Conveyancers facing lengthy delays for property searches can choose a better route, according to the association which represents independent search experts. 

IPSA, the Association of Independent Personal Search Agents, launched its #MakeTheSwitch campaign at LegalEx last month, the UK’s largest conference and exhibition for lawyers and law firms. 

The aim is that conveyancing lawyers will use the services of an IPSA-accredited search company when completing property sales for their clients, so making sure they get the best local knowledge and expertise possible. The IPSA Searches website is the gateway to all the agents in the network. 

IPSA chairman Andrew Prismall said: “The idea of IPSA Searches is that you will probably only ever use the site once in your life. That is our intention. Because if that visit is successful, you will build a long working relationship with your new local searches contact. 

“IPSA Searches is not a portal or a hub, it merely puts two or more businesses together for their great mutual benefit. “ 

IPSA has a network of more than 70 accredited search agents across the country, who work collaboratively to offer quality local searches up to 15 per cent cheaper than bigger companies – and, in many cases, quicker as well. 

Andrew said solicitors often didn’t know they had a choice when it came to search agents, so #MakeTheSwitch was intended to highlight the benefits of using an independent company. 

He said: “It was great to meet so many lawyers at LegalEx and chat to them about what IPSA search agents are able to do for their business. 

“Smoove’s Home Movers Report found that the time it takes to complete a house purchase has risen from 124 to 153 days since before the start of the pandemic. Some of that increase is a result of searches, and many solicitors at LegalEx said they are being told local searches could take up to three months. 

“That’s not necessarily the case, and lawyers don’t just have to accept it. Contact your local IPSA agent and you might be surprised at how quickly a search can be done. 

“If you were a council planning officer and you had a request for 30 searches from a faceless national company, or three from a local person you had built a good working relationship with, which one would you complete first?” 

IPSA is a not-for-profit membership organisation which represents and supports search companies across the UK. It provides a wide range of services to educate, inform and support members, including a dedicated website and telephone helpline. 

Members have all completed a qualification, are fully insured and must comply with the association’s code of conduct. They have deep local knowledge, are on hand to visit sites if necessary, often have decades of relevant experience and are up-to-date with the latest local developments and national issues. 

That means solicitors can be confident they will get a high-quality search in the shortest possible time, with a genuinely personal and professional service. 

IPSA’s expertise is valued within the industry and by Government, regularly liaising with industry bodies such as the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) and the Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO). As chairman, Andrew sits on the HMLR External Advisory Board and HMLR Industry Panel and attends regular meetings of the Genesis Initiative at the Bank of England. 

The association also works closely with HM Land Registry, the government agency which safeguards land and property ownership valued at £8 trillion. The Land Register contains more than 26 million titles showing evidence of ownership for more than 88 per cent of the land mass of England and Wales. 

For more information about IPSA, visit https://ipsa-online.org.uk/