Firms join estate agency to offer fixed fee service

Five law firms in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Northamptonshire have joined an estate agency to offer a fixed fee, 'no-move, no pay' conveyancing service.Pictons, Pitmans, Shoosmiths Property Direct, Taylor Walton and Fennemores now all service clients introduced by Connell Estate Agents, as part of a home conveyancing service that recently made its 5,000th completion.Michael Day, Connell Conveyancing director said: 'Each firm has a dedicated team that only works on the service.

They each cover an area of the country and try and conduct all business via e-mail, fax or phone - so there is no need for the customer to trek out to a solicitor's office.'Mr Day said the benefits of the service are that it is open until 7pm all week, and the fee is fixed at the start so that 'even if the transaction proves particularly complex, there will be no surprise bills'.Solicitor Pat Fitzpatrick, leader of the conveyancing team at Luton-based Taylor Walton said: 'We have received a large number of referrals through the service and the firm has benefited greatly.'Andrew Towler