The Intermediary – July 2026 - Flipbook - Page 34
RESIDENTIAL
Opinion
The missing piece
in conveyancing
W
ith no shortage
of technology
available in the
conveyancing
sector, it would
be easy to
assume its provision and delivery has
become largely a technology challenge
and the right system can therefore
solve most of the problems that
brokers and their clients encounter.
The reality is rather different.
While technology has undoubtedly
improved many aspects of the process,
the factor that oen determines
whether a transaction progresses
smoothly or encounters difficulties
is still something much more
straightforward. It is making sure
the right case is placed with the right
conveyancer from the outset.
That might sound obvious, but it is
surprising how oen this aspect of the
process is overlooked. There may still
be a tendency to think of conveyancing
in terms of price comparisons, ratings
systems or simple panel selection
tools. Those things all have their place,
but they rarely tell the full story.
Every transaction is different
One of the challenges with
conveyancing is that no two cases
are ever quite the same. A first-time
buyer purchasing a modern flat has
very different needs from a landlord
buying through a limited company,
while an older borrower downsizing
presents an entirely different set of
considerations again.
The same principle applies to clients
themselves. Some clients are highly
comfortable with digital processes
and online onboarding. Others prefer
more traditional communication
and may require additional support
throughout the transaction. Some
cases involve complex lender
requirements, while others involve
unusual property characteristics or
legal structures that make specialist
experience particularly valuable.
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The Intermediary | July 2026
A conveyancing panel may contain
excellent firms across the board,
but that does not mean every firm
is equally suited to every case. This
is where proper panel management
comes into its own because the
objective should never simply be to
find a conveyancer. The objective
should be to find the most suitable
conveyancer for that particular client.
The whole story
There has been a growing trend
towards ratings-based approaches
to conveyancing panel management
and selection, with some managers
scoring and ranking firms in ways that
appear simple and objective. However,
as mentioned, conveyancing is rarely
that straightforward.
Ratings oen reflect what happened
several months earlier because of the
length of the transaction process itself.
By the time a broker reviews a score,
the circumstances that influenced it
may have changed completely.
Equally, one difficult transaction
can influence perceptions in a way
that is not always proportionate to the
actual service delivered. This creates a
risk that brokers are making decisions
based on historic information rather
than current conditions.
Good panel management relies on
something much more immediate. It
requires ongoing dialogue with law
firms, an understanding of capacity
levels, awareness of specialisms and
a clear picture of which firms are
currently best placed to deal with
particular types of work.
Prevention over intervention
One of the most common frustrations
brokers experience during a
transaction is the feeling that nobody
is taking ownership when problems
arise. A case stalls, communication
slows down or a client becomes
concerned about progress, and
suddenly everyone is looking for
somebody else to provide the answer.
HARPAL SINGH
is CEO at conveybuddy
In many cases, the real issue
is not what happened during the
transaction. The issue is that the case
should never have been placed there in
the first place.
Effective panel management is
therefore not simply about solving
problems when they emerge. It is
about reducing the likelihood of those
problems occurring at all.
Matching clients to the right firm,
understanding individual strengths
and identifying potential risks can
prevent many of the delays and
frustrations that create difficulties
later in the process.
The human element
There is oen a tendency to frame
technology and personal service as
competing concepts, but the most
effective conveyancing solutions
combine both. Technology should
make the process more efficient and
transparent.
What it cannot do is replace
experience, judgement and
relationships. That’s why we have a
team of account managers and staff
who don’t just help with cases already
instructed, but support those looking
for help with who to instruct with.
Knowing which firm is best
suited to a particular transaction
and helping brokers make informed
decisions before a case is submied,
for us, remains an important part of
delivering positive outcomes.
Conveyancing will continue to
evolve, and technology will continue
to improve, but successful outcomes
will still depend on making the right
decisions. In many cases, that starts
with effective panel management,
which remains one of the most
important and oen overlooked parts
of the entire conveyancing journey. ●
