Yes, conveyancing can indeed be conducted entirely online. It's often cheaper, faster and simpler to choose an online conveyancer.
Yes, conveyancing can indeed be conducted entirely online. Traditionally, conveyancing has been carried out through in-person meetings and a large volume of physical paperwork. However, as digital technology advances, these practices are increasingly moving online.
At Juno, we offer a fully online conveyancing service, setting us apart from many traditional solicitor firms. This means that our clients can complete the entire buying or selling process of a property on their mobile phone, tablet or laptop computer. We support electronic signatures for almost all documents (some mortgage lenders still require paper copies) and provide a mobile-friendly online dashboard, enabling our clients to manage their conveyancing process conveniently from any location. Conveyancing done this way is simpler, clearer and faster for everyone.
Conveyancing is the legal process that facilitates the buying and selling of property, ensuring the lawful transfer of property ownership. This process is crucial and involves several key tasks: conducting thorough property searches to uncover any potential issues, handling legal documentation, dealing with the Land Registry, and managing the financial aspects of the transaction.
Conveyancing is vital for ensuring legal validity in property transactions, safeguarding both the buyer’s and the seller’s interests. It ensures buyers are well-informed and sellers meet their legal obligations.
Online conveyancing, as practised by Juno, typically outpaces traditional methods in speed and efficiency. While the national average for reaching “exchange of contracts” is around 20 weeks, Juno achieves this in an average of just 14 weeks across all properties, and only 12 weeks on freehold cases (freeholds are usually houses, leaseholds are flats). This increased speed is enabled by our advanced digital systems, which automate much of the legal work.
Traditional conveyancing often takes longer because it lacks efficient digital systems for document classification and email management, resulting in manual, time-consuming processes. In contrast, Juno’s technology automatically handles significant portions of the legal workload, such as document classification and drafting emails, without any delay. Our expert legal team oversees these automated processes, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail. This blend of technology and expertise allows Juno to deliver faster, more streamlined conveyancing services to our clients.
When conducting conveyancing online, security is a primary concern for many clients. At Juno, we understand the importance of robust security measures in protecting our clients’ sensitive information. As an online-first firm, our approach to security not only meets but often surpasses the standards of traditional law firms. This commitment aligns us with the guidelines of our regulator, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), who have recognized our efforts in a detailed case study.
Choosing an online conveyancing firm comes with its set of advantages and disadvantages. It’s important for you to consider these points to make an informed decision that best suits your needs.
Efficiency: Online conveyancing typically speeds up the process, reducing the time to complete transactions. For example, simplified property information forms can be filled out from your mobile phone and contracts can be e-signed, instead of printing and posting hand-written documents.
Convenience: Access and progress your conveyancing case from anywhere, at any time.
Cost-Effective: Often more affordable than traditional conveyancing, with transparent pricing and fewer overhead costs.
Security: Enhanced digital security measures, including data encryption, to protect client information.
No In-Person Interaction: Clients cannot meet their conveyancer face-to-face, which some may prefer for reassurance or clarification.
Tech Comfort: Not suitable for individuals uncomfortable with technology or who have limited access to digital devices.
Complex Cases: Certain complex or unusual property transactions might require more traditional, hands-on approaches.
At Juno, we recognize the transformative power of technology in conveyancing. Our approach harnesses cutting-edge technological solutions to streamline the conveyancing process, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction. Here’s how we integrate technology into our services:
AI-driven document analysis: We use artificial intelligence (AI) to meticulously analyse legal documents, such as leases. This AI-driven process effectively highlights key risks and pertinent details, ensuring that our clients are fully informed and protected throughout their property transaction.
Real-time updates: Our online dashboard is designed to provide clients with real-time updates on their case progress. This feature keeps clients informed at every step, fostering transparency and trust. Furthermore, we extend these real-time updates to mortgage brokers and estate agents, ensuring all parties involved are aligned and informed.
Automated communication with estate agents: We send automated updates to estate agents, detailing how they can contribute to case progression. This live information is pivotal in expediting cases, as it enables estate agents to proactively chase other solicitors and parties in the transaction chain. This collaborative approach significantly reduces delays.
Efficient enquiry formulation: Our technology also revolutionises how we communicate with the other side’s solicitors. By drafting enquiries (questions) to ensure they are clear and answerable on the first attempt, we minimise the usual back-and-forth communication. Our data indicates this approach saves an average of two weeks per transaction.
