UK property professionals typically want three things from a conveyancing partner or platform:

  • A commercial model that’s transparent
  • A smooth workflow from quote to instruction
  • Confidence in the firms involved (and the compliance basics that come with that)

SortRefer and ReallyMoving are both well-known platforms in the sector, but they're built for slightly different use cases. HouseLegal is another option, designed around panel-building and instruction-based workflows.

This guide compares the three from a commercial and operational perspective so you can decide which model best suits your business.

Note: Features, pricing and product focus can change over time. Always check each provider for the latest details before making a decision.

Quick overview: who each platform tends to suit

SortRefer

Often a good fit for mortgage intermediaries who want a referral platform with a broader property-services ecosystem and a ready-made supplier model.

ReallyMoving

Often a good fit for service providers (e.g., conveyancers, surveyors, removals) who want lead/enquiry generation at scale.

HouseLegal

Often a good fit for brokers and estate agents who want to build and manage a panel of local conveyancing firms, generate quotes quickly, and handle instructions with minimal admin. It can also suit solicitors looking for instruction flow from broker/agent partners.

SortRefer: referral platform for intermediaries

SortRefer (sortrefer.co.uk) positions itself as a referral platform used by intermediaries to connect clients with property-related services. The core value is typically speed, convenience, and the ability to place different referral types through one system.

Strengths that may appeal to brokers and agents

  • A structured platform designed around intermediary workflows.
  • Referral capability across multiple property services (useful when clients need more than conveyancing).
  • Operational support and a defined supplier ecosystem.

Things to consider

If you prefer to build and manage your own localised conveyancing panel, you'll want to check how much flexibility you have in terms of panel ownership and commercial terms.

Earnings and fee structures can vary depending on product and supplier setup, so it's worth confirming how this works in practice for the specific referral types you place most often.

ReallyMoving: lead/enquiry generation for service providers

ReallyMoving (reallymoving.com) is an established player in the “moving services” space and is best known for generating enquiries for conveyancers and related service providers.

Strengths that may appeal to solicitors and firms seeking volume

  • Designed around lead/enquiry generation for conveyancing and other moving services.
  • Long-standing presence in the market and recognisable consumer brand positioning.
  • Options that may help firms enhance their profile and attract enquiries.

Things to consider

The model is usually geared more towards service providers buying enquiries, rather than intermediaries earning referral income.

If your priority is building a trusted broker/agent-led panel and routing clients as confirmed instructions, you'll want to assess whether an enquiry model matches your workflow and commercial objectives.

HouseLegal: panel-building and instruction-led workflow

HouseLegal is structured around the idea that brokers and estate agents should be able to create their own conveyancing panel, generate quotes quickly for common transaction types (sale, purchase, remortgage), and instruct with minimal steps.

From a commercial point of view, HouseLegal is positioned to support:

  • Panel control (you choose who is on your panel)
  • Agreed referral fees between partners
  • Automation for quoting, instruction, and monthly referral fee collection/remittance (based on HouseLegal’s stated model)

For mortgage brokers and estate agents

HouseLegal can suit firms that want to integrate conveyancing into their process without relying on a fixed supplier panel. Typical workflow features include:

  • Generating quotes quickly (including fee breakdowns)
  • Instructing within the platform
  • Admin-light processes and reporting to track outcomes

For conveyancing solicitors

For solicitors, HouseLegal's pitch is often about reducing repeated quoting/admin by allowing firms to maintain fees/disbursements in one place, and then receiving instruction flow from broker/agent partners.

HouseLegal also states a per-transaction platform fee (e.g., £25+VAT) on a no-completion, no-fee basis — solicitors should confirm the exact commercial terms and how these apply per partner/instruction type.

Side-by-side: key differences to compare

When deciding between these platforms, it helps to compare them by model rather than brand:

1) Panel ownership and control
Do you want a ready-made ecosystem, or do you want to build and manage your own local panel?

2) Commercial model
Are you earning referral income as an intermediary?

Or are you paying for enquiries/leads as a provider?

3) Workflow type
Does the platform support your preferred approach: quick quoting → instruction → tracking, or enquiry flow → conversion?

4) Who the platform is primarily designed for

  • Intermediaries (brokers)
  • Agents
  • Solicitors/service providers

5) Fees and commitments
Any subscriptions? minimum volumes? contracts? per-transaction fees? (These details matter more than headline claims—always check current terms.)

Which should you choose?

Choose a platform like SortRefer if you want an intermediary-oriented referral system with a broad property-services ecosystem and you’re happy working within a structured supplier model.

Choose a platform like ReallyMoving if your goal is to generate enquiries/leads for conveyancing and related services and you have a process for converting enquiry flow into instructions.

Consider HouseLegal if you want to build and control a local solicitor panel, keep the workflow instruction-led, and prioritise automation for quoting, instruction and referral fee handling (subject to confirming your specific commercial setup).