Searches UK Issue 8 - Conveyancing FOCUS

ConveyancingFOCUS ISSUE 8 | AUTUMN 2016

KEEPING TRACK OF QUOTES With Conveyancing Tracker GROUNDSURE Managing Surface Water Flooding LANDMARK: KEEP IT CLEAN Contaminated Land Searches PLUS REGULAR FEATURES: Meet The Team, Career Ladder And Industry News

WIN A FLIGHT ON BRITISH AIRWAYS i360 IN BRIGHTON

TO THE MANOR BORN Interview With Julian Fellowes

www.searchesuk.co.uk

By

#DreamHome

It’s more than just a property…...

Let’s work together to help your clients buy their dream home.

Tel: 0800 043 1815 Fax: 0845 241 1817 info@searchesuk.co.uk www.searchesuk.co.uk Unit 2, Gemini Business Centre 136-140 Old Shoreham Road, Hove BN3 7BD

ConveyancingFOCUS CONTENTS

4 5 6 8 9 11 13 14 15 16 18

Industry News

21 23

Searches UK: Events

By

Fitzalan Partners, digtal marketing tips for solicitors

Track your Quotes

Keeping track of quotes with Conveyancing Tracker

The Interview

To the manor born: Julian Fellowes

Terra Firma

The right to the ground beneath your feet

Stamp Out Errors

With Searches UKs’ new SDLT tool

Groundsure

What is surface water flooding?

Landmark: Keep It Clean

Contaminated land searches

Career Ladder

Vicky Grace, Support Services Manager at Searches UK

Searches UK : Meet The Team

Get to know three more members of the Searches UK team

Protect Your Customers

Buyer Protect does just that

Walk On Air

Win tickets for Brighton’s brilliant British Airways i360 What we’ve been up to and events coming up

Landmark

RiskView Residential is Landmark’s new digital ‘bundle’ of online mapping

Andrew Stenning, Managing Director, Searches UK

Lisa Summerton, Sales Director, Searches UK

WELCOME “It’s been a busy year for the property industry so far this year and we’re delighted to bring you another jam-packed edition.

We’ve got articles from leading reporting companies such as Groundsure, Landmark and Terrafirma Mine Searches. Other features include tips from Fitzalan Partners and a celebrity interview with Julian Fellowes.”

Magazine Editors: Andrew Stenning, Managing Director of Searches UK and Lisa Summerton, Sales Director of Searches UK. We love hearing from our readers and all feedback is greatly appreciated, contact marketing@searchesuk.co.uk if you’d like to get in touch.

Alternatively if you wish to advertise or contribute to the magazine, email Stephanie@searchesuk.co.uk or call 0800 043 1815. Don’t forget to visit www.conveyancingfocus.co.uk to view an electronic copy of this edition.

Sid is hidden somewhere in this edition, if you find him email marketing@searchesuk.co.uk to let us know where he is Produced by: Searches UK

Published by: Portfolio Publications www.portfoliopublications.co.uk

Printed by: Gemini Press Front cover Image: Courtesy of Searches UK, Hemsley + Hemsley image courtesy of Shutterstock.

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher.

Head Office Unit 2, 136-140 Old Shoreham Road Hove, East Sussex, BN3 7BD T: 0800 043 1815 F: 0845 241 1817 W: www.searchesuk.co.uk E: info@searchesuk.co.uk

Midlands Office The Garden House The Owl House Shottery Village Stratford Upon Avon CV37 9HA www.conveyancingfocus.co.uk

ConveyancingFOCUS: Fitzalan Partners

DIGITAL MARKETING Build your brand awareness. Fitzalan Partners offer digital marketing tips for solicitors Brand Awareness may sound like something reserved for international companies such as Mars or Coca Cola, but with more and more companies competing online, you need to stand out from the crowd. When firms are performing similar services, how else will you make your voice heard?

In the past, solicitors were confined to local business, advertising in local magazines or telephone directories, with a presence on the high street. Now, with many people choosing online searching as their first port of call for finding legal help, what can solicitors do to gain a share of this market?

Start with the basics Have you got a website? It seems like a simple question, but some firms don’t have one, and this may be because they don’t see the benefit. You don’t have to spend thousands on a website. You may only need a few pages: a home page, to summarise what you do; a contact page; service pages and perhaps some pages about why someone should choose to instruct you over someone else.

Bring back local business Attracting local business is no longer only the job of high street shop fronts, as this market can also be found online. Make sure that your business listings are up to date. With correct and detailed information on sites like Yell, Foursquare and other directories, you can not only control what

4|

ConveyancingFOCUS

people read about you - but also possibly attract local business as you enhance your local presence online. Another way to enhance your website would be to build on your relationships with local businesses, dedicating pages to ‘useful links’ or ‘things to do in…’ etc.

Attracting local business is no longer only the job of high street shop fronts, as this market can also be found online Get your name out there Is your firm the one that springs to mind for most people, when looking for the service you offer? Is there a competitor that your clients often mention? And what are they doing that you aren’t? It may be that print advertising will build your brand, but there are other less expensive options too, such as social media. Find someone in the firm who would be happy to not only set up social media accounts - which you choose are up to your business - but also run them on a daily basis, to increase engagement and awareness of your brand personality.

