Need a good deal on conveyancing and HIPS

reheat

We are relocating from sussex to suffolk, my new job being there. We are selling and buying at around the £175K mark (yes I know - just missed the stamp duty holiday!). Going to be going on the market either just before or just after the Christmas break. Need to keep costs down as much as possible, but definitely not wanting to cut corners that should not be. I think I'm likely to get a good deal with a good estate agent, but am now looking into conveyancing and HIPS.

I'd like to use the same solicitor/conveyancer for both sell & buy, as I think things stand a better chance of going more smoothly. I want to get the best deal I can for conveyancing & HIPS. The EA conveyancing comes with 'free' HIPS, but the conveyancing itself for both buy&sell is pretty pricey.

Any advice please?

Thrugelmir

reheat wrote: »

We are relocating from sussex to suffolk, my new job being there. We are selling and buying at around the £175K mark (yes I know - just missed the stamp duty holiday!). Going to be going on the market either just before or just after the Christmas break. Need to keep costs down as much as possible, but definitely not wanting to cut corners that should not be. I think I'm likely to get a good deal with a good estate agent, but am now looking into conveyancing and HIPS.

I'd like to use the same solicitor/conveyancer for both sell & buy, as I think things stand a better chance of going more smoothly. I want to get the best deal I can for conveyancing & HIPS. The EA conveyancing comes with 'free' HIPS, but the conveyancing itself for both buy&sell is pretty pricey.

Any advice please?

Proper advice doesn't come cheap. Obtain several quotes.

Your choosen solicitor will handle both the sale and purchase. Choose one which is conveniant for you. As being able to personally "pop in" to discuss issues that arise can speed matters up.

princessamy86

Don't just automatically go for the cheapest online one, there's lots of companies that do online conveyancing for a very cheap fee but they are not necessarily the best. I would get 2 or 3 full quotes, which include all the disbursements, VAT, legal fees and anything else you are likely to be charged-this is the only way you can do a proper comparison as many have added extras they will charge for. I'd go for maybe the EA quote, a local firm and an online one. Search for recommendations, and see if anyone you know has used a solicitor that was particularly good. Above all, they need to be contactable! I'm an EA and I can't tell you how many times sales are delayed because people simply can't get in touch with their solicitors. Which area are you in? People on here might have some recommendations.

Richard_Webster

I'd like to use the same solicitor/conveyancer for both sell & buy, as I think things stand a better chance of going more smoothly.

Too right!

Don't even think of using different solicitors to do the two separate transactions unless you sell and move into rented before buying. I just adds to the communication difficulties, which are bad enough as they are.

reheat

princessamy86 wrote: »

Don't just automatically go for the cheapest online one, there's lots of companies that do online conveyancing for a very cheap fee but they are not necessarily the best. I would get 2 or 3 full quotes, which include all the disbursements, VAT, legal fees and anything else you are likely to be charged-this is the only way you can do a proper comparison as many have added extras they will charge for. I'd go for maybe the EA quote, a local firm and an online one. Search for recommendations, and see if anyone you know has used a solicitor that was particularly good. Above all, they need to be contactable! I'm an EA and I can't tell you how many times sales are delayed because people simply can't get in touch with their solicitors. Which area are you in? People on here might have some recommendations.

No, I wasn't really thinking of going for the cheapest. But I just don't want to get conned into paying more than I really need to. I live in the Brighton area. And yes, I'm beginning to see there are all sorts of things that some seem to include in "disbursements" that others don't; others tell me such things are part of the HIPS anyways so should not be charged for seperately, yet their fees are more anyway ... maybe that just means the others are just trying to make their fees look cheaper when they are not?

timmyt

use a local solicitor, not an out of town (they pay us big cashback) estate agent refererd conveyancer.

Disbursements should only be:

- fresh local search if the HIP one is over 6 months old
- Land Regsitration fee
- stamp duty if over £175k going down to £125k on 31/12/09
- Conveyancing searches £65.21 (Chancel and enviro)
- Bank transfer @£35
- completion searches £8

DO NOT pay for Land TRandaction form filing, that is a con, or postage and packing, or acting for your Lender.

I am a conveyancer, and you get a solicitor, not a junior clerk/headset Sharon.

Average fee is £595 plus VAT plus disbursements, and you get direct dial, emails, often work late like now, and we offer a NO Completion No Fee scheme.

Good luck