How Do Online Conveyancers Compare to Traditional High-Street Solicitors?

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Online conveyancers are perfect for buyers and sellers looking for speed, transparency, and convenience. High-street solicitors are best for those who prefer face-to-face service with a strong local knowledge of the property market. 

How will you choose between the two? Consider your current situation and priorities.  

If you’re a buyer from a different city, an online conveyancer makes more sense. You’ll benefit from their digital services, which include tools such as 24/7 case-tracking portals, automated ID checks, and transparent, fixed-legal-fee pricing. 

If local expertise trumps all other requirements, then you’d benefit from a high-street solicitor. Although their personalised service comes at a higher cost, their ability to navigate the local nuances of the property market ensures a smooth transaction. 

Let’s take a deeper look at what online conveyancers and high-street solicitors typically offer. 

Online Conveyancers: Fast, Clear and Convenient 

Online conveyancers like Muve operate on a digital-first service model. Instead of relying on posted documents and multiple face-to-face meetings, the case progress and communication happen online. This tech-enabled service leads to faster processing, giving clients access to an online portal for transparency. This type of conveyancing service makes it easy for clients to stay on top of the property transaction despite their busy schedules. 

24/7 case tracking portal 

Online conveyancing offers a tracking portal that provides real-time updates for clients. For Muve, our 24/7 Client Portal reduces follow-up delays and eliminates uncertainty even without face-to-face meetings. The online tracking portal also helps monitor milestones, provide progress updates, and track uploaded documents. A dedicated account manager backs this and ensures constant communication. 

Digital onboarding and automated ID verification 

Digital-first conveyancing removes delays caused by limited office hours and manual paperwork. 

Online onboarding makes it easier for clients to start the conveyancing process without delay. With Muve, this includes an automated ID verification process, secure document uploading, and DocuSign remote signing, significantly reducing the conveyancing timeline. It removes delays caused by in-person appointments and paperwork. 

AI-powered risk detection tools 

Online conveyancers are at the forefront of tech innovations. This is why Muve invests in AI-powered tools that flag risks early in the conveyancing process. This allows clients to manage risks and reach an exchange sooner. This also reduces last-minute surprises that might lead to the property transaction falling through. 

Fast exchange options 

This is not a guarantee for all online conveyancers. However, Muve designed all its conveyancing services to provide speed and efficiency. Muve Lightspeed, in particular, targets an exchange in 5 weeks (for freehold properties) or 8 weeks (for leasehold properties). With a 70% successful completion rate, this makes it an appealing conveyancing service for time-sensitive property transactions. 

Transparent fixed legal fee pricing 

It’s natural for trust to be an issue when face-to-face meetings can’t happen. This is why online conveyancers offer transparent, fixed legal-fee pricing to gain the trust of potential clients. The transparency makes budgeting easier while removing the risk of hidden costs. 

With Muve, conveyancing quotes are itemised with a clear distinction between legal fees and disbursements. Since there are no hourly charges, the fixed legal fee is not affected by the conveyancing timeline. 

With lower overhead costs, online conveyancers are able to offer more competitive rates than traditional solicitors, while offering national coverage and legal accuracy. 

Potential pitfalls of online conveyancers 

Local expertise is an essential qualification for buyers and sellers. High-street solicitors offer in-depth local market expertise, while online conveyancers focus on national coverage. 

Another thing that online conveyancers can’t offer is in-person meetings. Buyers and sellers who prefer face-to-face interactions might not be satisfied with a digital conveyancing service. 

While online conveyancers like Muve offer local expertise, the service will primarily be digital. 

High-Street Solicitors: Personal and Local Expertise 

High-street solicitors offer a more reassuring conveyancing service. They commonly meet in person and provide localised service to buyers and sellers. Being able to see the solicitor and hand over important documents in person provides greater reassurance for the transaction. 

Personalised service 

The ability to meet up with the solicitor means buyers and sellers develop a more personal rapport. They receive hands-on guidance, making it easier to establish trust and proceed with confidence even in complex transactions. 

