What should you consider when instructing a solicitor as a first-time buyer?

Buying a property for the first time is a landmark in people’s lives and choosing the right solicitor for you is imperative. When looking to instruct a solicitor there are some key considerations.

Experience

Firstly, it is advisable to ensure the solicitor you instruct has experience dealing with residential conveyancing. This is important to give you peace of mind that the solicitor dealing with your case understands the legal process. This will provide you with the reassurance that they can work with you to effectively resolve any complex legal matters that may arise.

Fee Structure

Understanding a firm’s fee structure from the outset is important so you are clear about costs and can budget from the outset. You will need to consider the solicitors costs but also the cost of disbursements you may incur and, in particular, the level of service offered.

Local knowledge

Finding a solicitor that not only knows the local area but is also based in the local area can be of benefit to a first-time buyer. Having a solicitor that understands the local area and the legal issues that frequently arise during the buying process in the local area can be priceless.

Here at Pinney Talfourd, we not only know the local area, but we also offer face-to-face appointments with our clients. This really assists in building a good relationship with our clients and understanding their needs and desired outcomes.

Recommendations & Referrals

Seeking recommendations from friends and family is also a useful way to find a good residential property solicitor. In addition to this, you can find reviews for solicitors and solicitors’ firms online from various sources such as Google, Trustpilot, Facebook. The Law Society also provides a search function to assist consumers in obtaining details of local solicitors.

Accreditation

Using a firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘SRA’) is a useful consideration, as the SRA’s aim is to serve the public interest and protect consumers of legal services. The SRA monitor solicitors and their firms to make sure they are complying with their rules.

The CQS is a recognised quality standard which sets out standards of competence, risk management and client service levels. If a firm is CQS accredited it demonstrates to clients and lenders that the firm can provide residential conveyancing advice of the level expected by clients, lenders and the wider residential conveyancing community.

Some additional practical considerations as a first-time buyer include:

• Prior to instructing your solicitor, establish their caseload and ability to take on your matter.
• Check the solicitor can correspond with you in a way that suits your requirements. i.e., if you prefer email, post and/ or telephone.
• Discuss any expected timeline for the entire process with your solicitor. Discussing the stages of the transaction will assist in understanding the process and allow you to gauge a broad time scale to completion.

How Pinney Talfourd can help

Our dedicated conveyancing team are here to assist with any questions you may have as a first-time buyer. We are a highly regarded and trusted law firm with various offices across Essex and London so are perfectly placed to assist within the region. Many of our clients come from recommendations and referrals and we have a ‘client for life’ policy.