Pro-active conveyancers in bid to improve buying and selling process

A number of pro-active conveyancers are joining a new conveyancing directory being set up by one of the leading figures in the industry. 

Listed conveyancing firms appearing on the directory will offer sellers the opportunity to instruct them early in the home selling process in order to allow the conveyancer to be pro-active during the usually ‘legally dead time’ between marketing and acceptance. 

The aim is to at the very least complete the client onboarding process and carry out identity and anti-money laundering checks, or ideally go further and create a full - possibly exchange-ready - property transaction pack.

Directory developer Rob Hailstone, chief executive of the Bold Legal Group, says the aim is to get the “upfront information ball rolling properly at last.” 

He accepts that most sellers will need to be encouraged by estate agents to instruct a conveyancer sooner rather than later, and he hopes many agents will engage with this new initiative in order to reduce the ever-lengthening time it takes to exchange and complete.

Hailstone says: “Ever since I started producing Home Information Packs back in 2007, I realised that conveyancer involvement was vital in order to compile a pack that would really help ease and speed up the conveyancing process. I now have enough support and momentum to try to bring my vision to reality, and the recent announcement by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team regarding the provision of material information for property listings can only help.

“My main aim in life (and death) is to have on my tombstone: He wasn’t a bad dad, he was an OK husband, but he did help improve the home buying and selling process! I’m still working on the first two, and need a lot of support to achieve the third.”

In a recently recorded podcast with Glynis Frew - the retiring chief executive of Hunters and current chair of the Home Buying and Selling Group's sub group 'Upfront Information’ - Hailstone discusses the importance of early conveyancer involvement. The podcast can be found here.

The Bold Legal Move directory, will be officially launched at the Bold Legal Group summer conference on June 28 in London.