Liz Jarvis grew up on a diet of comedy. She loved Bill Hicks. And, like her parents, she adored Billy Connolly.
“We had all of his vinyl albums,” says Liz. “I would take them upstairs to listen to them. He does a big spiel called ‘The Crucifixion’. It’s around 30 minutes long. I could perform it word for word for word.”
Her OneSearch colleagues have often wondered aloud if she missed her calling as a comedian.
There’s far more to our Managing Director than an irrepressible ability to make people laugh, and as she marks a significant milestone, we thought it was a good time for our customers, colleagues and other industry professionals to find out more about the woman who:
Liz has been with OneSearch almost as long as we’ve been collecting data.
She’s now reached 30 years with the company and has seen OneSearch grow from its embryonic stage to where it is today. It has been quite the trajectory; for OneSearch and Liz.
Things could have been very different were it not for a quirk in Liz’s employment history.
Do you remember Ceefax?
Way back when TV only had five channels, before the words analogue or digital had entered common parlance, Ceefax (and its little sister Teletext) was the red button of its day. Working at Newstel after graduating from Leeds University, Liz was responsible for adding updates on the shipping forecasts and the day’s horoscopes.
Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger. North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, except in Cromarty. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate … Sagittarius. In a social setting, you could come across as a person who is eccentric and yet very interesting.
You might think that experience would have meant Liz was a fast typer. So did the founding partners of SPH (as OneSearch was originally called) when they were hiring her back in 1995. Such was their confidence in her typing skills that they excused Liz from having to take the company’s (then) mandatory typing test.
Liz is convinced, if she had been made to take it, she wouldn’t have passed. You had to achieve so many words per minute and she knew that, while meticulous, she simply wasn’t fast enough.
“I’m the only person they ever took on that they didn’t give the typing test to,” Liz tells us.
While Liz was spared that particular challenge, her upbringing taught her the importance of not avoiding difficult situations.
Liz and her brother had an unusual but happy childhood.
Their parents instilled strong values in them. Doing the right thing for society was always a big deal.
“My dad, in particular, was a real believer in doing the right thing. No matter how uncomfortable things were, my dad would always make us go and do it.”
Liz remembers the time, when she was a young teen, a neighbour passed away. Her dad made her go round and speak to his widow.
“I remember thinking, ‘I don’t want to do this. I don’t know what to say’. But actually, my dad forcing me into those situations at a young age meant that now, whatever’s happened to anybody, I’ll be the first to phone them up and say, ‘I’m coming round’.”
It’s not about knowing the right thing to say. It’s about being physically present.
Liz grew up at, but not in, Scotland’s largest prison.
Bar-L. The Big Hoose. HMP Barlinnie, where her dad was a prison warder. (Her mum was a conveyancer.)
Liz’s family lived in prison quarters. They were there during the famous riots when prisoners were launching slates off the roof. Many hit and smashed the family’s windows.
It taught her how to survive in an environment where people really don’t like you.
“We lived in a really tight-knit community, because all the prison officers lived together. Everybody looked out for one another. Everybody protected everyone else.”
It’s why Liz believes it’s so important for young people to feel safe.
Liz is passionate about helping younger people get into a better situation.
That’s why she’s excited about her new role as a member of Landmark’s Social Values programme. Part of Liz’ recent history has included working closely with the King’s Trust to support and provide opportunities for 15 to 18-year-olds.
“If you don’t catch people at a young age and steer them onto a path which is more sustainable and better for their self-esteem, then that’s when things can start to spiral and go wrong.”
Liz believes if you put people on a good path, they’ll start to thrive.
“I believe in giving people chances, because all the way along the road, everybody’s done that for me. I’m 52 now, and I think that it’s my turn to do it for other people.”
Not that Liz hasn’t already been helping people.
Since she was a student, Liz has always volunteered.
She’s worked at the Citizens Advice Bureau, taught adult literacy courses and worked in a Glasgow soup kitchen. Along the way, she’s met lots of interesting people.
So when Roy Stirrat, one of the founding partners of SPH and Chair of the Link Group, asked if she would like to join the board of LinkLiving – a trauma-informed charity that supports people’s health, wellbeing, independence and community inclusion – it didn’t take Liz long to answer. Four years later, she became the Chair, a position she held for five or six years.
“I absolutely loved that role. Going around the different projects, meeting a lot of the service users, you just realise how fortunate your life really is.”
One particular story sticks in her mind.
A 15-year-old girl was being bullied at school. So much so that she felt unable to go outside the house.
“Her parents were at their wits end. They didn’t know what to do as they watched her sink into depression. She couldn’t get out, couldn’t form relationships. Her self-esteem and confidence were at rock bottom. Then her school recommended she go on LinkLiving’s ‘Steps to Resilience’ programme.”
At the end of the 16-week course, she was a different person.
“You wouldn’t have recognised her. Her mother wrote this really touching letter. It would have brought a tear to a glass eye. She told us how it had completely changed her daughter’s life. How she could never have imagined at the start that she would have come out as this person. For the first time in two years, she was going on public transport. She couldn’t do that before. She had been so fearful of everything outside the front door.”
Liz is convinced that one of the best ways to make yourself happy is to do things for other people.
“Helping other people brings continuous joy, and it’s so good for your own wellbeing. You also develop your own skills, empathy and understanding at the same time. It’s a totally two-way street.”
It doesn’t need to be a huge thing that you do. Something small, almost inconsequential to you, can make a massive impact on someone else’s life. “Human connection”, says Liz, “can make people suddenly feel they have a part to play in society and that somebody is looking out for them. Never underestimate what a difference small acts of kindness can make.”
Volunteering also gives you a chance to learn, which is something Liz loves, loves, loves to do.
Liz doesn’t think of herself as academic, but she’s always been interested in philosophy.
“I love deep and meaningful conversations. The problem is nobody ever wants to have them with me!” she says with a chuckle. “So I had to pay to do a course to have people talk about philosophy with me.”
During lockdown, Liz started attending evening classes with Glasgow University. Among others, she’s taken courses on:
One thing that Liz has realised from her studies is how “daft wee things can lead to other things.”
For that last course, Liz decided to research the history of her first house, an old tenement near Shawlands and Battlefield, on the south side of Glasgow. She started making TikTok videos about it, and then about the East End of Glasgow.
This caught the attention of the BBC and she was invited to take part in a documentary about her experience of growing up at Barlinnie. Liz being Liz, though, many of the stories she shared were too funny for her interview to make the final cut.
However, Liz has no regrets about it. Because her philosophy is simple: never say no to an opportunity.
It’s something she picked up from her mentors at OneSearch.
Who has had the greatest impact on Liz’s career?
Marcus Noble, the former chairman of OneSearch. Still a close friend, Marcus taught Liz to believe in herself.
“Every uncomfortable situation, he would say to me, ‘go and do it. Don’t wait. Do it now.’ Whether that was phoning someone up or standing my ground about something, he would force me to do it. My nature is more compliance. But his actions completely transformed my self-belief.”
Instilling belief in others is something Liz has taken into her own style of mentoring – an approach that has helped develop talent throughout OneSearch.
“If somebody gets an opportunity and doesn’t believe they can do it, give me one hour with that person and I will convince them it’s something they can do. You can get down the road and realise maybe that’s not quite right for me and then change direction. But you’ve got to go for it. Run at it at 100 miles an hour.”
Liz also takes great pride in seeing talent develop, whether that be taking on the challenge of senior roles or progressing their career elsewhere.
People like Carol Gildea at OneSearch. Zoe Fillingham and Rob Steadman at our sister company SearchFlow, and her old sidekick from their days on the road together in England: Karen Bartke, aka Officer Karen from the BBC Scotland mockumentary Scots Squad.
“Karen left because I encouraged her to chase her dreams. I told her, ‘you don’t want to be 65 standing at the bus stop somewhere with the rain running down your back, thinking if only I’d done it. You can do this. You can do it!’”
“It’s so important to make good contacts and build great relationships with people.”
“In the past we were able to think, ‘oh, mañana, mañana.’ But everything moves at such a pace now, so if you’re not at the forefront of that, if you’re not researching it, you’re going to get left behind. You need to be in the forums. To be heard at these discussion groups, whether it’s local law societies or government steering groups. You need a place at the table.”
“I’ve still got millions to learn. From courses. From colleagues. From people I work with. Along the way you pick up wee nuggets about things. You never ever stop learning.”
