Happy New Year to you all!
I hope that 2024 is going to be a good year. It is always at this time of year when I think about how we can achieve a better work/life balance and how perhaps conveyancing land can be better. So, with that in mind, here are my top five New Year resolutions:
1. Increase fees – yes, I am a stuck record on this one but think about how rushed and stressed you were coming into the Christmas break. If there is another Stamp duty break (as has been mentioned although so has the abolition of leasehold and who knows what may happen!), then isn’t it better to make more money but take on less work and not be as stressed?
Take pride in the service you provide – my experience shows that clients will pay for a premium service but you just need to be ‘on your game’ all of the time
2. Can we all update the register if there is some change, such as the joint owners have married? It can be done quickly and free via the e-system on the Land Registry Portal with an updated title coming back within a few hours. It saves time and possibly requisitions.
3. Speak to each other more – there are many matters /issues/hitches which can be dealt with quickly by picking up the phone and having a chat. And who knows ? you may actually enjoy chatting to a conveyancer you have never spoken with before and may find common ground that helps all parties.
4. Get mortgage monies the day before completion – common sense to most of us, but there are still some firms which leave it to the last minute and that causes stress throughout the chain.
5. And finally (for now!) – don’t raise standard additional enquiries . Look at the questions and decide what is needed and what will help to progress the transaction.
And so, in the words of Abba –
Happy New Year, Happy New Year
May we all have a vision now and then
Of a world where every conveyancer is a friend
This is written by a real high street conveyancer who wishes to remain anonymous. Read more in Today’s Conveyancer every week.
One Response
Its sad that all this could just as easily have been written 20 years ago and we dont seem to learn from experience! Or is it just another generation comes along and they have to learn for themselves by experience? ( My admission cert is signed Denning MR )