I went with a high street lawyer for my conveyancing in Winchelsea recently. After carefully reading the terms of engagement it is apparent thatI am responsible for costs even if the dealfalls through. Should I go with them or use a web based solicitor practice advertising no-sale-no-fee conveyancing in Winchelsea?

Generally there is a compromise along the lines that if "No Completion No Fee" is advertised then the conveyancing charges will tend to be be more expensive to offset those conveyances that fail to complete. Please beware that such promotions tend not to cover expenses e.g. Winchelsea conveyancing search expenses.

It is a dozen years since I purchased my property in Winchelsea. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been instructed on the sale but I am unable to find the title deeds. Is this a major issue?

Don’t worry too much. Firstly there is a chance that the deeds will be with your lender or they may be in the possession of the solicitor who acted in the purchase. Secondly in most cases the land will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors procuring up to date copy of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Winchelsea relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your property is unregistered it is more tricky but is not insurmountable.

A colleague recommended that if I am buying in Winchelsea I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

A search of this type is usually quoted for as part of the standard Winchelsea conveyancing searches. It is not a small report of about 40 pages, listing and detailing important information about Winchelsea around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Winchelsea Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data about Winchelsea.

I was advised by numerous property agents in Winchelsea to get a quote from a property lawyer on your site. What’s the financial incentive for Estate Agents to offer your site ahead of a competitor’s?

We refuse to give any referral fee for pointing buyers and sellers in our direction. We thought it would be too underhand a fee because a client could think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

How easy is it to change a solicitor as I need to find a Winchelsea based conveyancer who is on the lender conveyancing panel. Is it advisable to appoint a new law firm?

In the event that you have not formally appointed a solicitor to do anything for you and at this stage simply received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer in Winchelsea that you're thinking of instructing.