“I’m surrounded by brilliant people who are great at all the stuff that I’m not. And maybe for me, my biggest skill in life was simply being the glue in the middle that held other people together.”
It’s a fitting note to end on. But just then, our Teams call is joined by a special guest.
A squirrel hops up onto the window sill.
“Wee Sheena.” One of Liz’s regular guests, dropping by with the same easy familiarity as any OneSearch colleague.
Looking for accurate data and reliable property searches? Connect with a OneSearch Business Development Manager in your area to get started with OneSearch today – visit our registration page.
In this blog, we will look at how providing OneSearch Pledge can enhance your reputation as a conveyancer and provide considerable peace of mind to your clients that their search costs will not be lost if their transaction does not proceed.
Nearly one in three residential property transactions fell through in 2024 (an estimated 296,204 transactions), with each one estimated to cost the home buyer an average of £3,456; that equates to losses of over £1bn. The wider economic losses due to fall through are estimated at £8.6 billion. The UK’s high property fall-through rate is not just a statistic; it represents a significant risk to your clients’ finances and your firm’s reputation and efficiency.
Consider that for each residential property fall-through:
While the estimates of costs vary, it is clear that the hundreds of thousands of property fall-throughs have an enormous impact on the wider economy, property transaction stakeholders, and potential buyers.
For a fee of approximately £15 per transaction, your clients can be reassured that should their matter fall through, they will receive up to £300 to cover their search costs. Given that the average cost of searches is around £400, this will return most of their search-related costs.
Offering a solution like OneSearch Pledge can really create a point of difference for your conveyancing practice, i.e., that you care. Many purchasers want to know that if their matter falls through for reasons outside of their control, they will not be financially out of pocket as a result. Not only does providing the assurance of Pledge show that you are committed to client care, but there will be a corresponding reduction in complaints and disputes arising from aborted transaction costs. Depending on your business model, you may choose to pass on the fee for Pledge or absorb this within your own costs in the knowledge that it may encourage more clients to choose your lower-risk offering.
As far as the client is concerned, they simply need to tick the option to be covered by Pledge. There is no application form, detailed paperwork, or investment of their time. In the event that they need to claim against their Pledge warranty, all they need to do is inform their conveyancer, who will advise Onesearch. If the claim is approved, the amount is paid to the client within 15 working days.
The exceptionally high level of fall-throughs in 2024/25 means that the risk of losing search fees is significant. While some customers will feel that they can absorb the cost of lost search fees if their matter falls through, many will not because they cannot afford to lose hundreds of pounds due to factors outside their control. By providing the peace of mind that Pledge provides, your conveyancing firm can demonstrate its commitment to customer care and respect for the precious financial resources of clients. We have made Pledge as simple as possible for all stakeholders – one small fee, no paperwork, and an easy claim process.
How can I help my client understand the value of Pledge?
Many home buyers may take the view that the risk of their purchase falling through is negligible. It is important to explain that the rate of aborted transactions is much higher than people think (i.e. nearly one-third in 2024). Furthermore, there is no guarantee that any subsequent purchase transactions will go through the first time. As a result, the fees for aborted transactions may start to add up. The fee is extremely small in the grand scheme of the purchase, but having a pledge means that they won’t waste money that can be put towards searching for a future purchase.
Will Pledge reimburse the seller if the seller pulls out?
Any OneSearch fees will be reimbursed to the buyer if the seller pulls out of the transaction. Specifically, we will cover the search fees if the seller is not in a legal position to sell the property or they accept a higher offer from another buyer and the home buyer is not willing to increase their offer in response.
Will Pledge reimburse the buyer if the buyer pulls out?
Any OneSearch fees will be reimbursed to the buyer if they need to pull out of their purchase for a wide range of reasons, including:
For a full list of the criteria for reimbursement and situations not covered, please click here.
Is Pledge an insurance product?
No, Pledge is a warranty add-on offered when purchasing a bundle of searches OneSearch Direct only.
OneSearch is an expert partner to conveyancing professionals, offering innovative and practical solutions to navigate the complexities and risks of the UK property market. For more information on OneSearch Pledge and what it can do for your firm and clients, please complete the contact form at the bottom of the product page or contact our team directly by email: cs@onesearchdirect.co.uk or phone: 0800 052 0117
Whether you’re a new customer or just need a refresher, these quick guides will help you get the most out of our services.
We’re committed to providing you with the best possible experience, and these videos are just one more way we’re making it easier for you to do business with us.
You can find these new videos, along with our full library of helpful guides, on our official YouTube channel.
We hope these resources help streamline your ordering process and enhance your experience with us. Do you have any other video topics you’d like to see covered in the future?
The conversation unpacks the crucial ‘golden triangle’ of technology, people, and processes, emphasising that all three must be harmoniously integrated and invested in for effective AML. Tom shares his perspective on how the residential property sector has notably adapted to tightening AML pressures, even setting a precedent for other industries. Looking ahead, the discussion touches on the future of AML, including reducing duplication, the continued evolution and wider adoption of technology, the potential of Open Finance, and the ultimate aim of making UK property a robustly defended hard target against illicit funds.
To watch the webinar which accompanies this audio podcast, please click here.
To listen to more Landmark Talks Property episodes on Spotify, click here.
To find out more on Armalytix please visit armalytix.com
Variations in council turnaround times, report formats, and pricing can introduce unwelcome friction into your workflow. What if you could rely on a consistent, clear, fixed-price report backed by substantial PI cover, regardless of the property’s location? It’s time to look closely at the advantages Regulated Local Authority Searches offer and how they directly address these common challenges.
Meeting the needs for consistency, clarity and reliability is the core purpose of OneSearch Prime, our flagship Regulated Local Authority Search. As the product underpinning our longstanding success, OneSearch Prime is specifically designed to overcome the inconsistencies you face.
It provides comprehensive insights presented in a clear, uniform format at a fixed price no matter the Local Authority, bringing predictability to your disbursements. Furthermore, it’s backed by £10 Million PI cover for your peace of mind and is accepted by the vast majority of UK lenders.
Let’s address a persistent myth head-on: the idea that Regulated (Personal) local searches are somehow less reliable or comprehensive than their official council counterparts is an outdated view, which fails to recognise the rigorous standards of modern, data-centric providers.
High-quality regulated searches, like OneSearch Prime, access and interpret the same core Local Authority data sources. The key difference lies in the meticulous quality control processes, enhanced data presentation for clarity, and the backing of significant professional indemnity insurance – like our £10m PI cover. Our confidence in the dependability of OneSearch Prime is built on over 30 years of specialist data handling experience, ensuring you receive accurate reports that meet lender requirements.
Here are seven reasons to choose OneSearch Prime Regulated Local Authority Searches:
Stop navigating the friction of variable search costs, inconsistent reports, and reliability concerns that can slow down your conveyancing process. OneSearch Prime provides a clear path forward: a regulated Local Authority Search meticulously designed for today’s demands. It delivers nationwide fixed pricing for budget certainty, dependable accuracy built on 30+ years of data expertise, user-friendly reports for faster analysis, robust £10m PI insurance for peace of mind, and dedicated UK-based support when you need it. It’s the smarter choice for efficient, confident conveyancing.
Take the next step towards smarter searches. Register with OneSearch to start ordering today.
As an essential component of every property deal, OneSearch Prime provides comprehensive insights into a property’s potential issues, allowing you to make informed decisions and avoid costly delays. Whether you’re handling residential or commercial transactions, OneSearch Prime is your go-to resource for accurate and reliable information.
For product cards, sample reports, or to include OneSearch Prime in your next order, click below.
Landmark’s Q1 2025 Residential Property Trends Report is now available.
Our data for Q1 ‘25 reveals signs of a resilient market and a stable transaction pipeline emerging following the spike in completions ahead of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) reversal deadline in England and Wales.
Completions rose by 30% over the quarter, with a 71% year-on-year surge in March alone as buyers rushed to complete. Beyond this much-anticipated bubble of activity, underlying indicators point to a more resilient property market heading into Q2.
The Scottish property market continued to hold firm, avoiding any notable market distortion following changes to Land & Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT – the Scottish equivalent of SDLT).
Other key findings from Q1 ‘25 include:
Download your copy of the Cross Market Activity edition for England, Wales and Scotland, which includes the latest residential property market data and insights for Q1 2025.
