As the conveyancing market and process has opened up to greater competition, the emergence of e-conveyancers has been one of the stand out benefits offered. Providing a more affordable and often more reliable service than the average high street solicitor offers, consumers really only have to overcome one major hurdle – they first need to accept that it’s more than possible for a conveyancer to complete their end of the home selling or buying process without ever meeting their client.

E-conveyancing has become an ultra competitive market and combined with the slump in housing prices this has led to improved prices for consumers. Increased competition typically leads to reduced prices and improved services, and this certainly appears to be the case when it comes to conveyancing and e-conveyancing in particular. Even without extensive comparison, it’s possible to find a good e-conveyancer that offers their services at a rate that is vastly lower than a conveyancing solicitor offers.

Service levels are always an important consideration when choosing a service provider. In the past, conveyancing services have been offered solely by high street or family solicitors and many consumers have been subjected to less than ideal service levels. It can still prove very difficult to get hold of your solicitor and to firmly tie them down to a specific date or time period for the completion of your project. E-conveyancers have helped to improve this situation because they rely on conveyancing work alone to ensure the success of their business.

As well as being able to choose from high street solicitors, conveyancing factories, and specialist conveyancing firms there are also conveyancing marketing companies that operate online. As with virtually any financial product or service, these companies act as an intermediary between the buyer and potential service providers usually taking a commission from the company on the successful awarding of a conveyancing contract.

The best of the conveyancing market companies add increased benefits to those that are provided by the conveyancing firm themselves. For example, some marketing companies will truly act as an intermediary relaying details of your conveyancing through an online account management portal; a very handy feature indeed when you want to be kept abreast of the current situation without constantly having to ring your conveyancer to find out.

Check the marketing company’s website as fully as you would that of a conveyancer, if not more so. Bear in mind that the marketing company is only as good as the companies they represent, although the best will very carefully hand pick the most suitable of conveyancers to promote. In these cases you can get the best prices available without sacrificing any level of quality in service.

Ensure that the online conveyancing marketing firm does take a cut from the conveyancer and doesn’t instead attempt to add hidden charges to your quote. You will typically make payment through the marketing company so it is conceivable that they could do this; in practice, however, you should receive a completely transparent quote with a breakdown of costs.

Conveyancing is the process of legally transferring ownership of a property from one party to another. A portion of this process involves legal transactions and helps ensure, in particular, that the buyer will take receipt of the type of property that they were expecting. Conveyancing is necessary in the buying and selling of any property. For the buyer, a conveyancer will check that all legal requirements are upheld and that the property details, mortgage offer details, and contract detail match appropriately.

The First Stages

The early stages of conveyancing involve you and your conveyancer. You will need to sign and return a Letter of Engagement that entitles the solicitor or conveyancer to work on your behalf. Once this is completed, they will then attain a copy of the draft contract including title information and numerous forms.

Checking Documentation

The conveyancer will then study the documents and ask any questions of the seller’s solicitor. Once this process is completed you will be presented with a copy of the details and asked to confirm that everything is as you expected.

The lender should send a copy of your mortgage offer to your conveyancer. They will reference the terms of this to the property documents to further ensure that everything matches. Most solicitors will also assist the lender in order to facilitate a speedier conveyancing process.

Contract Exchange

Once everything has been checked, you will need to sign the contract as well as your mortgage offer. Details regarding a deposit will be provided so that you can submit this deposit before the contracts are exchanged. A completion date will then be agreed by all parties and the exchange will take place.

Completion

On completion, your conveyancing solicitor will then finalise all the contracts, ensure that they are stamped for legal authorisation and provide the original of the deeds to your lender.

The Internet has provided consumers with a method of finding the best prices
on the best deals. This beneficial method of shopping around isn’t reserved
for electronic and household goods, as financial consumers have taken equally
well to improved access to these deals. But the term online conveyancer puts
many buyers and sellers off when it comes time to find a licensed conveyancer.

Why Online Conveyancing Works

A lot of the conveyancing process is done behind the scenes. Even when using
your local or family solicitor, you will usually only be required to visit
them once or twice throughout the entire process. The truth is, though, that
signing the documents and answering your conveyancer’s questions doesn’t necessarily
have to be done in the office – it can all be done just as easily and efficiently
at home without a face to face meeting.

The conveyancer doesn’t need to be local to completely fulfil their part in
the buying process. Administrative duties can all be conducted from their office
using fax, email, and telephone to communicate with the other parties.

Online Conveyancing Service Providers

Similarly to looking offline there are several types of conveyancing service
available.

• Conveyancing factories are large volume, low cost solutions.
  Users typically get online access to view their case status but service levels
  can suffer as a result of the mass conveyancing approach taken. Communications
  may also suffer as a result of the use of call centres rather than a single
  dedicated conveyancer.

• Specialist firms are typically the more expensive option
  and service levels do vary. However, a specialist conveyancing firm that
  comes highly recommended is likely to offer an excellent level of service.

• Conveyancing brokers are similar to insurance brokers
  in the respect that they have access to a number of services and companies.
  Once you’ve provided your details, they will determine the most appropriate
  conveyancer for your needs. Service levels can again vary so look for those
  with genuine sounding testimonials.

Online Conveyancers

Service levels and costs of conveyancers can vary greatly from one service
to another. There are essentially three types of service offering varying prices
and, again, service levels. Online conveyancing, on the whole, though provides
access to more affordable services.