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This is another step towards the commoditisation of Conveyancing: the idea that the purchase and sale of residential property can be neatly parcelled up and tied with a scarlet ribbon is a powerful one.

As we all know, there are variables inherent in our system of different tenures, of rights and covenants; of properties that dare to have all manner of attributes: gardens, garages, loft spaces, basements: all these things militate against standardisation. And that's just a start. These naughty properties have often been tinkered with, altered structurally, people have added gas hobs with which we have to be concerned; satellite dishes are or are not on their roofs. Their condition is not always the same. How amazing is that? Some of them may be affected by Radon, or the latest kid on the block, Japanese Knotweed, whose sinister tendrils now find their way into Law Society forms, whilst equally invasive and damaging plants are absent.

Hey, but have we forgotten something? There is also the factor of people. Commoditisation robs people of their identity - they become statistics - Tesco does not care who buys their toilet roll: it won't be tailored to their needs. They are only interested in numbers. But people, they live in the properties they buy. Moving is a major life transition. Bog standard is just a relative term in such a context.

I suppose this rant is just a rant and nothing more. Whether Voyo works or not will depend on software engineers, not us. If it does, then I see the future of Conveyancing as being further dumbed down. The gaps will be filled by insurance no doubt. We think that's a bad thing, but does anyone else?

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