Recently been in touch with my conveyancing lawyer in Crawley who acted for me two years ago asking for a conveyancing costs illustration based on an identical type of house sale & purchase (a leasehold premises and a freehold premises) of almost identical values with a loan from . I am now being quoted double. Am I right to be tempted to shop around for an alternative firm of conveyancing solicitor?

The costs illustration is fractionally on the steep side. If you are willing to expend time scrutinising charges you may be able to shave off some of the cost by say £100 plus VAT. That being said, assuming were pleased with the service the firm provided you couldlive to rue choosing an a cheaper conveyancer. Remember to enquire that the conveyancer can also act for . Do use our search tool to locate a Crawley conveyancing firm on the approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Crawley.

When can the exchange of contracts occur in residential conveyancing in Crawley and am I required to attend the lawyers branch?

If you are in close proximity to one of the conveyancing solicitors in Crawley you are welcome to come in to sign the paperwork. That being said, the law practices we recommend offer a nationwide conveyancing service and provide just as detailed and professional a job for you when communicating with you digitally. The signing of the contract is not when everything is set in stone. Signing on the dotted line is necessary for the solicitor to exchange contracts at the appropriate time, which will usually be very shortly after signing. The exchange process is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where a lengthy "chain" is in play, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Crawley)to be in the office at the appropriate time.

I have been pointed in your direction by a number of selling agents in Crawley to find a property lawyer on your site. What’s the financial upside for Estate Agents to recommend your lawyers rather than a competitor’s?

We refuse to offer any referral fee for sending work our way. We thought it would be too underhand a fee because a client could think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

My cousin has recommend that I appoint his lawyers for conveyancing in Crawley. Should I use them?

There are no two ways about it the best way to select a conveyancing solicitor is to get feedback from friends or family who have used the firm that you are are thinking of instructing.

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a great figure which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently been informed that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are issues buying a house with a leasehold title in Crawley. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been instructed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Crawley are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Crawley in which case you should be looking for a Crawley conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example obtaining the freeholder’spermission to carry out changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your solicitor will advise you fully on all the issues.

I acquired a basement flat in Crawley, conveyancing having been completed 1995. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Crawley with a long lease are worth £165,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 invoiced annually. The lease finishes on 21st October 50

You have 50 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to range between £36,100 and £41,800 as well as costs.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to supply a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed due diligence. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional issues that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information before getting professional advice.