Choosing a conveyancer isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of the decisions that shapes how smooth,or stressful,your home purchase feels.
Your conveyancer handles the legal work. They read the contract, check the property’s paperwork, flag risks, talk to the seller’s solicitor, and make sure the money moves safely on completion day. If you pick well, things move steadily. If you don’t, delays creep in.
Here’s how to choose someone reliable, responsive, and right for your situation.
1. Decide what you actually need
Conveyancers all do the same core job, but not all transactions are equal.
Think about your situation:
- First-time buyer: You’ll want someone who explains clearly and responds quickly.
- Leasehold or share of freehold: These take more work. You need someone who handles leaseholds regularly.
- New build: Developers set tight deadlines. Pick a solicitor used to dealing with developer paperwork.
- Buying in a chain: Prioritise communication. Slow replies echo down a chain.
- Using a Lifetime ISA: Not every firm handles these well. Check early.
The clearer you are on your transaction type, the easier it is to filter firms.
2. Look for signs of a good conveyancer
A good conveyancer is predictable. They do the basics well, reply promptly, and don’t overpromise.
Check for:
- Transparent fees: Fixed fees are common. Ask what’s included and excluded.
- Clear communication: Do they reply quickly? Are their emails plainspoken?
- A named case handler: Not a call centre where you speak to someone new each time.
- Local knowledge (optional): Useful for unusual leases, historic properties, or specific council quirks.
- Experience with your property type: Leasehold, shared ownership, new build, auction, etc.
If their quote is much lower than others, ask why. Cheap conveyancing often means heavy caseloads and slow progress.
3. Compare quotes, but don’t just pick the cheapest
Conveyancing quotes vary, but they usually include:
- Legal fee
- Searches
- Disbursements
- Extras such as leasehold supplements or gifted deposit checks
What matters isn’t the number — it’s whether there will be surprises later.
A firm that explains each line clearly is almost always a safer bet than one that hides the detail.
4. Test their responsiveness before you instruct
The first 24 hours tells you a lot.
Send a simple email:
“Hi, I’m buying a £X property in [location]. Leasehold/freehold. Do you have capacity, and how long are transactions currently taking?”
Look for:
- A clear, human reply
- A realistic timeframe
- Someone who answers your actual question, not a canned template
If they’re slow now, they won’t be quicker later.
5. Check reviews
Online reviews can be messy. Focus on patterns:
- “Hard to reach / slow replies” → red flag
- “Kept me updated / chased the other side” → good sign
- “Problems with leasehold” → relevant if you’re buying one
- “Smooth completion” → always encouraging
The comments tell you far more than the star rating.
6. Know when a local conveyancer helps (and when it doesn’t)
You don’t need someone near the property. Most work is done by email and phone.
But local firms can be useful when:
- The property has unusual title issues
- It’s a very old building
- It involves private roads, flying freeholds, or listed status
- You want someone familiar with specific local authority delays
Otherwise, choose based on quality, not distance.
7. Ask these simple questions before instructing
You don’t need to grill them, just get clarity.
- Who will handle my case day-to-day?
- What’s your typical response time?
- What’s not included in your quote?
- How many leasehold/shared ownership/new build cases do you handle?
- What could slow my transaction down?
Their answers tell you exactly what working with them will feel like.
8. Final thought
A good conveyancer won’t remove all the stress from buying a home, but they’ll keep things moving and tell you early when something needs attention. That alone can save you weeks.
If you’re unsure where to start, UK Property Looker can help you compare conveyancers and understand what’s reasonable for your situation. You stay in control; we simplygive you the information to make a solid choice.