This is a very subjective question. But you should know that nothing is stopping you from going for either option. This is because all conveyancing solicitors act individually for clients throughout England & Wales, as the process of conveyancing and land ownership is uniform wherever you are.
The only advantage you may have from having a local solicitor is the convenience of being able to pop in to deliver things.
Things to look for in a conveyancing solicitor
A majority of conveyancers seldom see their clients, as conveyancing is all handled through post and email. But when it comes to conveyancing solicitors in Croydon, they do not waste their client’s time.
If so, what are the criteria you should base your choice of a conveyancing solicitor upon?
- How well established are they?
- Are they owned by the estate agent who recommended them to you, or were they recommended because they are the very best?
- What testimonials can they offer to give you assurances regarding the quality of their services?
- Do they have the recent Law Society accreditations Lexcel and CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme), which demonstrate commitment to the very highest of standards for you?
- Are they up-to-date with a well-managed website, and do they offer their email address and telephone numbers through this website?
- Do they usher you to a website for updates, or will your solicitor telephone/email you regularly with detailed updates?
- Are you able to speak with them or is it one of those services where you cannot speak to anyone because the fee you are paying for their service is very low?
- Do they close their phone lines at lunch and close their office sharp at 5 pm?
- Are they a small team where illness and holidays may cause your work to slow if not stall?
- Are they an actual solicitors’ firm or some other ‘legal’ business where their regulator’s compensation fund may not exist for you to claim from should the business fail to exist without any insurance protection that you can claim from should you lose funds?
- Who will be handling your property sale/purchase? Would they offer you a sole qualified legal solicitor or chartered legal executive who will make instant decisions and offer instant advice?
- Would they have to rack through their “case numbers” and several clerks before they can answer a query of yours?
- Do their conveyancing quotes have disguised fees, hidden extras, etc.?
Still, have doubts regarding whether to go local or not? Alfred James & Co Solicitors LLP, one of the best conveyancing solicitors in Croydon, can help you with that.+