Your 2024 Guide to finding the best Property Conveyancing Solicitors in Ireland

Conveyancing is a five-stage process that includes the pre-contract or scouting stage followed by the contract, post-contract compliance, completion, and post-completion stages. Of these, the contract and compliance stages are critical. A buyer or seller, or even a real estate dealer can land into deep trouble if these two stages are not handled correctly. That’s why, you need a solicitor or conveyancer to help you through these stages. And, you need one who is not only knowledgeable about the law but also adroit enough to understand your specific needs and advise you on the best course of action.

It is therefore worth investing the time and effort in selecting the best property conveyancing solicitors in Cork or wherever you happen to live. How would you do that? Take a look:

Scouting

Well, yes obviously you need to scout around a bit. But where to look? You are probably asking yourself questions like, does my conveyancer need to be local? Should I use the solicitor recommended by my estate agent? Can I find good conveyancing services online? Well, let’s put your mind to rest.

Should your Conveyancing Solicitor be Local?

Until not so long ago, the mindset was to have a local solicitor who can address all your legal needs. The reasoning was that since s/he is local, you can visit as frequently as you like to clarify your doubts and misgivings. When it comes to property deals though, your solicitor may need to visit the property, and if the property is not within the city, this can be expensive. So, think carefully and choose wisely.

Can you find your solicitor online?

Well, again, why not? But then again, online firms market aggressively and you risk being taken in by false claims. Barring that though, the internet is a veritable storehouse of information and services competing with one another. You’ll find solicitors offering terms as diverse as 100% upfront payment to a flat fee for every service. What you need to bear in mind however is that cheap solicitors are not necessarily the best. They are also likely to have several hidden costs. Remember also to check the services offered and see if they align with your needs. You’ll be well advised to hire your solicitor firm on a small but regular retainer so that they always have your back.

Solicitor or Licensed Conveyancer?

Without going into technicalities, a solicitor has comprehensive knowledge of law .You might think a conveyancer is a specialist, and in a way, they are because they focus only on property law. However, solicitors have a wider scope of knowledge such as business law, family law, succession law, and so on which a conveyancer may not. So, depending on whether you are looking for legal assistance for a specific deal or a more comprehensive advisor, go ahead and take your pick.

Now that you are done scouting here’s a checklist of things you should look for in property law solicitors.

Conveyancing Checklist

Surfing the internet can be overwhelming. Most people just end up clicking on the first few search results and picking one of the top three or five thinking they are the best. But that’s not always true, not because they are not good service providers but because they may not be aligned with your needs.

Here, therefore, is a quick checklist of questions you must ask before you hire land transaction solicitors.

Are they conveyancing specialists or do they serve other areas of law too?
Will you have a dedicated service provider whom you can call directly?
How digitally advanced is the firm?
Can you reach out remotely over chat, messaging and so on?
Do they provide case-tracking functionalities?
What are their service terms?
Do they guarantee success?
Do they have an association with property agents, financers, and so on to provide single window service?
Do they have fixed working hours or can you reach out whenever you need them?
Are there any hidden costs apart from the fee charged?

Wrapping up

In summation, remember that the solicitor or conveyancer you select should be aligned with your needs and requirements. When considering your requirements, it pays to be a bit futuristic in your approach so that you have all bases covered from the get-go. So, don’t limit yourself and don’t go blindly with a solicitor your agent or someone else recommends. Take the time to check for yourself before signing up.

At Walsh and Partners, we service not only conveyancing deals but also offer a host of other legal services ranging from agriculture and farm law to will probate right up to personal injury claims and business law.

Want to hire house purchase solicitors? Reach out now.