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Lawyers rated as worst performers

Tuesday, 14 November 2006 12:00 AM

Homebuyers and sellers have voted lawyers as the worst performers in the property market for the third year running, a study out today shows.

Lawyers were ranked below surveyors, estate agents and mortgage lenders.

Buyers and sellers said lawyers provided the poorest quality service, offered poor value for money and frustrated their clients by insisting on writing letters instead of other, faster and easier communication methods such as phone or email.

Women were the most critical of lawyers, 61 per cent saying they were either bad or terrible value for money.

On the other hand, surveyors were rated the best, with the price of a full structural survey thought to be justified and the quality of service better than any other group.

Traditionally hated, estate agents proved their worth by minimising delays for buyers and sellers and being easy to communicate with, with the added benefit of being available at weekends working in their favour. Estate agents ranked less well on quality of service, and were even ranked below lawyers when it came to value for money.

The cost of rising mortgage fees and poor communication put mortgage lenders second from bottom, with borrowers finding call centres a frustrating way of getting hold of their lenders.

"Lawyers are still the top villains in the house buying process. Although their role is a crucial one, many of their practices are out of date and they cause buyers and sellers an enormous level of frustration at what is already a very stressful and anxious time," said Warren Bright, chief executive of propertyfinder.com, who conducted the survey.

He concluded: "Surveyors scored top marks - a good survey can make or break a deal and save buyers thousands of pounds in unexpected repairs."

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