We can help

Buying or selling a property is one of the most important transactions you are likely to undertake. Our aim is to eliminate the stress often associated with the transactions by offering swift service, prompt replies to your calls and effective liaising with estate agents and mortgage lenders.

We provide a friendly, effective and personal service that is responsive to your individual needs.

We utilise the latest technology that includes a computerised conveyancing system, which assists us in providing a fast, accurate and cost-effective service. Given the proven excellence of the service we provide, we believe that we offer competitive fees and we are confident that our clients receive value for money.

Advanced Technology

We utilise the latest technologies that include a computerised conveyancing system

Competitive Fees

We provide an excellent level of service and are confident you’ll receive value for money

Stress Free

Our aim is to make the process as stress free for you as possible

Timescales

For any transaction, the timescales are subject to change depending on when your offer is accepted and other factors involved, such as:

  • Number of parties in the chain
  • Whether the buyer has a mortgage in place
  • Whether the buyer requests lease extension for a leasehold property
  • Whether the searches flag up any issues
  • Whether buyer’s survey shows up any issues
  • Buyer’s Enquiries

A typical transaction will take between 8-10 weeks. However, if any of the above apply or there are other factors we need to take into consideration, it may increase the time. We will discuss this with you at the earliest opportunity, so you always have a clear picture of how long things are likely to take.

Key Milestones

With every transaction there are key milestones, which may vary according to individual circumstances. They may be as follows:

  • Taking your instructions and giving initial advice based on the information you have provided
  • Drafting contracts of sale and any other necessary documents
  • Sending the contracts of sale to the buyer’s solicitor and dealing with any enquires they have
  • Providing advice on all documents and information received
  • Finalising the contract and sending to you for signature
  • Agreeing a completion date (the date from which the buyer will legally own the property)
  • Exchanging contracts and notify you that this has happened
  • Completing the sale, redeeming any mortgage, paying any agents’ fees and our fees and disbursements

Complaints

We endeavour at all times to provide an efficient and professional service, however, please feel free to contact us if you have any complaint or query about the service that you receive from us. It is only when you tell us about any dissatisfaction that we can take steps to put matters right for you. In the first instance, if you have any queries or are unhappy about your case please arrange to contact Mr. Gordon D Drawbridge to discuss the problem. The complaint will be investigated. Thereafter, we will confirm in writing the results of our internal investigation and the further discussions with you and any steps taken to deal with your complaint. Our complaints investigation procedure will not involve any extra cost to you.

We are anxious to resolve any complaint you have about the service we have given you as quickly as possible. If you are unable to sort things out with the person who has been dealing with you please contact Martin Wilkins of The Old Bakehouse, Forge Lane, Ashford, Kent TN23 1JW. Telephone number: 01233 666754.

Once we have received your complaint, Mr Gordon D Drawbridge will write to you within 7 days to explain how your complaint will be investigated if a complete response to your complaint has not been made by that time. You will be told the latest date by which a complete answer will be given to your complaint (this should be not more than 28 days after we received your complaint). If you have made the complaint verbally – either at a meeting or on the telephone – we will set out in our full response our understanding of the nature of your complaint.

The assessment of the complaint will be based upon a sufficient and impartial investigation. We will explain in writing our findings and, where the complaint is upheld, will offer remedial action or redress. This will be dealt with promptly.

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our handling of your complaint, please feel free to contact Martin Wilkins, who will conduct a separate review of your complaint. You will be told about the conclusion of this review within 28 days.

If after following the review process you remain dissatisfied with any aspect of our handling of your complaint, you may contact directly the Legal Ombudsman to ask them to consider the complaint further. The Legal Ombudsman’s contact details are Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton WV1 9WJ. Tel no: 0300 555 0333.

Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk Website: http://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/

Unless it agrees there are good reasons not to do so, the Legal Ombudsman will expect you to allow us to consider and respond to your complaint in accordance with the procedure set out above in the first instance. You can refer your complaint up to 6 months after you have received our final written response to your complaint. You can also use the Legal Ombudsman service if we have not resolved your complaint within 8 weeks of us receiving it. A complaint can be referred to the Legal Ombudsman not more than one year from the date of the act or omission or after discovering a problem. The ombudsman deals with service-related complaints; any conduct related complaints will be referred to the CLC.

Alternative complaints bodies (such as ProMediate) exist which are competent to deal with complaints about legal services should both you and our firm wish to use such a scheme. We do not agree to us ProMediate.

If you make a valid claim against us for a loss arising out of work for which we are legally responsible, and we are unable to meet our liability in full, you may be entitled to claim from the Compensation Fund administered by the CLC (from whom details can be obtained).