Attract national business Why confine yourself to local business?

If you specialise in a service such as conveyancing, there really is no need to meet clients face to face. We work with clients from around the world, matching them to solicitors across England and Wales, who get the conveyancing done no matter where they are. With the power of the internet, you can put your services in front of people who want them, not limited by geography. When you have your website ready, you may consider creating some adverts through AdWords, so that prospective clients can find you and get in touch.

These are the very basics of course, but it won’t take much to make a big difference if you aren’t currently doing this activity as part of your business strategy.

If you work at a conveyancing firm and would like to branch out by joining a national panel or featuring on a comparison website, just let us know: www.fitzalanpartners.co.uk

ConveyancingFOCUS: Conveyancing Tracker UK

KEEPING TRACK OF QUOTES Searches UK reveal the benefits of using a quotation platform In a recent survey conducted by Searches UK it revealed that just over 75% of solicitors and licensed conveyancers did not use a quotation platform for their clients. Of those who said they did not use a system like this, they said they instead relied on more traditional options such as Excel spreadsheets, calculating quotes manually and using existing templates and fixed fees for the firm to quote clients.

Whilst these are all legitimate ways to generate quotes for clients, is does seem slightly time consuming and labour intensive, especially when there are innovative platforms such as Conveyancing Tracker UK, powered by Searches UK, which helps reduce the amount of time spent on each quote and which sends quotes directly to clients to approve or decline.

Solicitors and conveyancers can upload their own fees to the system, clearly and easily keep track of key stages and milestones, and add their own branding to the system. Regular contact can be kept with the client and real-time notifications are sent so they can see how the sale or purchase of their property is progressing.

Andrew Stenning, Managing Director, at Searches UK said: “Conveyancing Tracker UK is an excellent platform which has been developed with

property solicitors and homebuyers or sellers in mind. All parties are able to stay informed about what is happening in a transaction, meaning less time is spent on updating different parties about the status of their purchase or sale and more time can be dedicated to progressing the case forward. We’re really excited to bring this system to market and expect it to become not only an extremely useful tool, but one that in time gives so much value and saves so much time it becomes indispensable too.”

Conveyancing Tracker UK, powered by Searches UK, helps reduce the amount of time spent on each quote and sends quotes directly to clients From the client’s point of view, they will be kept updated at all times via email as well as by using a simple to download App

which is available from Google Play and the iTunes App store. Documents relating to the sale or purchase can also be accessed on the App. They can message you directly through the App and e-sign documents on the move.

To tailor the system to your firm’s brand or to find out more about using Conveyancing Tracker UK, simply call 0800 043 1815 to speak to a member of the team or alternatively visit www.conveyancingtrackeruk.co.uk.

Searches UK provide a comprehensive range of residential and commercial conveyancing searches including official and regulated local authority, drainage and water, environmental, chancel, planning and mining searches. Couple this with their excellent service and dedicated team, Searches UK is a leading property search provider in England and Wales and function with their clients at the core of their business.

For more information about any of the products and services from Searches UK visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+.

Alternatively call them directly on 0800 043 1815 or email them at info@searchesuk.co.uk to speak to one of their dedicated team today.

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

|5

ConveyancingFOCUS: The Interview

A RATHER TALENTED FELLOWE Searches UK talks to Julian Fellowes about the global phenomenon that is Downton Abbey As an actor, novelist, screenwriter and the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes has become something of a national treasure. In 2011 he became a Lord and most recently was immortalised in clay by royal sculptor Frances Segelman to raise awareness for the Stroke Association.

The nights are drawing in, winter is upon us and so too is the final series of one of Britain’s most popular television shows, Downton Abbey. Beginning with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and now well into the dazzling magic of the twenties, Julian Fellowes’ period masterpiece has captivated audiences in the UK and around the world.

America, in particular, has fallen in love with Downton, with cameos by Shirley MacLaine and Paul Giamatti in past series and several other Hollywood stars publicly offering their talents. Like Lady Mary Crawley after

6|

ConveyancingFOCUS

the death of her beloved Mathew, viewers may well be donning mourning attire themselves once the doors of the Abbey close for the last time this December.

We started off making a period drama that we hoped people would like. We didn’t know it would become a global phenomenon!

For Fellowes it’s been a long time coming, but at 66 he found his greatest success.

“Downton has been an extraordinary journey for me,” he says. “I mean, I hate that word, really, but we started off making a period drama that we hoped people

would like. We didn’t know it would become a global phenomenon! Normally that doesn’t happen in any career. So, of course, it’s been very exciting and very amazing.”

The talented screenwriter was born in Cairo, his parents moving to London when he was 10 months old and raising him in the upmarket borough of Kensington. Fellowes has described his father, an Arabist, as “of that last generation of men who lived in a pat of butter without knowing it. My mother put him on a train on Monday mornings and drove up to London in the afternoons.

