A ground-breaking platform that allows homebuyers and sellers to compare conveyancers has been launched by Huddersfield-based First4Lawyers.

Consumers using F4LPlus can browse information not just on price but also on law firms’ areas of expertise and online reviews from independent sites such as Trustpilot.

They can request quotes from up to 10 and shortlist up to three who will then contact them to discuss further.

Once vetted, qualified leads – the name given to enquiries where there is a genuine prospect of securing instructions – are passed onto participating firms which only pay for the ones they want.

Firms can also choose the type of leads they receive – from homebuyers, sellers, those looking to remortgage or transfer equity – and where in the UK enquiries come from.

F4LPlus was initially tested in a trial involving 10 North West firms and received over 33,000 visitors in the first month alone.

It has now been rolled out to firms across the UK and more than 8,500 leads have been passed onto participating firms, worth a potential £4 million. Nine out of 10 needed conveyancing services immediately or within the first month.

READ MORE: Huddersfield Hub has a brand new Property section HERE.

Qamar Anwar, managing director of Huddersfield-based First4Lawyers, said: “We knew there was a gap in the market for something like this but the demand we have seen has far exceeded our expectations and to be in a position to scale up so quickly is incredibly exciting.

“We are constantly analysing the data to improve the customer experience and the recurring theme to come out of that analysis is that consumers want choice and convenience and aren’t just focused on price.

“In fact, many are not only not choosing the cheapest option but requesting quotes that exceed their stated budget.

“Buying a property, which for many people will be their home, is one of the most significant purchases a person will make in their lifetime and so they want it to be handled by someone who is reputable and has the relevant expertise.”

The first comparison site of its kind, F4LPlus is the brainchild of First4Lawyers, an award-winning legal marketing collective which has generated more than a million high quality leads for personal injury and clinical negligence law firms over the last 16 years.

First4Lawyers also hopes to roll out the platform to other legal services in the future.

Qamar added: “Our pay-per-lead model for conveyancing, with fixed prices starting from £20 per lead, has proved so successful for one of the firms taking part that they have had to take on a dedicated member of staff to handle the work we’re sending their way.

“The return on investment varies depending on the types of lead requested but at its lowest is £3.87 for every pound spent, rising to £11.43 with instruction rates running up to 29% depending on the transaction type.

“Current demand is such that conveyancers who join us can expect to start receiving leads immediately. It really is a win-win and after such a promising start, we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

 

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