Who are our competitors - and which worry us?

As "High Street" solicitors, who tend to handle local work for local people, it might be thought that our main competitors are other, similar "High Street" solicitors - I think not

Although there is competition between us and other local firms, we do not see them as an existential threat (oooh! Big words!) On the whole, they tend to have the same philosophy of business as us: do a good job, at a reasonable price, resulting in a satisfied client and a good reputation and more referral business.

To date, a bigger threat has come from those firms, big and small, that indulge in cut-price conveyancing: always ready to undercut the competition - after all, it must be better to discount by (another) £50 and get the work than not, right? Wrong! Cut price conveyancing is bad for everyone involved - even those paying full price further up or down the chain of transactions - as it leads to a "stack it high and sell it cheap" approach, which quickly becomes de-personalised (commoditised) and inefficient. A similar problem results from conveyancers who pay referral fees to buy in work - but that's for another blogpost.

However, a bigger threat still is nearly upon us: "Alternative Business Structures" in the jargoin of the regulators and, especially, non-lawyers being allowed to do conveyancing work for profit. The real threat - to existing practices - is that some big organisations - insurers, "service commoditisers", mortgage lenders, etc, will offer conveyancing services. Not only will they be the ultimate in "pile it high and sell it cheap" but they will have the resources to put in place systems that will far outstrip even the "warehouse conveyancers" of today.

Worst of all, many of them - mortgage lenders are the obvious example - will be able in effect to offer the conveyancing for free: either bundling the cost in with the overall mortgage loan or treating it as a loss leader to get and retain the lending business - and the associated financial services, where lots of money can be made.

How to compete? Well, trying to beat them at their own game will not work, as I simply do not have the financial resources. In order to compete, I need to sell my services to clients on the basis of value for money - not cheapness; genuine efficiency - not artificial busy-ness; local, useful knowledge - not a tick-box approach; and genuine approachability - not slick advertising.

That is why I -

• offer a money-back guarantee
• constantly update my office procedures and support IT
• am closely involved in my local community
• encourage clients to drop in to my office, without appointments, to speak to my conveyancing managers about anything that concerns them: if it is a legal issue, it will be referred to a lawyer, but for procedural or incidental queries, my managers are well able to cope

Deep and crisp and even

I cannot let the snowfall pass without at least one blog

There was plenty of snow overnight, resulting in a good 5 or 6 inches on the ground this morning. Though the side roads have been ploughed overnight, I do not expect any of my staff who drive to work to get in. That leaves Anne (my wife and office manager) and me, who both walk to work, to staff the office today.

That's not a problem: with no post or Document Exchange deliveries (it's the snow, you know), we are only dealing with phone calls and emails - and catching up on "back office" stuff such as planning my new website - details soon - and revising my terms of business

However, I was a tad upset when Anne commented, "It's lucky we can walk to work" - It's not luck: we planned for this; it's why we moved office from Cranbrook to Tenterden: so we do not have to use the car daily and so we can walk to work!

I love it when a plan comes together - but I'm looking forward to things getting back to normal

Let us Tentertain you

Tentertainment is back! On Friday (evening) 2 July plus (all day) Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July at the recreation ground in Tenterden, Kent (TN30)

It's Tenterden's free festival weekend with (new this year) a jazz orchestra on the Friday evening

Full details at www.tentertainment.org

Tenterden Pudding Club

Once a month (on the last Friday in each month), various Tenterden-based professionals and business people (solicitors, accountants, estate agents, IFAs, telecom consultants, bank managers, insurance brokers, etc) get together for an informal, single-course lunch and a bit of networking

There is no need to commit to attending (nor to apologise if you cannot attend), but if you are in business in Tenterden and would like to be added to the email reminder list, let me know: send me an email at jn@justinnelson.co.uk

Rush Witt & Wilson return to Tenterden

Rush Witt & Wilson are estate agents with offices in Battle, Rye, Hastings, Bexhill and St Leonards. They did also open an office in Tenterden, but closed it when the economy went down the tubes

In what may be a sign that the economy (or, at least, the local housing market) is improving, I hear they are re-opening their Tenterden office on Saturday 3 April - you can even enter a free draw for a balloon ride, dinner at Richard Phillips at Chapel Down, guided tour of Chapel Down vineyard or a ride on the Kent & East Sussex Railway

Small town delights (number 99 in an infinite series)

This morning, while shopping in Tenterden with my daughter, I was approached by a postman in Waitrose with a recorded delivery letter that he had tried to deliver to my home earlier.

He had left the usual card, so that I could collect the item from the sorting office. However, seeing me go into Waitrose, he followed, and I was able to take and sign for the item there.

That's what I call service!

Another school governor monitoring visit

I have carried out another monitoring visit, this time focusing on "Community Cohesion", which is a formal way of saying, "We all have to get along together, so play nicely" - I understate for effect, of course, but it does seem to require a lot of input for something that, in 90% of schools, must be taught and experienced automatically anyway. Ah, well, it ticks some boxes ...

School monitoring visit

In my capacity as a governor of the Infant School in Tenterden, I today paid a monitoring visit to the school

It is always a delight visiting the school: all the children are well-behaved, happy and hard-working, and they really seem to thrive in the school's positive atmosphere; It makes me quite proud to be a small part of that success

My visit focused on the "drop-off club" in the mornings - which allows parents to drop off their children for supervised play before school normally starts, so that the parents can get off to work or whatever - and the role of the newly-appointed Family Liaison Officer. Both are aspects of the "Extended Schools" initiative, which tries to get schools more closely involved in their local communities.