At the flat she’d be waiting in a snappy little cocktail dress with a delicious dinner and drink. Lovely, really!” It is no coincidence then that Fellowes’ most successful work is a documentation of the British upper classes.

Fellowes took an interest in the arts at a young age. “From a love of history

ConveyancingFOCUS: The Interview

came both a love of theatre and a love of literature,” he explains, “and so those three strands developed in pace with each other, really. And then cinema, too, which my parents were quite keen on.”

This interest led him to read English at Cambridge, going on to study theatre at the highly-esteemed Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Aged 31, he moved to Los Angeles to establish a career in acting. He landed a few small television roles and came close to hitting the big time when he was almost chosen to replace Hervé Villechaize on TV series Fantasy Island, narrowly missing the role as a butler, but he eventually moved back to London when he didn’t find the success he desired.

His big break eventually came as an actor rather than as a screenwriter, in the dazzling murder mystery Gosford Park. Set in an English country manor in the 1930s, the film captures the decadence and frivolous nature of a group of bright young things who find themselves embroiled in scandal. The film won several Academy Awards, including Best Screenwriter for Fellowes.

Few will now argue against Fellowes’ work

being part of the nation’s fabric. For the last few years, Downton and the British festive season have been synonymous, and the show has certainly had a big influence on the return of more traditional celebrations in the UK. Last year’s Christmas special was filmed at the majestic Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, and a final Christmas special has been confirmed, but both the creator and cast remain tight-lipped on what lies in store for the Crawley family and their loyal servants.

I keep getting told by the Daily Mail that there’s a film and that I’ve been working on a musical and all the other things, a ballet, for all I know With the show entering an age of austerity, a mere four years away from the 1929 Wall Street crash that devastated the global economy, the Crawleys’ Christmas stockings may not be overflowing this

year, but for fans of Downton the most important outcome is the happiness of the characters, most of whom have endured more than their fair share of heartbreak.

Followers hope that Michelle Dockery’s character, Lady Mary in particular, who has endured the loss of her sister and husband, will once again find true love.

Dockery is just one of several actors who have found great success with the show and fans are keen to see where their new-found fame will take them. Fellowes himself remarks: “I don’t regret deciding we would bring it to an end. I think the actors had had enough, especially the young ones, who wanted to get on and see what they could do now with this launch – use it, get out and fly.”

But the big question is what is next for Fellowes? “I keep getting told by the Daily Mail that there’s a film and that I’ve been working on a musical and all the other things, a ballet, for all I know. I’m not aware of any of these things, but I wouldn’t be averse to it. I think to re-invent it in a different form could be rather fun.

But the television is over; that we will not be revisiting.” www.stroke.org.uk

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

|7

ConveyancingFOCUS: Terrafirma

CONCRETE AND CLAY Terrafirma on the right to the ground beneath your feet “Cuius est solum, ejus est usque ad caelum et ad inferos” -”To whomever owns the land, shall own the earth to its center and up to the heavens.”

This Latin maxim was the precursor to modern law of the air and of the earth below it. You might think that because you own the freehold of your property, you own the ground beneath it. However, unless you specifically hold the mineral rights, that may not necessarily be the case.

Manorial Rights date back to feudal times, allowing the ‘Lord of the Manor’ to fish, shoot, hunt and mine the land. ‘Minerals and mines’ rights concern all minerals except coal, oil and gas (including fracking) which have been nationalised, while gold, silver and petroleum belong to the Crown.

Since then, much of the land has been sold, but ownership of manorial rights to large tranches of land still remain within aristocratic families and other entities, such as Church of England and Duchy of Cornwall.

8|

ConveyancingFOCUS

In 2002 the Land Registration Act was passed, meaning that the overriding interest status of mines and minerals would be lost as of 12th October 2013, unless formally registered. Immediately following the enactment, there were a few thousand registrations but, as the deadline neared, the estimated number of registrations increased to more than 100,000.

At Terrafirma, we offer an evaluation of planned mineral extraction in our Mineral Extraction Search reports Thousands of property owners in Cheshire, Cumbria, Lincolnshire and Hertfordshire then received letters from the Land Registry. The letters caused great confusion and fear, resulting in financial loss for some from abortive conveyancing fees and even the reduction in the value of their property.

A home owner in Anglesey had their house

up for sale when the Land Registry informed them of the claims made upon the minerals under their home by Lord Treffos, an expoliceman turned author who bought the manorial title of Treffos in 1992. As a result of the claims they received offers way below the asking price and consequently had to remove it from the market.

So what can be done to prevent future impact on people’s livelihoods and quality of life as a result of mineral rights? At Terrafirma, we currently offer an evaluation of planned mineral extraction in our Mineral Extraction Search reports which indicate mineral planning permissions to the client, assess the risk to a property and advise the next steps that should be taken. We are working towards creating a platform to determine whether a property will be affected by mineral rights claims. It will give homebuyers the opportunity to come to an informed conclusion about how third party mineral rights ownership could affect them.

Terrafirma are the UK’s local mining experts www.minesearches.co.uk or visit www.searchesuk.co.uk for further information.

