We exchanged - Wahoo! Or so you’d think?

Yesterday we exchanged on a property which involved two unresponsive solicitors - not a recommendation of ours, might we add! We were instrumental in making sure they both communicated with one another and pushed when the case was simply at the bottom of their pile. Both client and seller were motivated to move and extremely responsive, so there really was no reason for it (despite them always finding something 🙄).

So we chased and chased (under instruction from our clients) well out of traditional working hours, to ensure the sale came to a close, with emails and calls back and fourth trying to separate the facts from the 'Chinese whispers'. Unfortunately, both lawyers failed to inform us the property had exchanged and we were not told until the following day after another chaser call & email. So why did they not follow standard protocol OR see the importance in telling us after 'working together' for nearly 12 weeks?

We are part of the deal - We are friend not foe!

Lest not forget we aren’t the type of agent who doesn't truly know what we are talking about. We don't send endless "Can I have an update?" emails. We have both been in the property industry nearly 10 years, starting as agents then working at a law firm, we know what questions to ask and when, as well as knowing the process inside-out (although some anomalies do pop up every now and then!).

And this is why we have a select few lawyers who we are happy to recommend and always hope to work alongside.

Our favourite Lawyer Laura Wheeler who is a self-employed consultant under Taylor Rose MW, is amazing. She is even in a WhatsApp group with us and keeps us up-to-date on everything, at any time of day.

We need more Laura’s.

Despite a few bumps in the road, we are of course ecstatic the sale has now exchanged with completion to shortly follow, but with agency changing, focusing more on service levels, is it time 'old school' lawyers upped their game too?

Written by Michaela Sanders

Director