Having talked about keeping the search industry on its toes in their previous appearance on the podcast, Kevin Johnson and Jeremy Dorkins of On Point Data join the latest Today’s Conveyancer Podcast to provide update on their progress over the last 18 months, climate change, the quality of search information and advice for practitioners, and the pace of technological change in the property sector.
With the Law Society Property Conference hosting a panel discussion on the topic, and updated guidance for practitioners recently published, climate change is a hot potato for conveyancers. The Law Society is clear, where further guidance is required, conveyancers must refer to the data providers; a sentiment echoed by Kevin:
“Solicitors are are not subject matter experts on climate change, or planning for example. It is our role to firms in touch with the right people to help them best advise their clients.”
Another issue Jeremy sees is the wrong reports being requested for the type of land use and transaction they’re conducting and it is the role of search companies to ensure the reports which best suit conveyancers’ need is recommended.
On the progress of technology and speed of change both agree the “train has left the station” but there is still a lot of technology solving individual problems; where there needs to be a much more cohesive effort. It’s likely, says Kevin, we need government intervention to really make progress.
But there are signs we’re moving in the right direction adds Jeremy; don’t forget it wasn’t that long ago we were printing reams of pdfs, using DX and franking machines to send piles of paper search reports to firms. It was a big step forward for lawyers to be accepting reports by pdf and email.. and these steps keep happening as technology improves.
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