ConveyancingFOCUS: SDLT

STAMP OUT ERRORS No more errors with Searches UK’s stamp duty land tax online portal Searches UK are always looking to introduce brand new products to our existing portfolio to help make the conveyancing process as straightforward as possible. We are delighted to announce that we now provide SDLT as an online stamp duty submission form for your post completion needs.

The new SDLT software duplicates the layout of the paper version sections and highlights any errors before the form is submitted, helping solicitors and conveyancers to avoid any timely or even costly delays.

When acting on behalf of the buyer, solicitors and conveyancers must submit SDLT within 30 days of the effective date of transaction. Completion of this form is compulsory and failing to do so accurately can result in a penalty.

Solicitors and conveyancers can receive a range of benefits from using this online system including,- multiple time saving templates, audit trails, PDF generated forms and assurance that their stamp duty land tax form has been completed correctly,- all of which helps conveyancing solicitors to save time, stress and money, while providing a higher quality of service to their clients.

Other Key Benefits Include: • A pre completed cashiers chitty, file note, completed form all for printing and putting on the file as a record of what was ACCEPTED by HMRC • You can draft a form and store it forever • Your data of what you submitted is

The new SDLT software highlights any errors before the form is submitted, helping solicitors and conveyancers to avoid any timely or even costly delays always there, never deleted. This is relevant when making amendments or wanting to copy a previous form and make it quick to do a new one. There are templates for Freehold, Leasehold or Commercial that the firm can tailor. You can make a list of Vendors,

Purchasers and Vendor Agents to reuse on forms. In a nutshell it’s saving time with features that HMRC does not have • Get up to date with the future of property transactions with this valuable add on from Searches UK The SDLT online portal integrates with a wide range of case management systems and is all online (securely) therefore no install needed and no hassle to manage.

It works on any device, anywhere, any time, as long as you are connected to the Internet.

Searches UK wants to be a ‘One Stop Shop’ to provide property professionals easy access to all legal reports and documentation.

Managing Director Andrew Stenning said: “At Searches UK, we pride ourselves on offering a personalised and professional service that helps to support our clients and make their transactions as simple and easy as possible. I am very excited to now be able to offer this new online portal that does exactly this.”

For more information on SDLT, please contact Searches UK 0800 043 1815 or email them at info@searchesuk.co.uk

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

|9

WHO AM I DEALING WITH?

Let Your REPUTATION DO YOUR MARKETING FOR YOU!

ARE THEY INSURED?

SATISFIED CLIENTS?

EXPERIENCE?

Brought to you courtesy of our sister company

QUALIFICATIONS HELD?

ESTATE AGENTS MORTGAGE BROKERS FINANCIAL ADVISERS LEGAL SERVICES OPTICIANS SOLICITORS COSMETIC SURGEON SURVEYORS HAIR & BEAUTY ACCOUNTANTS THERAPISTS DENTAL VETS IT

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

Today, clients are looking for an informed choice when choosing a professional service and Checkaprofessional’s new online service is providing just that.

The Checkaprofessional website will give instant access to all professional service providers who have agreed to be vetted by us and continuously monitored by their clients, who can post verified feedback on the site. It will provide a FREE one-stop shop to finding the right professional service for a client’s particular needs.

Find out about the unique advantages Checkaprofessional membership could provide for your online marketing. www.checkaprofessional.com

0800 093 8414

ConveyancingFOCUS: Groundsure

OPENING THE FLOODGATES Groundsure on managing flooding risks and new build developments Back in April this year, a planning bill was put forward by MPs which would require all new housing to have their own sustainable drainage systems, rather than allowing developers to simply connect the new housing onto existing systems. The aim of this was to help prevent overburdening the existing systems and decrease the likelihood of subsequent surface water flooding.

Many leading experts, such as the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, placed heavy emphasis on the importance of this change, especially in the light of governmental plans to build at least 300,000 new homes every year amid the housing crisis.

What is surface water flooding?

Surface water flooding occurs when drainage systems are overloaded with rainwater, resulting in a back-up and over flow of water to the surface, causing it to flow over ground rather than underground. Using JBA Consulting data, the Environment Agency has published maps displaying the level of risk of surface water flooding across England www.watermaps.environment-agency.gov.uk For more specific property searches Groundsure offers two reports, a Homebuyers or Flood report, which will give further information regarding risk from surface water flooding, other types of flooding and the insurability of a property in this respect. More information can be found at www.groundsure.com/ search-reports/ by selecting the Flood Risk category on the left.

In recent years many areas of the UK have suffered from dramatic flooding, in some cases destroying homes and causing irreversible damage.

During the winter of 2015 Cumbria took a huge hit from some of the worst flooding this country has ever seen. In a Flood Investigation Report published by the Environment Agency and Cumbria County Council this year, it was stated that the drains reached capacity and started to overflow, which added to the already existing flood water which had come from rivers that had burst their banks and flood defences which had been breached.

