Solicitor's fees

Sponge

Could someone please have a look over these fees and give me an idea if they're reasonable? Thanks.

Cost breakdown for buying a house (Freehold) costing £ 155,000.00
Our Fees:£ 400.00
Official Search:£ 4.00
Stamp Duty:£ 1,550.00
Land Reg Fee:£ 200.00
Land Reg Admin:£ 100.00
Bankruptcy Search:£ 2.00
TT Charge:£ 35.00

Cost breakdown for selling a house (Freehold) costing £ 125,000.00
Our Fees:£ 400.00
Office Copies:£ 8.00
TT Charge:£ 35.00
VAT:£ 194.00
Total:£ 2,928.00
Online Discount:£ 96.00
Online Total:£ 2,832.00

FireWyrm

Yes, looks about right. I'm buying a house right now and that's almost what I'm being charged, though without th selling costs.

For comparison :
Our Fees : 349
Vat : 70
Stamp Duty : 1419
Land Reg Fee : 200
Searches : 140
Land Reg Search : 12
Land Charges Search : 3
BACS : 36.00

Richard_Webster

Cost breakdown for buying a house (Freehold) costing £ 155,000.00
Our Fees:£ 400.00
Official Search:£ 4.00
Stamp Duty:£ 1,550.00
Land Reg Fee:£ 200.00
Land Reg Admin:£ 100.00
Bankruptcy Search:£ 2.00
TT Charge:£ 35.00

Cost breakdown for selling a house (Freehold) costing £ 125,000.00
Our Fees:£ 400.00
Office Copies:£ 8.00
TT Charge:£ 35.00
VAT:£ 194.00
Total:£ 2,928.00
Online Discount:£ 96.00
Online Total:£ 2,832.00

Yes, overall, on the face of it very reasonable.

However, some questions:

Ask them what

Land Reg Admin:£ 100.00

is? (Another scam spurious fee as far as I can see - part of the job is completing the Land Registry Form - are they charging for that separately?)

Why no search fees quoted on purchase? Expect to pay £150-£300 for that depending on area and whether extra searches such as mining have to be done.

Have you read all the small print in their terms and conditions to make sure you are not going to get ambushed with extra charges like a"Acting for lender", "expedition fee for completing in less than 14/21 days from exchange", "completing the SDLT form", etc, etc?

Why no VAT mentioned or is it included?

Sponge

The online quote process starts with this:

NOTE: additional searches to the standard ones quoted may be necessary.

I am unable to find any link to their terms & conditions online. After the quote is provided, there is a form to accept the quote, but nothing else.

BitterAndTwisted

Go to a couple of local solicitor's firms and ask them to provide you with quotes. Then you'll have something to compare it to.

G_M

Don't sign up till you have read the full T&Cs.

Is there a mortgage involved? If so is dealing with this included (should be) or an extra?

BitterAndTwisted

Be very wary of using an online conveyancer.

Sponge

They aren't an online conveyancer, as such. They're a well established local firm that has a website. You can obtain their services by filling in a form online, for which you get a minimal discount.

I have contacted them asking for more details before I employ them.

timmyt

Are you all serious!

I could offer £100 conveyancing but you'd get the office cleaner!

Have you made sure for your cheapo fees that you will get:

- a solicitor or legal executive
- that very same person throughout
- the Team stay open past 5pm and during lunch
- you get their personal email and private number
- their guarantee the total bill at the end will be ...the total of the quote they set out above
- that the firm is Lexcel accredited

Any conveyancing less than £500 plus vat and third party expenses worries me, and you should get someone qualified at a minimum.
- a firm open after 5pm and during lunch

G_M

Timmy - apart form the disagreements we've had in the past about DIY conveyancing, local Vs National firms etc, I genuinely don't understand the way you stress the importance of "the team" staying open past 5 PM?

Most businesses transact business during the 'working day'. OK, maybe it's convenient for some buyers/sellers to have access to after-hours advice, but surely that depends on the client? Many may not have that as an important requirement in which case a small local one-man firm that closes at 5 pm is fine. Surely the quality/professionalism of work is far more important?

Sponge

timmyt wrote: »

Are you all serious!

I could offer £100 conveyancing but you'd get the office cleaner!

Have you made sure for your cheapo fees that you will get:

- a solicitor or legal executive
- that very same person throughout
- the Team stay open past 5pm and during lunch
- you get their personal email and private number
- their guarantee the total bill at the end will be ...the total of the quote they set out above
- that the firm is Lexcel accredited

Any conveyancing less than £500 plus vat and third party expenses worries me, and you should get someone qualified at a minimum.
- a firm open after 5pm and during lunch

I'm deadly serious. So I thank you to be more courteous in my thread. I came here for advice, not snide remarks. If you wish to continue, take it elsewhere. If not, then stay and help.

Are you saying the quote I have received is too low and that the Solicitors providing it must therefore be incompetent? If that is the case, can you please tell me exactly how much the fees should be, so that I may employ the services of a proper Solicitor. You mention qualifications: which ones?