Online Conveyancing versus High Street Solicitors
The term online conveyancing is used for solicitors or conveyancers who provide services without the need to see their clients face to face. While high street solicitors lean more toward face-to-face meetings, in today's digital age, more and more buyers are now moving online.
While online conveyancers often get a bad press for offering cheap and slow services, high street solicitors are often a lot more expensive, and often have close ties to the estate agent, which isn't always a good thing.
In fact, buyers using online methods have reached record levels, with 44% of clients now using online tools and comparison methods to select their legal provider. This is driven largely by a preference for fixed-price transparency over traditional high street solicitors (Source: Today's Conveyancer).
What is the difference between online conveyancing and high street solicitors?
Choosing the right legal partner is a pivotal decision in the home-moving process, and it is important to understand what best aligns with your needs. Both models offer distinct advantages and drawbacks depending on your budget, circumstances, and the complexity of your property.
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What is the right service for me?
High street solicitor
A high street solicitor is normally referred by the estate agent and with that comes a premium. Many solicitors pay estate agents to refer clients, which can cost up to £300. This often means your solicitor will be charging you more.
Digital conveyancing quotes
Web-based conveyancing quotes come with less of an estate agent's premium, and firms are fiercely battling with each other to win your business. In fact, if you type conveyancing solicitor quotes into Google, you'll find results ranging from £99 upwards when you come to compare conveyancing quotes.
The challenge you'll find with these conveyancing quotes is that they never stay at this low price. You should always check if your fixed fee is all-inclusive, like ours is at SAM Conveyancing
Our average conveyancing service comes to is £908 INC VAT, which covers third-party disbursements and our no sale, no fee guarantee.
Expert Tip - Avoid conveyancing warehouses
Warehouse conveyancing is a high-volume model where large teams of junior staff handle the bulk of the paperwork to keep costs low. Because cases are processed centrally by a pool of people rather than a single dedicated expert, it often leads to a less personal service and slower response times.
Most conveyancing warehouses market online; however, some have huge referrals from Estate Agents.
Andrew Boast FMAAT
CEO of SAM Conveyancing
Conveyancing recommendations
Solicitors like our panel comes with a number of recommendations. When reviewing which conveyancers to choose when looking for your best quotes, make sure you check their recommendations on third-party websites like Google Reviews, Yelp or Yellow Pages.
Always examine the worst review in the list first to see what happened, as these can often give an insight into what the conveyancer is going to be like. However, it's also important to take the review with a pinch of salt and read the company's response.
Find out who is doing the legal work for you
When you are getting your quote for conveyancing, ask if the person handling your conveyancing has the training required to give you the advice and support you need. These are the qualifications you should look for:
- Solicitor: Regulated by the SRA and registered with the Law Society
- Licensed conveyancer: Regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers
- FILEX: A Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives
The person assigned to look after your conveyancing may have none of these qualifications, but you can be sure that their work is overseen by someone who does. If this is the case, you should ask who the qualified person is, what qualifications they have and how much involvement they will have with your conveyancing on a day-to-day basis.
Ready to move? Start your process with us today
Transitioning to online conveyancing doesn't mean losing the human touch. At SAM Conveyancing, we provide you with a dedicated solicitor to manage your digital journey from instruction to completion. Speak to our team or start your quote online to secure your move with a No Sale, No Fee guarantee.
- Fixed, competitive legal fees with no hidden costs.
- Expert conveyancing solicitors with proven local knowledge.
- No Sale, No Fee protection for your transaction. Terms apply.
- On 99% of mortgage lender panels.
- Fast completions.
- We can solve any property challenge.
Frequently asked questions about online conveyancing
Andrew Boast FMAAT is a qualified accountant, conveyancing specialist and author with over 25 years of experience in the UK property sector. Since beginning his career in 2000 within established SRA and CLC-regulated conveyancing solicitor firms, Andrew has overseen the legal journeys of more than 75,000 clients.
He is the author of the property guide 'How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone' and a frequent contributor to mainstream UK media on legislative updates, property law, first-time buyer guides, conveyancing best practices, and stamp duty changes. Andrew specialises in resolving complex title issues, property conflict disputes, and property tax options, streamlining the enquiry process to reduce transaction times and maintaining a client-friendly focus.
Caragh Bailey is a Lead Property Content Specialist at SAM Conveyancing, having joined the firm in 2020. With a portfolio of over 150 technical conveyancing, house survey and mortgage guides, she has become a primary authority on the end-to-end sale and purchase process.
Caragh specialises in complex legal workflows, including Help to Buy redemptions, equity transfers, shared ownership structures, trust deeds for tax planning, and joint ownership disputes. Her expertise extends to leasehold reform and RICS home surveys, where she provides clear, factual guidance on independent legal advice for specialist mortgage products and intricate ownership structures.
