So we have come to the end of the first National Conveyancing Week and I have to say that I do think it was a resounding success. There were many interesting discussions and forums and it was so heartening to see so many firms involved.
Please remember the week just gone when you are talking to clients, especially when you are providing them with figures and a quote to act for them in their house move.
Don’t put your fees down if you are worried about the market declining – you just need more work to make the same amount of money (sorry – I know that I have mentioned this many times before, but it does your firm and staff a disservice and also impacts on neighbouring firms).
If you give a client some costings and they come back and tell you that the firm down the road is prepared to do it cheaper, stand up for yourself and stick to your prices.
That client has come back to you and asked you to reduce your fees because, guess what? They want you to act. If they did not want you to act, they would not have come back to you, and even if you tell them that you cannot reduce your fees and they do go with the cheaper firm, it is highly likely that they will not receive the same level of service and will ultimately understand why you were charging more.
We have to build pride in conveyancing – as a profession, we take a lot of knocks and are accused of holding things up when it is our regulation and rules meaning that we always have to be cautious.
Stand up for yourselves, fellow conveyancers. Be proud of what you have done over the last few years and continue to do so, hopefully with a smile and a feeling that we do change lives.
This is written by a real high street conveyancer who wishes to remain anonymous. Read more in Today’s Conveyancer every week.