Local expertise 

Traditional high-street solicitors have first-hand knowledge of the local property market. They have extensive experience with local authorities, search times, and risk assessments (e.g., flood risks). They know which properties require special searches, such as those in mining and coastal areas. 

Potential pitfalls of high-street solicitors 

The personalised service comes with a higher cost. The need for a physical office and the regular face-to-face meetings incur overhead costs. 

Time is also affected since meetings are only encouraged during office hours. This slows down communication and case progression. 

High-street solicitors don’t always prioritise digital tools, since they can do it personally. This could indicate a lack of real-time case-tracking portals. 

A Quick Look: Online Conveyancers VS High-Street Solicitors 

	ONLINE CONVEYANCERS	HIGH-STREET SOLICITORS
Communication	Online portals and email	In-person and phone
Conveyancing Timeline	As little as 5 to 8 weeks. Faster due to technology (automation and AI-driven tools)	The average time is 17 weeks. Slower as it’s restricted to office hours
Pricing	Fixed legal fees	Varies or by the hour
Conveyancing Expertise	National coverage	Local authority
Ideal for	Time-sensitive or remote transactions	Complex local property types

Why Choosing the Right Expert Matters 

When it comes to property transactions, specifically conveyancing, speed is of the essence. The longer it takes to reach an exchange, the higher the chances that the transaction will fall through. 

Most conveyancing delays are caused by communication gaps and late discovery of issues. 

Hiring an online conveyancer or a high-street solicitor will affect the conveyancing timeline. Online conveyancers like Muve are best suited to provide fast conveyancing timelines. Here are the common reasons for delay and how Muve reduces them. 

• Property chain breakage 
• Solution: Proactive communication and monitoring to detect issues and prevent fall-throughs. 

• Title issues and high-volume searches 
• Solution: Searches are done immediately, and automated checks are done early to identify risks. 

• Slow communication and responses 
• Solution: Enquiries are cleared within 24 to 48 hours to ensure the case keeps moving forward. 

• Unclear timelines 
• Solution: A 24/7 online portal that provides real-time case updates and a proactive weekly case progress report that details what’s completed, what’s outstanding, and what happens next. 

Fast and Transparent Conveyancing With Local Expertise 

Both online conveyancers and high-street solicitors are regulated either by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). If you want to choose the right conveyancers, focus on how they deliver their services. 

Working with online conveyancers brings speed, transparency, and innovative technology. High-street solicitors come with local expertise and personal service. Choosing between online conveyancers and traditional high-street solicitors is easy if you understand what’s important to you. 

One thing you should realise is that personal service and local expertise are not exclusive to high-street solicitors. Muve, an online conveyancing solicitor firm, bridges the gap. Every conveyancing service comes with a dedicated account manager to provide immediate reports and a conveyancer with local expertise. 

Find out more about our conveyancing service. Click to get a quote. Provide your details and get an itemised conveyancing quote within a minute. 

FAQs: Online vs. High-Street Conveyancers

Are online conveyancers as reliable as high-street solicitors?

Yes, especially if they are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This means they follow the same legal standards and regulations. 

They are expected to ensure full transparency in fees, a clear scope of work, and disclosure of limitations, coverage, and additional costs to protect clients. They are required to ensure competence through legal accuracy and act in the client’s best interest at all times. They also maintain trust throughout the conveyancing process.

Are online conveyancing firms faster?

Online conveyancers like Muve use a digital-first approach: 

• Automated ID checks 
• E-signatures 
• AI-powered tools reduce delays 

Innovative technology is used to ensure faster completion, allowing Muve to offer Lightspeed as a service that aims to exchange within 5-8 weeks. 

Do online conveyancers offer local expertise?

Yes, reputable online conveyancers like Muve train hard to provide local expertise to clients. Muve conveyancers understand the regional nuances of: 

• Local searches 
• Flood and environmental risks 
• location-specific assessments

Why are online conveyancers cheaper?

Typically, online conveyancers are cheaper than high-street solicitors because they have lower overheads. This allows them to set competitive prices. 

When comparing conveyancing quotes, get the details of the legal and disbursement fees. This will help you budget your funds and reduce hidden costs.