When I started to write this diary some years ago, it was to talk about the trials and tribulations of being a conveyancer. With the increase in posts on LinkedIn, it seems that many others want to write about it as well. So, today, I’m going back to basics.
A Day in the Life of a High Street Conveyancer: Part one
09:10 Phone rings.
“Hello, this is Julie at Happy To Help You Move, the estate agents. I know we spoke at five to five on Friday but I just wanted to check whether you had an update for me?”
“Hello Julie. Nothing much has happened on this since five to five on Friday. I will call my client later and see if anything has happened over the weekend.”
“No need to call your clients. I’ve already spoken with them and they don’t have an update.”
I put the phone down with a heavy sigh.
09:20 Phone rings.
“Hello, this is Dan at Need You To Move Quickly, estate agents. I know that the seller’s solicitor sent you the draft contract documents late on Friday afternoon. Can you let me know if you have reviewed these yet and submitted searches and raised enquiries?”
“Hello Dan – no, not had a chance yet.”
What I really want to say is: ‘Not had a chance yet as I was too busy updating Julie with no news’.
09:30 Phone rings.
Shall I answer it? I need to review the draft contract documents Dan wants me to look at…
09.31 Phone stops ringing.
09:32 Phone starts ringing again.
“Hello, this is Mrs Jones. Dan at the estate agents has told me that you have received the draft contract documents – what do they say? Do we know a completion date? Shall I send you the deposit monies?”
“Hello Mrs Jones. I need to read through the documents and that may take a little time.I will then send you a report and we can then discuss how we move forwards.”
“I’m not really fussed about a report – I just want to move in.”
“Sorry, I do need to review the documents and will let you have the report as soon as I can.”
I put down the phone. Damn, Dan!
09:35 Phone rings again and goes to answerphone.
I sigh loudly and listen to the message.
“Hello, this is Victoria from Move With Us ‘Cos We’re The Best. Can you let me know if you have had a chance to review the replies to enquiries on Mrs Porter’s house? Call me back.”
09:40 Phone rings again. I answer it.
“Hello, this is Mrs Porter. My estate agents have said that they have been trying to speak with you but they can’t get you and you haven’t returned the call. What is happening? Is there a problem?”
Is it just me? Or is this how the day goes for many conveyancers? And it’s not even 10 o’clock yet…
We spend so long updating others and telling them what we are going to do that we never get around to doing it. And then when we ignore a call to do what we need to do because we have told someone we will do it, all hell breaks loose as we have not done what someone thinks we need to do.
Is this my life?
Is this how the next 10 years of my life will be?
Part two: The afternoon shift, to be continued…
This is written by a real high street conveyancer who wishes to remain anonymous. Read more in Today’s Conveyancer every week.
5 responses
Sounds like a typical Monday morning to me (though this appears to happen every day, not just Mondays!) No one has any patience these days.
Dear Secret Conveyancer,
I feel your pain. I recently read a depressing thread on Reddit discussing how often you should chase your Conveyancer! Long gone are the days when clients trusted us to do our job.
But, there is light….The 28 day Charter…..where we will be able to charge our fee up front, not have to wait for completion, get the Conveyancing work done before the property has sold then sit back and chase the agents and clients for updates on when the property is likely to sell…..the tables are turning! I’m predicting by 2035 we will be in a world where the Conveyancing has been done before the owners even realise they want to move ☺
Ban Estate Agents from contacting solicitors.
Yes this is a conveyancer’s day, every day. I remember the good old days 25 years ago when it was generally only the clients that made contact with you and would then apologise for bothering you. You never heard from the estate agents unless it was to impart important information and you certainly never had contact from the newbuild site office at the top of the chain. Conveyancing was alot less stressful and transactions went through alot quicker. If my memory serves me right it was 6-8 weeks from receipt of the contract papers!
Yes this is very much a typical day, I remember talking to a former colleague who qualified in the 1960’s and he fondly remembered that if you had 6 letters on your file, that was a very big file. When I first started in Conveyancing in the early 2000’s there were so many more firms offering Conveyancing services and the Conveyancers in those days actually deduced title. I’m starting to think that Conveyancers are becoming a rare species but unfortunately although rare, when taking into consideration the hours we have to work were are paid less than minimum wage, there is no wonder so many people are thinking about leaving the profession. I wonder of those wanting to leave what the percentage of those are Conveyancers. Personally I believe that if the big reforms are coming then part of those reforms should include capped caseloads of 50 files per fee earner and the firms charge a percentage of the value of the property, as it used to be. There is a lot of talk about peoples mental health but absolutely no action at all, apart from ridicules suggestion in articles we don’t have time to read.