Peter Seaman
Chandos Lodge
Eye
Suffolk
IP23 7AQ
email me
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I have always done my own property conveyancing and encourage my friends to do theirs. There are many myths in this business most of which are exposed in the book "The Conveyancing Fraud" written by solicitor Michael Joseph. This book sold over 30,000 copies but is now out of print. The book demonstrates that the layman can do a far more effective job than a solicitor and includes a detailed step-by-step guide. Unfortunately this particular book is now out of print, Michael Joseph died a few years ago, and as far as I know no equivalent exists today.
Over the years the procedure has simplified somewhat and there is now an urgent need for an up-to-date guide for the layman. I have a fair bit of recent practical experience myself and am looking for someone to work with me on a joint venture to produce an improved and updated handbook. If you may be interested in sharing this project I would much like to hear from you. Please email Peter.Seaman.diyc@Stable-Software.co.uk or ring 01379-870695.
Since writing the above I have discovered Free Conveyancing Advice. Though a useful site in many ways it is far too respectful of lawyers for my liking.
Solicitors like to boast that their charges are required to be "fair and reasonable" and are controlled by the 1974 Solicitors Act. What they don't tell you is that this Act specifically allows them to charge according to numerous criteria, one of which is the amount of money involved. It does not say what percentage is reasonable, so when they sell your house or fill in a share transfer certificate, so long as they charge any percentage or according to any scale, the charge is, by their definition, "fair and reasonable".
Probate is another activity where solicitors make a vast amount of money for doing (or rather getting their low-paid clerks for doing) simple administrative tasks: that is why they are willing to charge about a tenth of their normal rates for drafting your will. Any executor who is also a beneficiary and uses a firm of solicitors to carry out probate is, in my view, an idiot.
If you need help compiling a HIP or doing your own conveyancing please contact me. I will be pleased to help free of charge.
Peter Seaman
Chandos Lodge
Eye
Suffolk
IP23 7AQ
email me
Thank you for visiting this page, which has now been visited
times since since August 9th 2007.