Conveyancers are being urged to strengthen relationships with estate agents after research found buyers are more likely to choose a legal firm recommended by an agent rather than one found through family, friends or online searches.

Agent recommendations

Lyons Bowe Solicitors found that 32% of buyers appointed a conveyancer recommended by their estate agent, making agent referrals the single biggest source of instructions.

Recommendations from friends and family accounted for 25%, while just 19% of buyers found a conveyancer through an online search.

The legal firm’s research also reveals that buyers place greater value on recommendations than price. Among those who considered more than one firm, 38% said a referral or recommendation was the biggest influence on their final decision, compared with 20% who cited price and 11% who pointed to online reviews.

The findings come at a time when conveyancing firms are competing harder for instructions in a housing market where buyer demand has softened, and agent referrals are a key source of new business.

Referrals from estate agents continue to play a hugely important role in how buyers choose a conveyancer.”

Paul Lyons (pictured), managing director of Lyons Bowe Solicitors, says: “Referrals from estate agents continue to play a hugely important role in how buyers choose a conveyancer, particularly in a more subdued market where firms are competing harder for every instruction.

“That’s why it’s so important for conveyancers to invest time in building and maintaining strong relationships with local agents. Estate agents want to recommend firms they trust to deliver a reliable, efficient service that reflects positively on them and helps transactions progress smoothly.”

Lyons adds, though, that winning an instruction is only the start, and that strong service levels will help conveyancers maintain agent relationships and also generate future recommendations from clients.