i have used one up in taree for nearly 10 years now and have yet to meet him. however, he is brilliant at what he does and very reasonable price (and lovely fella to boot).
This has included two 'problem' conveyances; one where the purchaser defaulted for a period of two months and another where we were buying and the vendor defaulted 48 hrs prior to settlement. Both were handled very well, although the one where the vendor defaulted had to be referred onto a solicitor. All this was handled quite smoothly and the converyancer actually attended at the solicitors with us to brief the solicitor on the history of the matter.
Haven't lived in Newcastle for nearly two years now though, so my opinion may be outdated. Fees were very reasonable too.
Although a conveyancer in your home town is not necessary, has anyone found it a disadvantage to use one well away from the locality you are buying in?
When I bought in Brisbane I used a local solicitor from one of a few mentioned to me by agents (the one I had lined up from SS recommendation a couple of months earlier had left the company and the company never returned my call).
As a result of the solicitors local knowledge of/and experience in dealing with the council and their laws he added a clause to the contract to protect me. I doubt if a solicitor or conveyancer out of the area without regular dealings with the council would have been aware of the potential trap for me as buyer.
Are my concerns with using a solicitor or conveyancer outside the area without local knowledge justified. I have been told that some will contact another firm in the area of where the house is to ask if anything they should be aware of.
I also prefer someone local as well but yes good point beachside. Anyway I picked someone listed here and they seem really good. The important thing is they are good to talk to and want to help get things rolling. My last solicitors were a joke Lizzie, I think I wrote about it once and that is why I didn't want to go with them.
Although my solicitor was on the ball with the local council knowledge he dropped the ball in other areas.....and settlement was delayed costing me money - which I held him responsible for. He paid!
I suspect a good conveyancer (who deals only with property) is better than an average solicitor of which conveyancing is only one of the areas they work in....and left to the receptionist to look after!
But how many conveyancers are clued up with knowledge and skills for wording of contracts out of the norm. Some of the ones I have contacted in the past and asked what their experience was with wording contracts for early access (or similar) have told me it can't be done. Probably would not find their way around a broken down car on their way home!!