Conveyancing - what is a reasonable fee?

spratley

Am trying to find a reasonable quote for conveyancing on my Mum's house. It's in a run down area about 200 miles from where I live - am selling on her behalf as she is in a nursing home - it's selling for 43k. Have had a couple of quotes around the £700 mark - seems awfully high! Or perhaps not! Just waiting for quote from Conveyancing Direct (they have offices nearby & have been recommended) - but am I best to stick to a firm of Solicitors?
Any help would be appreciated...

G_M

Get a few quotes. Compare online and local to you (for convenience).

Make sure you compare like-for-like: some conveyancers 'hide' extras which are in the small print. So read this.

Is there a mortgage? If not make that clear as it reduces work.

clutton_2

do you have enduring power of attorney ?

if you do not then i think you definitely should use a solicitor...

in fact i think you should use a solicitor anyway as a conveyancer may not be as au fair with sales such as this (i know, i know, i expect there are some excellent conveyancers - but i am assuing you want a swift sale for your mums home fees)

Have you got quotes from 2-3 local firms ? In an area of such low property prices, solicitors fees may not be as high as in large cities. But you dont have to use a solicitor who lives locally as most things are done by post or electronic communications these days.

nearlyrich

I think it goes off the sell price my DD is buying and she was ringing round for quotes last week, basic price was around £400 plus VAT plus disbursements which add around £300 her property is just over £60k.

timmyt

under £500 (which is a min for most decent conveyancers as there is a set amount of work in any sale or purchase) you have to ask why.

£50 off not to answer your calls promptly
£50 off not to answer emails promptly or at all
£50 off to not get through to the conveyancer but their lawyer
£50 off if they close for lunch or go home dead at 5pm

Lots of corners can be cut, when you go cheap.

G_M

timmyt wrote: »

under £500 (which is a min for most decent conveyancers as there is a set amount of work in any sale or purchase) you have to ask why.

£50 off not to answer your calls promptly
£50 off not to answer emails promptly or at all
£50 off to not get through to the conveyancer but their lawyer
£50 off if they close for lunch or go home dead at 5pm

Lots of corners can be cut, when you go cheap.

No chain? Empty property? No urgency?

So not a problem if calls/emails take a bit longer to be answered, or you get a lawyer instead of a conveyancer (???? don't really understand this point but still)

Close for lunch? No problem. OP might be quite happy with this if it saves £200.