The memorable floods of 2007 caused 13 deaths and around £6 billion worth of

Surface water flooding occurs when drainage systems are overloaded with rainwater, resulting in a back-up and over flow of water to the surface property damage. JBA Consulting say that 35,000 of the 55,000 properties affected were damaged by surface water flooding.

In London nearly all flooding was down to surface water overload, an issue which could in future be minimised by improved, sustainable drainage systems, or potentially made worse, by added load from new build houses to the existing systems. The evidence is clear - the existing drainage systems are already reaching their peak, and we cannot add to their load by connecting new build properties without

expecting to get our feet wet.

Why is protection against this type of flooding so important at present?

Because ultimately, surface water flooding is on the increase. JBA Consulting have warned that at present 2 million people in the UK are at risk and by 2050 this could increase by another 1.2 million. According to the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017, flooding is one of the top three risks posed by climate change next year.

A majority of the insurance claims made annually on flooding are already because of surface water. Our government needs to act now in order for the UK to protect its homes and people over the coming winter months.

After initial discussion in parliament in May, this bill was rejected by the House of Commons, but then later accepted by the House of Lords and resulted in what is going to be a ‘trial period’. This poses the question; can our government provide the necessary protection our homes require against the inevitable increased risk posed by surface water flooding?

In conclusion the dilemma is this; should the government save money in the short term and risk a future expenditure on flood damage, or invest money now on a sustainable system which could in the long term prove more economical with mitigated flood damage costs?

Groundsure are a UK authority on environmental risks including land contamination, flooding and ground stability. They provide high value, property-specific opinions, and analysis of land use based on the leading datasets that they collect and curate. www.groundsure.com

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

| 11

Residential and commercial title insurance provider

Reliable

Indem n it y C o v e r

Benefits of our service: • Quick online cover • Simple online forms • Fully underwritten policy in minutes

Policies: • Chancel repair • Defective lease • Possessory title, and more!

Available through Searches UK Tel: 0800 043 1815 Fax: 0845 241 1817 info@searchesuk.co.uk www.searchesuk.co.uk Unit 2, Gemini Business Centre 136-140 Old Shoreham Road, Hove BN3 7BD Searches UK Ltd is an appointed representative of First Title Insurance plc, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 202103. This material is intended to provide general information only. For specific coverage and exclusions, refer to the policy. Subject to Underwriting terms & conditions.

ConveyancingFOCUS: Landmark

KEEPING IT CLEAN Rebecca Hickey , Head of Legal Product at Landmark Information Group, on the differences between residential and commercial contaminated land searches The contaminated land regime stipulates that the liability for the remediation of contaminated land or waters falls on those who cause, or knowingly permit pollution on their site or allow migration to other sites and fail to take any action to remove or control it. It applies to all land whether it is for residential or commercial use, however there are differences regarding the analysis of the likely risk between these different transaction types: Site boundaries Residential searches can be based on a buffered point geometry, whereas commercial sites are always based on the site boundary which means a larger and more complex area is analysed.

Confirmation of current use For commercial searches Google Earth and Streetview are reviewed to validate or query current land uses as these can have implications on report outcome,

for example, finding refuelling pumps in garages.

Historic & Operational Risk Residential searches only consider historic risk, on the premise that they are currently houses/flats. Commercial searches have to consider operational risk as well.

Residential site sensitivity is generally always high given the land use

Operational risk is a key consideration in the “Environmental Damage Regulations� Risk Assessment involving more analysis and time compared with residential properties.

Search Radius Typically search radii are larger for commercial searches. The logic of why is to accurately determine the sensitivity of a site. Residential site sensitivity is generally always high given the land use, however commercial is open to definition. Therefore the presence of water abstractions for example is needed to be searched to 1km.

Necessary consideration of site area, current and intended use and wider examination of environmental data means that assessing risk for commercial sites is more complex and time consuming than residential searches to ensure the correct interpretation and professional opinion regarding contamination liability is achieved. www.landmark.co.uk

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

| 13

CAREER LADDER Vicky Grace, Support Services Manager at Searches UK, tells us about her career journey

WHAT DREW YOU TO WORKING IN THE PROPERTY INDUSTRY? I have always had a real interest in legal workings, whether it be criminal or civil law. When I was offered the job at Searches UK, I jumped at the chance to learn about a part of the law which has been a part of my family background, but was something I had not yet had any experience in.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE AND HATE ABOUT YOUR ROLE? I have a real passion for good customer service and I love that I can put that into practice on a daily basis. I also enjoy being part of the property transaction process, buying a property can be one of the most stressful things to do in life, so to be able to help in any way possible to make our part of that process smoother gives me a great sense of achievement.

I feel ‘hate’ is a very strong word, so I wouldn’t necessarily use that, but what does frustrate me about my role is having the absolute best intentions to help a client, but not being able to help due to factors out of our control.

WHAT IS YOUR WORKING MOTO? If you have passion and dedication, then you can achieve anything.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? My first job was working in a hair dressers down the road from my Grandmother, as a hairdressing assistant.

