New Build Conveyancing  guide to share knowledge with industry

New Build Conveyancing guide to share knowledge with industry

As with any job there can be some subtle changes depending on what you deal with.

Conveyancing is no different, and recently I had the pleasure of speaking to Paul Sams, Partner and Head of Property and Rebecca East, Residential Property Solicitor, at Dutton Gregory Solicitors, who spent their time in lockdown penning a new book A Practical Guide to New Build Conveyancing.

Explaining their reasoning behind penning the guide, explaining the nuances behind the process.

Paul comments:

“As a firm, we do an awful lot of new build work and it’s something I enjoy doing.. It is what my team and I am known for and I wanted to share that knowledge with the profession. I’m not a novice when it comes to writing books, and I felt that this topic was the next challenge for me to overcome from an author perspective.”

Rebecca added:

“I wanted to set myself a challenge in lockdown, and when I heard Paul was writing a book, I wanted to co-author it with him. I think sharing knowledge this way between practitioners can really help people grow and thrive.

“We wanted to write a book that is approachable and personable, and the fact that this is a practical guide, does exactly what it says on the tin. It speaks to everyone, and helps people understand new build conveyancing.”

Explaining that the book is not just aimed at those working in a conveyancing department, both authors alluded to the fact that those in the property market can get an understanding of the process. Paul revealed that he had sent a copy to a developer, who gained a useful insight into the new build conveyancing process which can often be fraught at times with time pressures coming from multiple sides.

The book allowed Paul to publish one of his favourite phrases “seconds or you’re dead”, as time frames can often be quite tight, and developer’s solicitors can relentlessly chase firms for updates on information the firm may have only received the same day.

“It’s a bit like the Amazon effect,”

explained Paul.

“The developers expect you to progress their transaction as soon as the document you’re waiting for arrives on the doormat. Factor in client expectations which need careful management as they’re regularly gee’d up to complete on a specific date, it can turn into a pressure cooker environment.”

He added:

“Having the pieces all lined up can help to make the transaction smoother. Buying from a developer means that they don’t have an emotional  interest in the transaction as it is not their personal home, so it makes some elements of the transaction easier.”

Technology can sometimes play a part in new build conveyancing, with Rebecca adding that the use of portals help, developers put important information in one place, displacing the need to raise a large number of enquiries.

The authors have their sights set on another book in the not-too-distant future.

Rebecca said:

“I’d love to write another book with Paul, and it’s something we’ve considered. We’ve discussed a number of topics, so watch this space.”

The book is available to purchase from Amazon, and other bookstores with the authors donating some proceeds to charities.

 

Jennifer van Deursen

Jen is the Senior Media Officer for Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Wills & Probate  and Today’s Family Lawyer. Having gained a degree in Multimedia Computing, Jen fell into a content role after successfully applying for a job at Cheshire Police. During her 6-year service, she took on the role as personal Press Officer under the first Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire and worked in the busy press office for the force. Jen has experience in the marketing and communication sphere, which stems from her time in the public sector, private care sector and now here at the Practical Vision Network, where she can utilise her skills and challenge herself further.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *