Sendall goes from Live to death

Rob Sendall has set up a new business that has effectively moved him from live to death.

Sendall, the former estate agent who founded conveyancing and HIP provider The Live Organisation 14 years ago, has just launched Final Duties, a probate broking service.

In partnership with estate agency trainer Adam Walker, the service aims to “massively” undercut legal fees and offer fixed probate quotes.

Sendall sold Live to the American organisation First Title just over three years ago. He officially worked his last day there on the last day of last year, but was still tied to Live until last month.

Sendall, who had his own brush with death last year after becoming critically ill while on holiday, has modelled his new offering on his ground-breaking Live business.

He said: “As far as I know, Final Duties has no other competitors and I am looking forward to building it up from scratch, just as I built up Live.”

Sendall, who was with Roger Platt in Maidenhead, Berkshire, started Live because as an agent he was frustrated with slow and expensive conveyancers.

He has launched Final Duties for very similar reasons, saying that bereaved people are routinely ripped off. Bank probate fees are often over 4% of the estate’s value, and probate solicitors work on a cost per hour plus a percentage of the estate.

Using a panel of solicitors, the new service will offer guaranteed fixed price quotes and the cheapest prices. The service also includes a probate management service and Sendall hopes to be dealing with estate agents again – “I will have probate houses to sell,” he says.

Sendall has already recruited extra staff– all were made redundant from Live – and taken offices in Camberley, Surrey, not far from Live’s own offices.

The ever-popular Sendall, who appealed to estate agents by offering more money from the same clients alongside fun trips on yachts, has watched in dismay as the fortunes of Live have suffered – along with other HIP and conveyancing providers in the housing market downturn.

Sendall says he will be growing his new business rapidly. It was inspired by Adam Walker’s own bereavement: when he lost his father, he was horrified by the cost of obtaining probate and the lack of fixed fees. Walker plans to continue his work as an estate agency trainer.

Any old friends wanting to contact Rob can email rws@finalduties.co.uk