PROPERTY Selina Shearer
Robert Woods Conveyancing: past and present The Gateshead-based property lawyers reflects on nearly 20 years in business. obert Woods Conveyancing has been working within the local community for nearly 20 years. The head office is at Low Fell while there are additional offices in Jarrow, with a loyal client base in South Tyneside. The business changed hands in 2010 and is now managed by Selina Shearer. Selina has worked for several high profile law firms across the North East, in a professional career of more than 25 years. She has seen many ups and downs in the property business during that time, commenting that the market dipped to roughly 40 per cent of prerecession volumes from 2007 to 2010. Only recently has she seen clear signs that the market is heading in a better direction. Despite the recent economic downturn, Robert Wood Conveyancing has continued to go from strength to strength. The business believes this is because our core emphasis is always on developing good working relationships and a fantastic rapport with our clients. Staff do everything we can to ensure that clients are always fully informed about the progress of their transaction. Selina has developed strong professional relationships with a number of the UK’s largest housing developers and is also well known and respected for her communication skills with estate agents and with the region’s solicitors.
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The business provides developers, for example, with valuable assistance and advice about the government’s Help to Buy Scheme, set up to help purchasers with only a 5 per cent deposit, with the government guaranteeing a further 20 to 25 per cent through a five year interest-free loan. Selina says: “This scheme can only be good news, giving first time buyers assistance and confidence in getting on the property ladder and also assisting others to move upwards. We realise that, within the UK, we still have a huge housing shortage and the need for more developments is a must. We hope that the UK housing market continues to be buoyant and the market in 2015 remains positive and strong.“
Commitment to technology Robert Wood Conveyancing recently set up its new website, as 95 per cent of clients begin their property transaction online and out of office hours, so it understands the need to be innovative and up to date with technology. The business is one of the few property firms in the North East that can give clients a completely accurate quotation and that can take instructions, via the website, for any property sale or purchase throughout the country.
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Robert Wood Conveyancing understands that time is precious. So, although staff are always pleased to talk to prospective clients, they are more than happy for clients to make initial contact via the new site.
Commitment to clients The business wants you to achieve the best outcome with your transaction. Staff know the importance of the ‘client experience’, so take time to listen, understand and help you deal with something you can’t easily handle yourself. Within the company there is over 150 years of experience of working in the property business. The team of qualified conveyancers are supported by a superb team with a wide range of skills and a vast knowledge of the property market, including re-mortgaging and transfer of equity. The business’s main priority is to provide every client with a superb level of service and expertise with one of the biggest, and potentially most stressful, commitments that people will ever make. For more information on Robert Woods Conveyancing visit www.robertwoodsconveyancing.co.uk or call (0191) 487 3733.