14 |

ConveyancingFOCUS

HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE HELP YOU IN YOUR ROLE? I have always had customer service orientated roles, and this has helped immensely when trying to build good relationships with clients. It has also allowed me to create a good working relationship with my team - I feel this is one of the most important things, because if your team is fully supported, it allows them to thrive.

I have a real passion for good customer service and I love that I can put that into practice on a daily basis

WHAT ARE THE MOST VALUABLE ASSETS YOUR PRODUCTS HAVE OVER OTHERS IN THE MARKET? I would probably have to say that experience and knowledge are the most valuable assets our products have. But also we have a personal touch which is certainly our niche.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNT IN YOUR WORKING CAREER? Never give up on your dreams. If you work hard enough, then you can get to wherever you want to be. I feel that too often these days’ people are told what they aren’t good at, rather than what they are good at.

DO YOU THINK NETWORKING IS IMPORTANT? Absolutely, having a broad network is essential to promoting yourself, especially in the property industry.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU? This is a very tricky question, as my day is always so varied! My main role is to support the enquiries department, but I am also the support for the whole team in general, so any questions which they may have will on most occasions come to me first. I also carry out various additional tasks during the day, so there is never a dull moment in the office!

GREW UP? I always wanted to be a criminal lawyer, working for the council. Essentially I wanted to do defence and prosecution within the Crown Court.

Email: Vicky@searchesuk.co.uk Website: www.searchesuk.co.uk Telephone: 01273 229 336

ConveyancingFOCUS: Meet The Team

MEET THE TEAM Searches UK: Introducing more of our friendly and professional team of industry experts

Skye Balnave, Conveyancing Search Specialist I have always worked in customer service roles, working at a concert venue in the box office and at a local pub as a bar supervisor. I currently work in the returns team at Searches UK and have recently taken on the daily tasks for enquiries for some of our busier clients, keeping them up to date on their orders. I love the atmosphere in the office, we have an amazing team and we all help each other out as much as we can.

• • •

I’m half South African, half Scottish I’m an adrenaline junkie Crisp sandwiches are my favourite lunch time snack.

01273 229 336 | Skye@searchesuk.co.uk

Ellie Pierpoint, Content Manager As content manager I come up with the company’s marketing copy. I plan and write blog posts, articles, press releases and copy across multiple channels. Before working at Searches UK I was a freelance copywriter for a variety of agencies and brands including major travel, lifestyle and construction companies, so I have followed the whole process from building a house right through to buying, selling and living! My favourite part of the job is learning about the property market and applying this new knowledge to my work in creative ways.

• • •

I once lived in Japan for 6 months, teaching English and eating copious amounts of green tea ice cream.

My favourite hobbies are astrology, reading and photography.

I love to travel and have written lots of stuff for Thomas Cook – though before you ask, no I don’t get free holidays!

01273 222784 | Ellie@searchesuk.co.uk

Stephanie Prior, Marketing Manager I am responsible for marketing Searches UK to clients and raising brand awareness in the property industry.

I work closely with the team to maintain customer satisfaction as well as identifying new ways in which we support our clients. I enjoy being creative, exploring new ideas and contributing to receiving great results for our company and our clients. The Searches UK team is very passionate about their brand and providing high quality service. I feel very honoured to be part of such a strong team!

• • •

I am half Jamaican, quarter English and quarter Irish I am former Miss Sussex 2014/15 I enjoy keeping fit and participating in challenging activities

01273 229334 | Stephanie@searchesuk.co.uk

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

| 15

ConveyancingFOCUS: Buyer Protect

BUYER PROTECT There can be many complications when processing a property transaction. Buyer Protect covers the costs that homebuyers initially have to pay out in case their property transaction fails to complete Having a competitive advantage over other law firms is paramount to surviving in a busy property industry; there are so many options for homebuyers when choosing a firm to handle their property purchase, however wouldn’t it be great if your firm could offer a service that would put you to the top of the list?

With Searches UK’s unique and exclusive Buyer Protect Reimbursement Scheme it’s now possible to offer something truly beneficial to your clients. As we all know there can be many complications when processing a property transaction but Buyer Protect covers the costs that homebuyers initially have to pay out in case their property transaction fails to complete.

Buyer Protect will protect the homebuyer’s money up to the value of £2,050 and must be added to an order for the homebuyer to be able to benefit from this product. Similar products are available on the market, however Searches UK boast a 100% pay out rate and were the first search provider to introduce and develop this type of product for their clients.

Homebuyers will be covered for up to £500 in non-refundable mortgage lender arrangement fees, mortgage broker fees and product and booking fees, as well as up to £750 in valuation fees and structural surveys and £800 in solicitor’s fees and disbursement costs.

Andrew Stenning, Managing Director, at Searches UK said: “Buyer Protect is a fantastic reimbursement scheme and a great product for solicitors and conveyancers to offer their clients. This

16 |

ConveyancingFOCUS

product can easily be added to a search pack or bundle meaning that all homebuyers can benefit from this product when processing orders through us. We have received great feedback from solicitors, conveyancing and homebuyers alike – these can be viewed on Checkaprofessional.com.”

