We were about to retain a conveyancing solicitor in West Molesey found using your comparison tool but have come across alternative estimates via the web seem less pricey – how come?

There are hundreds of conveyancers offering what appear to be very low prices. You should give due consideration about how important this transaction is to you that you are willing to be penny wise pound foolish with regard to the standard of the conveyancing. Many of them accentuate a cheap fee to catch your eye but bury supplemental charges in the small print..

Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to have a meeting at the offices of the solicitor to sign the legal charge? If so, I will instruct a firm who offer conveyancing in West Molesey so that I can attend their offices if necessary.

As opposed to ten years ago, the vast majority mortgage companies no longer require their conveyancing panel lawyer to witness the borrowers signature. You will still be obliged to supply identification documents and there are still manifest benefits to choosing a locally based solicitor, in your case a conveyancing solicitor in West Molesey.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as RBS, do West Molesey conveyancers have to pay a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any mortgage company fees to register on their panel, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

How can we know in advance if a West Molesey conveyancing solicitor on the Aldermore panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in West Molesey getting recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one advertising the lowest fees. We would always advise that you speak with the lawyer handling your transaction.

I have paid off my mortgage with Barclays. I assume I don't need a West Molesey lawyer on the Barclays panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your Barclays mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Barclays mortgage from the register. Barclays, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:

1. but are not moving to another property
2. where Barclays has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. Barclays has instructed the Land Registry to do so

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £195,000 and found one close by in West Molesey I like with amenity areas and railway links in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 52 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in West Molesey suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you require a home loan the shortness of the lease will likely be an issue. Reduce the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the premises for at least 2 years you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this.

My husband and I are novice buyers - agreed a price, but the property agent has warned us that the owners will only go ahead if we use their recommended lawyers as they need a ‘quick sale’. My instinct tells me that we should use a high street conveyancer who is familiar with conveyancing in West Molesey

It is unlikely the vendors are behind this. Should the owner desire ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a serious buyer is counter productive. Bypass the agents and go straight to the owners and make the point that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to progress, with mortgage lined up © you are chain free (d) you wish to move quickly (e)however you intend to instruct your own,trusted West Molesey conveyancing solicitors - as opposed tothose that will earn their negotiator at the agency a kickback or meet his conveyancing figures pre-set by HQ.