Behind every completed transaction is a busy schedule of calls, emails, legal checks, problem-solving and constant communication with clients, agents, lenders and solicitors. In this short “day in the life” piece, we take you behind the scenes of a conveyancer’s working day to highlight the pace, pressures and dedication involved in progressing matters smoothly from instruction through to completion. Our aim is to provide an honest snapshot of the work that happens throughout the day to keep property transactions moving forward.
I’ve got an all-important mug of coffee in front of me, have a quick catch up with my assistant on her holiday plans, and then tackle the flurry of emails that have arrived overnight. There’s update requests from estate agents, mortgage brokers and lenders, queries from Land Registry on registrations we’ve submitted and quotes to be sent to potential clients, all of which are deftly dealt with by my assistant allowing me to concentrate on the meatier work at hand.
Firstly I need to call the lawyer acting for the buyer of my client’s bungalow. Our related seller has set a deadline for exchange and if this isn’t met they’ll withdraw the property from sale. Whilst my client and their seller understood that exchange was imminent weeks ago, they have since been waiting alongside half-packed boxes, for the lawyer to confirm their anti-money laundering checks are satisfied – which has been ongoing for 4 whole months. Unfortunately, time can move slowly when it comes to proving source of funds. Their elderly client has been repaid money from an acquaintance that he lent money to many years ago – a perfectly legitimate thing to do – but this person in turn has to be firstly traced and then asked to provide ID and his written confirmation that he will not seek to claim the money back, so no small hurdle to overcome.
‘We’ve had to request some further documentation from our client’ the lawyer says – this familiar refrain being both relatable and irritating at the same time. We politely agree that they’d better hurry up and do what they can, as quickly as they can, and then relay this to my client and the agent, having no choice but to accept their position.
In the meantime, an elderly client is waiting in reception and wants to discuss her flat sale together with her share in the freehold. Two previous buyers have withdrawn their offers over the 2 years I’ve acted for her and she’s desperate to sell the property that her late husband dealt with. We go through fire safety and other responsibilities she has as a director of the management company and put together replies to the substantial enquiries that have been raised. She leaves a little happier.
Back to my desk now, via a quick detour to chat with colleagues about fundraising for the firm’s upcoming Snowdonia challenge, before grabbing some lunch from the kitchen and having a quick check on my file openings for the month to check that I’m on target.
Then off to the meeting room with my colleagues to listen to an hour’s webinar on rent charges. A chance to check that there are no spillages on the top from my quick lunch. Success, at least from what I can see.
The next few hours pass ridiculously fast, whilst I concentrate on reviewing the clauses of a 100+ page Lease. Whilst at that moment in time I would love to finish the report whilst it’s all fresh in my mind, I’ve had a quick look at my inbox and can see trouble is on the horizon. A client’s sale is in jeopardy. Time to drop the lease.
Back to my desk now, via a quick detour to chat with colleagues about fundraising for the firm’s upcoming Snowdonia challenge, before grabbing some lunch from the kitchen and having a quick check on my file openings for the month to check that I’m on target.
Then off to the meeting room with my colleagues to listen to an hour’s webinar on rent charges. A chance to check that there are no spillages on the top from my quick lunch. Success, at least from what I can see.
The next few hours pass ridiculously fast, whilst I concentrate on reviewing the clauses of a 100+ page Lease. Whilst at that moment in time I would love to finish the report whilst it’s all fresh in my mind, I’ve had a quick look at my inbox and can see trouble is on the horizon. A client’s sale is in jeopardy. Time to drop the lease.
The buyer isn’t sure whether to proceed as they believe the fence boundary is in a different place to where it’s shown on the Land Registry’s title plan. My client seller is adamant it is correct. Having reviewed the original plan from the Transfer deed and taking into account a subsequent extension, I’m inclined to agree with him.
‘The boundary hasn’t been an issue for my neighbour and that property has sold three times!’, he exasperates. Good point, but is there a chance that it’s a defect that hasn’t been picked up previously?
Perspectives from photographs and Google earth aerial shots are considered and whilst I’m fairly sure it’s okay, I’m feeling the limitations of being desk-bound and have to fight off the inclination to ask the client if he’d mind if I came round right now to check how the land lies….
Rumbling along in the background is the realisation that now we’re nearing the end of the afternoon, a completion isn’t going to take place. Apparently (and this is Chinese whispers which is par of the course in this line of work), mortgage monies arrived late at the bottom of the chain and so this has had a knock-on effect for my clients at the top of the chain. They’re not able to complete their purchase before the banks close and their removal van wants to get home. Serious stress as a series of calls are made, legal consequences considered, the agent offering her office floor as possible temporary accommodation!
Any lawyer who has spent time in residential conveyancing will acknowledge how challenging it can be. In typical Gemini fashion, I thrive on the variety of issues that crop up, shaped by a client’s individual circumstances and the range of properties they’re buying or selling. Underpinning all of the drama is the comforting bedrock of legal principles and regulations ensuring that all lawyers talk the same language and the clients know what steps they’ve got to take. Add to this sharing your client’s excitement on their first purchase or the rollercoaster of emotions of a long, much wanted sale finally completing and you’ve got a potent, addictive mix.
As I leave work in my car with my head spinning from the mental gymnastics of it all, I’m feeling content. I’m continually learning and overcoming the challenges. We’ve moved closer to enabling those house keys to be exchanged. The clients are largely grateful even though it’s a stressful and expensive time and that makes it all worthwhile. My steps might be barely touching 1500 purely on account of toilet trips and refilling my mug and I certainly haven’t managed to do yoga in the meeting room at lunch-time as I’d planned on New Years Eve, but that can remain an aspiration. A quick check on my Whatapp messages that have built up over the day and I can see that part II of my day is now to begin, mother, wife, cook and dog walker…you get the gist. Never has that unfinished Lease report looked so appealing!