Having a competitive advantage over other law firms is paramount to surviving in a busy property industry… wouldn’t it be great if your firm could offer a service that would put you to the top of the list?

Search Protect is a similar product but this reimbursement scheme will only cover search costs up to the value of £300. A simple online form can be completed if the homebuyer needs to make a claim; all claims will be reviewed within 7 working days and if successful payment will be issued within 10 working days thereafter.

If the homebuyer changes their mind they would only be covered by this scheme if the reasons for this decision were included in the terms and conditions of the protection.

There are a number of covered outcomes but some of the most popular are if the

property sustained damage during the period between offer and exchange of contracts where the total costs of rectification work exceeded 5% of the property value and if the mortgage lender applied a retention on the mortgage for the property and the figure exceeded 5% of the original sum that had been accepted.

Solicitors and conveyancers alike have praised this scheme, which entered the property market in 2013, and are often surprised by the positive impact this product has on their business when they offer it to homebuyers as an additional benefit with their search orders.

Homebuyers are covered for a multitude of reasons including those already mentioned and in addition to the vendor having received and accepted an offer from another buyer which was a minimum of £1,000 greater than the offer they had previously accepted and if the property was withdrawn from sale by the vendor due to reasons beyond the homebuyers control.

A comprehensive breakdown of this protection can be found by visiting www.buyerprotect.co.uk.

To discuss this further with a member of the Searches UK team contact their main office number on 0800 043 1815 for all help and enquiries.

For more information about any of the products and services from Searches UK visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+.

Alternatively call them directly on 0800 043 1815 or email them at info@searchesuk.co.uk to speak to one of their dedicated team today.

www.groundsure.com

Homebuyers the leading residential environmental search report 3 Contaminated Land

3 Flood

3 Ground Stability

3 and much more ...

3 Energy

ITS ALL ABOUT SERVICE! 9.9 out of 10 on CheckaProfessional

Contact Searches UK today 0800 043 1815 info@searchesuk.co.uk www.searchesuk.co.uk

ConveyancingFOCUS: Competition

BRITISH AIRWAYS i360 IN NUMBERS

40:1 THE HEIGHT TO WIDTH RATIO OF THE TOWER

THE POD CAN HOLD 200 PEOPLE

360-DEGREE VIEWS ACROSS BRIGHTON AND HOVE

THE HEIGHT IS 450 FEET THE TALLEST MOVING OBSERVATION TOWER IN THE WORLD

FLIGHT TIME 20 MINUTES DURING THE DAY AND 30 MINUTES AFTER 6PM

WIN

2 tickets for British Airways i360

WALK ON AIR Win this fantastic prize and get the the chance to experience a flight on British Airways i360 Take a flight to the skies on British Airways i360 and see Brighton and the south coast as you have never seen them before.

British Airways i360 is the world’s tallest moving observation tower and was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye. Glide slowly up to 450 feet in a glass observation pod to enjoy unfolding 360-degree views across Brighton and Hove, the South Downs and the beautiful Sussex coast.

While on board, enjoy a glass of sparkling wine at the Nyetimber Sky Bar, which serves the finest drinks from the region. Dine by the sea afterwards at the BelleVue restaurant in our beach building; celebrate in style in one of our beachside events spaces or browse the locally made gifts in our shop.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets for a British Airways i360 flight please answer the following question: British Airways i360 holds a Guinness World Record – for what?

Visit British Airways i360 website to find the answer! www.britishairwaysi360.com Email your answer to: info@searchesuk.co.uk with your name, address and phone number.

• • •

Prize is two adult tickets for a flight on British Airways i360. Extra items such as drinks from the Nyetimber Sky Bar or meals in the BelleVue restaurant are not included in the prize and may be purchased by the winner as required.

The prize is not transferrable and there is no cash alternative.

Tickets to be used by March 31, 2017.

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

| 19

ConveyancingFOCUS: Searches UK Events

PICK & MIX A mixture of great benefits to choose from when you use Searches UK, including:

Legalex

• Quick Quote • Account Plus • Buyer Protect • COMPLETIONmonitor • and more...

Subject to Terms & Conditions

Tel: 0800 043 1815 Fax: 0845 241 1817 info@searchesuk.co.uk www.searchesuk.co.uk Unit 2, Gemini Business Centre 136-140 Old Shoreham Road, Hove BN3 7BD

Facebook: Searches UK Twitter: @SearchesUK

ConveyancingFOCUS: Searches UK Events

EVENTS AND CONFERENCES At Searches UK we love to get out and meet our clients. Here is just one of the events we have attended

Celebrating the best in the industry LFS Conference & Awards 2016 The LFS Conference and Awards hosted another successful event, drawing some of the country’s leading conveyancing and legal firms to celebrate the very best within the industry. With its increasing success and attendees, this year’s awards took place at The Vox Centre on Wednesday 14th September.

The event began with the main conference, where attendees received presentations by industry experts, which included economist turned strategist Roger Martin-Fagg and Sales & Marketing guru Grant Leboff.

