Online meetings are no substitute for face-to-face meetings and would facilitate more harmonious relationships between estate and conveyancers says the founder of membership body Bold Legal Group, Rob Hailstone.
In his 50th year in conveyancing, Hailstone has issued a rallying call to the profession to ‘unite, not fight’ in the wake of National Conveyancing Week and says that the relationships that some firms and individuals have with each other would benefit from more personal interaction, enabling better understanding and cooperation.
“Back in the 70s, 80s and 90s we all seemed to get along so much better than we do now. I appreciate they were different times, when social media was virtually nonexistent, people did not expect almost immediate satisfaction and law firms were, on the whole of a similar kind. However, the almost constant moaning and groaning that goes on in public, on some social media platforms needs to stop, it helps no one and paints the profession in a bad light.”
“We need more understanding, thought, and forward thinking sometimes. For example, the firms who raise numerous (often unnecessary) enquiries need to ask themselves why they do that and review their processes, and the firms who do not want to adopt any form digitisation (we are in the 21st century) should perhaps consider doing the same.”
“One thing that National Conveyancing Week (NCW) made abundantly clear is that online meetings are no substitute for face-to-face meetings. A huge number of firms opened up their office for an NCW coffee morning, and many have reported that they were a great success and that existing business relationships were strengthened, and new ones were created. A few firms have now said that they will be replicating their NCW coffee morning antics, every month, with one even saying they have booked a room in a local pub for that very purpose.”
Hailstone points to the Material Information requirements as an opportunity to ‘(work) together… to reduce transaction times, abortive transaction rates and stress levels.’ One firm who is actively engaging with the new requirements is Watson Ramsbottom. Elton Ashworth, Managing Director says
“We have actively engaged with local agents in assisting them to provide material information and to help them with their increasing compliance requirements. Obviously increased engagement with the agents develops and strengthens relationships (and the amount of referrals) accordingly. When coupled with the additional information buyers have from an early stage and the more information that sellers have gathered already, we’ve found it is also speeding the Conveyancing process up too.”
4 Responses
Firstly Rob Hailstone does not work in Conveyancing he is a businessman.
Secondly having bizarrely being crowned “Industry Champion” whatever that means, he should not be abusing, goading and threatening people within the profession whose opinion he does not agree with.
A pretty divisive character whose ego is out of control.
David, why are you so bitter? You are not doing yourself any favours with your comments. Someone has moved your cheese and you need to realise it.
Don’t be bitter, be proactive and embrace the change like Elton Ashworth and many others. You might receive more referrals/business like he has!
Weren’t all of the panels for National conveyancing week held over online meetings?
Why should we listen to someone who hasn’t been a conveyancer for 20 years and obviously doesn’t have the slightest clue about the challenges faced by property professionals?