wear . business – the voice of business for the Wear region
Dr Michelle Cooper MBE on the charities challenged by Covid-19 wear . business – the voice of business for the Wear region
NEWS
Searching solutions
Law firms and conveyancers looking
for a quick and reliable search service are being reminded there ’ s an ideal solution on their doorstep .
Lockdown was tough for Stocktonbased personal search provider OCALS .
With the housing market at a standstill , the need for searches ground to a halt too .
It saw the firm face its toughest conditions since opening in 2008 .
But with the market now recovering – helped by the stamp duty holiday , which runs until March 31 – director Jeremy O ’ Connor feels things are looking up . OCALS – it stems from O ’ Connor Associates Legal Services – employs six people , all experts in their field . It specialises in local authority and public utility searches , although it offers a range of more than 80 – everything from bankruptcy checks to ensuring the solicitor at the other end is bona fide .
With a background in industry and property , Jeremy knows both sides of the conveyancing coin .
And he ’ s keen for local firms and
conveyancers to realise the search expertise OCALS can offer .
He said : “ We ’ re an experienced team who know the area and know the businesses in it . We provide an easy , simple service to make life easy for the client .
“ And if you have any questions , you get us – not a call centre . We ’ ll then either answer directly or we ’ ll consult and get back to you quickly .
“ We provide a wide range of products , an easy ordering system and we ’ re quality assured .”
Jeremy feels that being independent means there are some areas in which OCALS can act faster .
With guaranteed turnaround times for
law firms , it offers a free search “ refresh ” if the mortgage hasn ’ t gone through within three months , and free searches on the client ’ s new property if the sale falls through .
And while OCALS isn ’ t yet back to pre- Covid levels of up to 1,000 searches a month , Jeremy believes better times are ahead .
“ The vaccines mean there ’ s a light at the end of the tunnel and we ’ re well placed for when things are properly up and running again – both for our national clients and those closer to home .
“ I do think 2021 will be a good year because people want to get out there and get living their lives again .”
Visit ocals . co . uk
SISTER PUBLICATION TO TEES BUSINESS
ISSUE 1 : WINTER 2019-20
Business
WEAR
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR THE WEAR REGION
ISSUE 2 : SUMMER 2020
WEAR
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR THE WEAR REGION
ISSUE 3 : WINTER 2020-21
WEAR
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR THE WEAR REGION
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wear . business – the voice of business for the Wear region
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BUSINESS BOOSTERS Follow the data to improve your business and boost your efficiency
PRIZED AZETS New name for high-profile accountancy group
Our high-quality B2B magazine is circulated free to the business communities of the Wear region , across Sunderland , Seaham , Peterlee , Washington , Houghton-le-Spring , Chesterle-Street and Durham four times a year .
Deadline for the next issue is February 5 , 2021 . To book space email chris @ resolutionpublishing . co . uk or call 07824 344877 . W : wear . business
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