In the current crisis where we are all trying to do our best, in remote working where possible and calling in the office where it is not, it is difficult to know whether to think there’s got to be an end to all this (though how long is it off) or how are we going to get through it. Certainly so far as I can see the vast majority of the British public (at least in Kidderminster) is bearing up to the restrictions on our life with understanding, friendliness and stoicism. We are only a month into those restrictions though!
As a local conveyancing solicitor in Kidderminster we have seen most of our work greatly affected with people still keen to move but not able to. It is similar to Christmas where you are busy on more urgent transactions but fewer of them. That can be planned for though and the end of that unusual situation is known.
Currently new properties cannot be put on the market in the UK, surveys can’t be done, fresh mortgages are not forthcoming, people involved may be in isolation and buyers may want properties deep cleaned. Then the removers may not be willing, or able, to move you and the usual contacts between property litigation lawyers and estate agents are not communicating as they usually do.
Still with all of that all people involved in a property transaction are being sensible and accepting of the inevitable. We as a property solicitors have no “magic wand” (though it is sometimes touching that clients think we have one) but we can still get some transactions through. If not we will tell you - I am afraid part of our role is managing expectations. Experience though and a bit of imagination mean we may be able to get things done.
The big unknown is how long will this take and whether at the end a pent up demand will produce a spate of transactions. Some are already nearly ready to proceed.
Let’s also hope all the government’s interventions will keep everything together so at the end things can get back to normal fairly promptly.
The economy always does better when people are optimistic; so let’s look forward to the end of this and us all get back to normal. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
In the meantime keep well and keep safe.
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