This was followed by the prestigious annual awards ceremony at the Gala Dinner, where everyone came together to award the hard work and success of top conveyancing solicitors in England and Wales. This formal black tie event was hosted by celebrity broadcasting journalist Juliet Mann, who has worked in newsrooms across the world including BBC, CNN, Sky News Reuters and TRT World News Bulleting. Guests were invited to participate in a charity auction, followed by the opportunity to show off some moves on the dance floor as well as having pictures taken in the in the Searches UK photo booth.

More fun commenced later that evening at the Searches UK sponsored Casino Party Pit at the Genting Casino.

LFS put on another fantastic event this year. Searches UK would like to congratulate all the professionals who were short listed and won an award this year!

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

| 21

ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL SEARCHES UNDER ONE ROOF NOW WITH INTEGRATED PLANNING RESULTS AND MAPPING

The RiskView Residential service offers a simple, helpful and accessible way to view all environmental data for a property and now you can complete the picture for your clients by opting for a Plansearch Plus with every RiskView Residential order. You will continue to receive both reports as usual. Any planning application information highlighted in your Plansearch Plus will be automatically included alongside the environmental data in the viewer for the homeowner to explore.

RiskView Residential is quick and easy to use as it only includes identified risks. You can now discover the context and scale of these features via both the online viewer and maps within the PDF report itself.

However you work you can quickly gain the clarity and understanding you need to advise your clients and retain a concise yet complete due diligence report for your files.

If you would like to know more about Landmark’s RiskView Residential report, please contact our customer services team:

0844 844 9966 helpdesk@landmark.co.uk

Š2016 Landmark information Group Ltd

ConveyancingFOCUS: Landmark

A RISKY BUSINESS Rebecca Hickey, Head of Legal Product at Landmark Information Group, on simplifying Environmental Due Diligence Time pressures are a big part of today’s modern lifestyle. We often hear people talking about how they don’t have enough hours in the day to do the things they want – or even need – to do. Everyone is in a hurry, therefore any way to simplify the things we need to do in life is appreciated all round.

When it comes to the home-buying process, there needs to be a balance here however of ensuring that a transaction is handled as swiftly as possible, yet ensuring the conveyancing service is as thorough as possible.

Here at Landmark, we have been working with our legal clients to understand what improvements could be made to deliver increased efficiencies and ultimately help the conveyancing process evolve to meet clients’ growing service expectations.

If we look at how search data is typically ordered, it is fair to say the process hasn’t dramatically changed in recent years.

Mandatory searches are automatically obtained and then it is down to the conveyancing professional’s discretion in terms of which ‘non-routine’ searches are ordered for analysis.

The range of searches is extensive: from a conveyancer’s point of view, it is vital to ensure compliance with each and every transaction. This is done by providing the client with all pertinent information on the property and any environmental factors that could have the potential to negatively impact the property, in order to avoid any negligence claim in the future.

The wide choice of reports can however make this a complex process. After all, it is the responsibility of legal professionals to undertake the most appropriate investigations to make sure clients aren’t subject to a loss further down the line.

So, where can improvements be made?

To simplify and modernise this process, we have created an ‘all in one’ report called RiskView Residential, which is one of the first reports of its kind to deliver total environmental due diligence. This includes flood, ground hazards/stability, energy and infrastructure and contaminated land data in one single order.

To simplify and modernise this process, we have created an ‘all in one’ report called RiskView Residential Not only is the data available in a lightweight PDF report format but, for the first time, the full findings are accessible via an interactive, map-based web portal, which visually ‘brings to life’ the findings of the searches through an easy-to-navigate web interface.

It provides conveyancers with the tools

needed to interpret data quickly and accurately, and means that clients are far better informed of potential hazards or risks relating to the property they are purchasing.

It also delivers complete peace of mind, as clients can feel confident that as much intelligence and insight has been gathered and analysed on the property as possible.

It means conveyancers can offer standard fixed-price search packs, and it helps make transactions more efficient.

In fact, it is far less time consuming all round: the single report provides environmental risk data in one order. It contains a comprehensive risk assessment analysis for all areas with a summary interpretation, highlighting any results that require further action or investigation for ease. This is then supplemented with advice and recommendations from consultants at the specialist environmental consultancy, Argyll Environmental.

Ultimately, the aim of RiskView Residential is to support conveyancers in delivering ‘total due diligence’, simplifying their compliance, whilst also saving time, money and delivering the very best, client care.

For more information click on www.landmark.co.uk or call 0844 844 9966.

Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk

| 23

Need aa commercial commercial Need search provider? provider? search

From shopsto tohotels, hotels, Fromoffices, offices,land land & shops warehouses we’vegot gotthe theright right warehouses&&garages garages - we’ve reports transaction. reportsfor foryour yourcommercial commercial transaction.

Unit2,2, Gemini Business Centre Unit Gemini Business Centre 136-140 Old Shoreham Road, 136-140 Old Shoreham Road, Hove, BN3 7BD Hove, BN3 7BD

0800 043043 1815 0800 1815

info@searchesuk.co.uk info@searchesuk.co.uk

www.searchesuk.co.uk www.searchesuk.co.uk