions in your life. As such, you will want to choose the right team of professionals to help guide you through each step of the process, including conveyancing. Before engaging the services of a licensed conveyancer or solicitor, you will need to do some homework.
(A good real estate agent will have professional connections to conveyancers and conveyancing solicitors, you can compare real estate agents for free at LocalAgentFinder and get the expert advice to help you sell your property.)
As you compare conveyancers and solicitors, you will want to have a list of questions at hand to help ensure that they are suitable for your needs. Ring up a few of the top choices to find out more information. Although you don’t need to subject them to a formal interview, it doesn’t hurt to ask these potential conveyancers or solicitor a few questions.
1. The Cost of Conveyancing
One of the first questions that any buyer or seller will want to ask pertains to how much the conveyancing service is going to cost. It’s usually not advisable to go to the cheapest conveyancer or solicitor, because they may have less experience or take on too many clients to give you individual attention. However, it’s still important to compare conveyancing costs to help you refine your budget. By telephoning several firms, you will get a better idea of what is considered standard or usual for conveyancing services in your area.
2. Experience of the Conveyancer or Solicitor
Perhaps even more important than cost is how experienced the firm or individual in question is with conveyancing. This can be further defined to how much experience they have with your particular type of property. For example, if you are planning on purchasing a multi-million dollar property then it’s probably not a good idea to use the conveyancing services of a professional who mainly works with first-time buyers on a tight budget. Someone who is more experienced with high end purchases would have a stronger working knowledge of the risks and details that come along with this type of property. They can then help protect you from these risks. Experience is an important factor to consider when choosing a real estate agent as well. Compare agent experience using the free online tools at LocalAgentFinder, and find a knowledgeable expert in your area.
3. Solicitor Support
If you choose to work with a conveyancer rather than a solicitor, you should find out whether the conveyancer will have the support of a solicitor. This can be useful in case any problems arise which they are not experienced enough to handle. Be sure that your conveyancer has the appropriate support in case any problems arise, whether it’s the principle of the firm or a separate offsite consultant.
4. Professional Indemnity Insurance
This insurance protects against any claims arising from negligence in the performance of professional services or duties. In the event that something goes wrong during your conveyancing process due to the negligence of your conveyancer or solicitor, you want to make sure that they are covered. This will ensure that they can pay you damages if you file a claim against them. Professional indemnity insurance is useful for both parties. Most professional firms will carry it, because it tends to a requirement for conveyancers and compulsory for solicitors. However, you should always ask just in case.
These are just a few basic questions to ask as you start your search for the right conveyancer or solicitor. You may have further questions that pertain to your specific situation, or have questions to ask as you star the conveyancing process. An open line of communication is important in any real estate transaction.
What’s next?
It’s also important to make a list of questions as you choose a real estate agent to work with. You can open this line of communication by choosing an agent through LocalAgentFinder. Asking questions will help you find the right fit when it comes to conveyancers and agents alike.
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