On the basis of my visit today, both the drop-off club and the FLO are valued by parents, and (certainly in the case of the drop-off club) by the children who took part as well.

Yet more evidence, if needed, that the school is very successful

Dumped by the Abbey - an update

Following representations made by the Law Society to the Abbey, it appears that the preremptory letter issued to 6,000+ firms last wek is part of an exercise to invite firms to apply to joing a combined panel for the Abbey and Alliance + Leicester. If this is true, the original letter was extraordinarily cack-handed, as it gave no hint of this. It may be that the Abbey is finding a way to climb down with grace. We shall see ...

Dumped by the Abbey - yet more

The Abbey's draconian step of removing some 6,000 solicitors from its conveyancing panel for mortgage work - without warning or any specified reason except low volume of transactions - is getting some media publicity

Dumped by the Abbey - further thoughts

I have today heard from another (fairly local) solicitor who has been dumped by the Abbey from its conveyancing panel

This is particularly harsh for him and his clients, as he has 4 cases going through at present, and suddenly the Abbey is disrupting everything and causing chaos and extra expense. This does not surprise me - the Abbey just does not seem to care - but it has firmed up my decision to protest: I don't think the Abbey will change its mind, but at least I can give them a piece of my mind!

They do have impeccable timing: just when the country is totally disgusted at big financial institutions behaving selfishly, so the Abbey (part of the Santander group) is throwing its weight around, causing inconvenience and extra cost to its customers and doing its best to damage local businesses. It seems to be yet another example of a big organisation concentrating on process for its own benefit, rather then on consumer benefit - and that is putting the best interpretation on things

No doubt more to follow ...

Chamber of Commerce Spring Hop

Received from David Caulfield:
================================================================

Spring is here (nearly) and there’s no better time to get everybody dancing at a live music event. The ‘Spring Hop’ in St Michaels, Tenterden is to raise money for the Kent Air Ambulance and the Motor Neurone Disease Association – to be split equally between the two charities. There will be ten musicians and singers performing who are giving their services free of charge (not even expenses). The music is 50s, 60s and 70s. Some of the people taking part were in the hit pop group ‘The Dooleys’.

We are aiming for 200+ local people to attend and we will produce a program clearly listing all businesses that have contributed to the event. We will also mention everybody’s name on the night.

Here are some answers to some of the questions that will have immediately occurred to you (I can read your mind);

Q: Have we done this before?

A: Yes, last year we raised £660 for the Kent Air Ambulance and Demelza House.

Q: What are you aiming for this year?

A: We are determined to raise over £1000.

Q: Have you registered with both charities for this year’s event?

A: Yes.

Q: You haven’t told me the date.

A: Oh, it’s the 2^nd May. Here’s the rest of the details.

Spring Hop featuring Group 66 and members of The Dooleys.

2^nd May 2009.

Venue: St Michaels Village Hall, Grange Road, St Michaels, Tenterden.

Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm start – until late.

All proceeds to be split evenly between the Kent Air Ambulance and The Motor Neurone Disease Association.

All are welcome. If you would like tickets, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Many thanks.

David Caulfield: Mobile tel: +44 7770 483183
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So, if you want tickets, phone David

Dumped!

On Friday (in common, apparently, with a lot of other sole practitioner lawyers and low-volume conveyancers) I received a "Dear John" letter from Abbey National (or "the Abbey", as they like to be called but have not bothered to change their name to).

They have unceremoniously and without warning "dumped" me - I am, with immediate effect, no longer on their conveyancing panel for mortgage work.

No real explanation - I just don't rock their boat, apparently

I will try to engage in a dialogue with them, but don't hold out much hope

I have some theories as to what is going on, and will publish them here over time

ANOTHER charity shop in Tenterden?

It looks as though the former Cardfair shop in Sayers Lane, Tenterden, is going to be yet another charity shop - British Heart Foundation this time

While I don't particularly rate card shops, having yet another charity shop seems to be overkill

Why this blog?

At the end of last year, I decided that I should start a blog, and have at last done something about it.

I do not delude myself that I have anything of particular interest to others on most topics that most bloggers (especially male bloggers) seem to want to blog - or rant - about, and this is not intended to be that sort of blog.

However, I do have concerns about various changes I see, especially to legal system generally in this country and the house conveyancing process in particular, and the impact this will have on the legal and associated professions and on businesses in small towns. I am certainly not opposed to change in principle, but I believe that the reasons for some changes are suspect and the implementation sometimes disastrous.

Though I have started this blog, I do not want it to be "mine" alone - I hope others will contribute, particularly -
- other solicitors, especially those whose views differ from mine
- other professionals involved in the areas of work that I cover as a lawyer and comment on here (estate agents, valuers, bank managers, etc, all of whom will be affected, too)
- the clients and service users who are on the other end of the experience, with their angle on things
- residents and business people in Tenterden and other small towns

I hope that my posts will be informative and constructive, and will provoke informed and constructive discussion

Well: that has set out my stall, to some extent. Now I need to start posting properly