Openwork has launched a new conveyancing proposition, developed with United Legal Services (ULS Group).
Openwork Conveyancing will provide the network’s advisers with access to an own-branded, online solution.
Improvements include prioritised searches to expedite the legal process and prioritised chasing of overdue stages.
There is also a direct dial facility to a specialist team within each solicitor firm.
The client will also receive 10% off the legal fees for their next conveyancing case, which Openwork argues is helpful in particular for advisers working with buy-to-let landlords.
Openwork Conveyancing comprises a new and dedicated ‘Select Solicitor Panel’. Every solicitor firm that makes up the panel has also been chosen based on capacity potential, a track record of delivering a high quality service, as well as high levels of Professional Indemnity Insurance, the firm said.
In addition to advisers, Openwork has already gained commitment from a number of its panel lenders to incorporate Openwork Conveyancing within their product design processes. Work is already underway to bring this to market, it added.
“As part of our review of the mortgage proposition, conveyancing was identified firstly as an area with significant potential for new growth, and secondly as an area that we wanted to improve further from a service perspective for the benefit of the end customer,” said Paul Shearman, mortgage and protection proposition director at Openwork.
“We engaged ULS Group to explore how we could re-energise our existing proposition and are delighted with the result.
“Openwork Conveyancing not only delivers an improved service for our advisers and their customers; it also offers an opportunity to work more closely with our lenders on product design, helping them to add value to their proposition to our adviser network, whilst simultaneously reducing risk through focusing on a smaller number of larger solicitors.”
Ben Thompson, managing director of ULS Group, said: “It’s refreshing to have been involved in discussions that have focused largely on how Openwork can further improve the experience for their advisers’ clients. Whilst the mortgage market has settled for now on some sort of plateau, sooner or later activity will step up again.
“Openwork Conveyancing has been built very much with service in mind, and we are highly confident that the customer experience will be very strong and will stand out not just now but in particular when market conditions improve.”
