Diaries of a Clarkes Sales Progressor

Our branch manager, Alex, had agreed a simple transaction of a share of freehold flat to a cash investor without any onward chain.

Despite recommending certain local conveyancers the buyer had selected an out-of-town, online firm after a friend had recommended them due to their low cost.

The sale is 25 weeks old and still not complete. A transaction like this should take no longer than 12 weeks at most.

The online firm, let’s call them ‘Conveyancing Factory Legal’, have caused nothing but delay from the outset. Once the seller's solicitor had issued the draft contract to them it took 10+ weeks for them to confirm receipt, let alone raise any enquiries.

The 'conveyancer' repeatedly reported that they were waiting for the 'Searches Team', ‘Enquiries Team’ or ‘Technical Team’ to respond to them before even corresponding with the seller’s side.

This prompted the question ‘What am I paying you for?’.

Thanks to Alex’s persistence and the help of the seller’s solicitor (from a good local firm) the transaction is now finally set to complete.

This has taken 25 weeks and roughly 5 chasers per week via phone or email to CFL, plus keeping the buyer and vendor up to date with the (lack of)progress throughout.

Below is just a handful of examples of the correspondence.

We are all for saving costs where possible but in this case ‘You get what you pay for’ couldn’t be more accurate.

To speak to a property professional or for a recommendation of a GOOD QUALITY LOCAL LAW FIRM please get in touch with the team at Clarkes Estate Agents.

Thank you.

Sa please can we have an update urgently;

The transaction is 11 weeks old and despite there being no chain and your client being a cash purchaser there has been no progress from Conveyancing Factor Legal.

When will you have reviewed and approved the contract?

Kind Regards

Alex Caddy

Good afternoon,

I have just spoken to our vendor, Mr Seller.

He has asked us to remarket the property to line up some viewings as this transaction has been going for 16 weeks and you still are not communicating with his solicitor.

We have been asked to market the property from Monday, TO SAVE THE TRANSACTION FOR YOUR CLIENT please can you respond to Local Law and release a contract for your client to sign.

Please revert with a full update and timescale of action to keep this together.

Kind Regards

Alex Caddy

Good afternoon

We still await replies to enquiries from the seller’s solicitors for review

Kind regards

‘Conveyancer’

Dear Sirs

Our records show that these were sent to you on 13 November and further replies on 22 November.

We attach again for ease of reference and wait hearing from you urgently please.

Kind regards

Local Solcitor

Conveyancing Solicitor