Automated data entry and processing: To further increase efficiency, we have automated significant portions of data entry. This allows our legal team to focus on the complex aspects of conveyancing, including updating clients and diligently pursuing information from other parties involved in the transaction.
By integrating these technological advancements, we not only streamline the conveyancing process but also enhance the overall client experience. Our approach demonstrates a commitment to innovation, ensuring that our services are not just faster and more efficient, but also more accurate and client-focused.
Cost-effectiveness is a crucial factor for many clients. Generally, online conveyancing can be more affordable than traditional methods. This is largely due to reduced overhead costs and the efficiency gains from digital systems.
A key aspect to consider when choosing a conveyancer is the transparency of their pricing. It’s advisable to ensure that your solicitor provides fully transparent pricing, similar to what Juno offers. This means no hidden add-ons or unexpected fees later in the process. Traditional conveyancing firms often quote an initial low legal fee but may add significant extra costs for VAT, search costs, ID checks, and handling mortgages or management companies, which can inflate the final price considerably.
While online conveyancing is typically more cost-effective, it’s important to be cautious with very low-cost options. These can come with risks, such as delays leading to transaction fall-through. Extended transaction times not only cause stress but may also incur additional financial burdens, like prolonged rent or mortgage payments while waiting to move.
In conclusion, while online conveyancing often presents a more affordable option, the real value lies in choosing a service that is both cost-effective and transparent about pricing, ensuring a smooth and efficient conveyancing process without hidden costs.
Managing your own conveyancing, or DIY conveyancing, might seem like a cost-effective choice, but it poses significant challenges. One major issue is the matter of regulation. Law firms and other parties involved in property transactions are often reluctant to interact with individuals who aren’t regulated conveyancers, mainly due to the risks associated with financial transactions and legal compliance.
If you’re getting or paying off a mortgage on your property, the bank or building society will require you to instruct a conveyancing firm on their list of approved firms (fortunately we’re on 80+ lender panels, including all the major lenders).
Additionally, becoming a regulated individual for the purpose of conveyancing is impractical for most people. It requires extensive legal knowledge, qualifications, and adherence to strict regulatory standards. This level of expertise is typically beyond the scope for someone simply looking to handle their property transaction.
The complexities of conveyancing should not be underestimated. The process involves intricate legal procedures and detailed paperwork, where a single oversight can lead to substantial legal and financial consequences. The risk of making errors is high without professional training and experience.
In summary, while DIY conveyancing may appear to be a way to save on costs, the regulatory barriers and the complexity of the process make it generally inadvisable. Professional conveyancers offer the necessary legal expertise and ensure compliance with regulatory standards, providing a safer and more efficient path for property transactions.
In online conveyancing, the physical location of your conveyancer is becoming less crucial. While a local conveyancer might have established relationships with local estate agents and some insight into specific regional issues, such as flooding, this local knowledge is not as vital as it once was.
The key information about a property and its area is typically directly obtained from the local authority and the Land Registry, which provide detailed and necessary data, regardless of the conveyancer’s location. As most conveyancing processes are now efficiently handled online, the need for face-to-face interactions has diminished. At Juno, we have experience completing conveyancing cases all around England and Wales.
In summary, while there are some benefits to a conveyancer’s local experience, for online conveyancing, it’s not a critical factor. The ease of digital communication and comprehensive data availability mean that a conveyancer’s effectiveness is no longer tied to their proximity to the property.
Juno surpassed my expectations in all respects. The most important of those was the level of communication provided. Not only is their dashboard easy to use, but they are also easy to contact, quickly and directly to one of your team who can answer your queries immediately, via multiple methods - phone/email/webchat.
Particularly useful was the dashboard which provided not only a constant update of the process, but also acting as a portal for transfer of information and forms electronically. Additionally, the availability of the chat link for other questions that seemed to be monitored regularly, was also useful.
I loved the dashboard, it was clear to follow and gave you weekly updates via email. Would recommend them to anyone!
Communication worked well through the portal, emails and phone calls. The process was outlined on the portal and I was able to see what stage the process was at and next steps.
Juno has a great customer portal and shows the full process with checkboxes so you know exactly where you've been, where you are currently and what's next.
