xkellyx

Im buying my first house and have been quoted by the above, has anyone had dealings with them?

OllyK

From experience I'd go with a local firm of solicitors. With the big guys you have loads of phone answerers for a few solicotors, you can't get them to hurry or speak to them direct, everything is passed on as messages, you can't just "drop in" to sign bits of paperwork and so on either. All IMHO of course.

xkellyx

i am already speaking to the solicitor and altho he has said i would be speaking to him i do believe it, the estate agents also get to speak with them and the sellers are using them to so id hope its gonna be a quick process?

OllyK

That would be the only saving grace, if both parties are using the same company.

OllyK

Not sure what he has told you, but most reckon on 4-6 weeks to do a house purchase assuming nothing nasty comes up in the searches / survey.

richardg

bear in mind that when you use a firm quoting significantly less than others and offering a national service, they tend to deal with purchases in 'blocks'. you therefore get less of a personal service and are treated like cattle. having said that, they usually represent very good value for money if you're in no hurry.