Category: General

How much for solicitors?

How much should solicitors fees be for buying a property?

This is a really frequent question that people have – and they normally ask it when they get a quote from one company.

How much the conveyancing charges should be will vary according to what house you’re buying and what sort of solicitor you use.
Get lots of quotes. Compare like with like though – if you get an online conveyancing quote, compare it with other online quotes.

Local solicitors will be found in the yellow pages, or ask friends who they used.

Get the quotes in writing so you can sit and compare the details. Ask them to include any info on possible other charges.

A solicitor who deals with auction properties is likely to be able to move faster than one who doesn’t – this is a good thing to remember if you’re buying a repossession and want to avoid anyone else sniping your offer.
So before you ask “is this quote about right?” you should check you’ve got several quotes. If you find big discrepencies then you need to work out why. Has one solicitor omitted something or are they just cheaper. Always double check if a quote sounds really cheap.

Another important thing to think about is how easy they are to get hold of. If you ring them up do they answer the phone quickly? Can you email info back and forwards to them at no extra charge? With this in mind you should be able to find the best solicitor for you at the best price.

On my last property purchase I used a local solicitor and was able to email him rather than have to ring up. I thought this was a great idea and meant I had proper information in front of me rather than having to make notes of a phone call.

councils to favour the working?

There’s a debate going on about some councils in London deciding to favour the employed in social housing queues.

For the taxpayer which costs more

Unemployed – get benefits and rent help. Presumably full to the limits on age etc.

Employed – If you’re on minimum wage and in private rented you’ll get some benefit help towards your rent (I assume but haven’t yet done the calculations to show this) and possibly tax credits too.

Which works out best for the taxpayer?

Cheaper rents all round would be the thing that really helped!

Landlord insurance

If you own a property that you rent out you really must have specialist landlord insurance. Normal owner occupier insurance doesn’t cover you – and you’re wasting the premiums too as they wouldn’t pay out on any claims.

Simple Landlord Insurance offers easy to get quotes, discounts on all insurance and portfolio discounts too so if you have more than one property you can save money.

Protect your rental properties by being properly insured with the right level of cover.

Policies from Simple Landlord insurance include:

Up to £2 million Buildings Insurance Cover

Up to £75,000 Contents Cover

Landlords Legal Liability with £2 million cover as standard

Free Accidental Damage Cover on Buildings Insurance*

Loss of Rent Cover

Alternative Accommodation Cover

Legal & Professional Fees Cover

Home Emergency Cover


Best places to raise a family

Daily Mail news story about the best place in the UK to raise a family

The worst postcodes were not revealed. Miss Moore added: ‘In reality, these might be excellent areas, but they may well just be very expensive and price the average family out of the market.

THE TOP TEN

1.Winkleigh, Devon, EX19

3 bedroom terrace property in the village of Winkleigh only £129950

2.South Petherton, Somerset, TA13

3.Galgate, Lancashire, LA2

4.Eaglescliffe, Stockton on Tees, TS16

5.Bromley Cross, Bolton, BL7

6.Shebbear, Devon, EX21

7.Great Ayton, North Yorks, TS9

8.Sutton Coldfield,West Midlands, B74

9.Moor Row, Cumbria, CA24

10.Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7