Looking for a Solicitor

tulipz

Dear all,
I've started looking for a solicitor for conveyencing. Got some quotes from local ones

One says this:

Does it look like a reasonable quote? Is there room for negotiation? did anyone use online solicitors here? Any recommendations please ?

Stamp Duty £ 9600.00

Land Registry fees £ 280.00

Land Registry Search fee £ 4.00

Land Charges Search fee £ 4.00

Local, Water &
Environmental Search £ 190.00

Total £10762.00

The package for searches is through a search agency but if by going direct to the Local Authority we can obtain the searches at a lower combined price we will do that on your behalf. If your mortgagees, however, require official searches then these will have to be obtained albeit that they may be at a slightly higher price.

Please note that the total amount of VAT, Stamp Duty and other payments may be subject to alteration if the rates are changed after the date of this letter. I would also point out that I do not charge separately (unlike some of our competitors) for:-

• acting for the Lender on your mortgage
• telephone calls, postage, petty incidentals, photocopying
• a contribution to professional indemnity insurance
• preparing and filing the stamp duty land tax return
• document and deed storage
• verification of identity as required by statute.
• a short period of time between exchange and completion

There are no hidden extras in the figure shown above for our professional fees.

I would anticipate that in this transaction there will be one transfer required through the Banking system to transmit your purchase monies to the Sellers Solicitors for which the fee of £30.00 plus VAT is charged as referred to above. If an additional bank transfer payment have to be made, then this would also be charged for at the same rate.

In addition to the above, you may have to provide other payments to other parties, e.g. your Bank or Building Society or other lender, for their valuation and other charges they make to you.

Jeffrey_Shaw

Yes, if the purchase price is £240 000; but I would not trust a firm that's unaware of:
a. Stamp Duty having been abolished a decade ago; and
b. its replacement by Stamp Duty Land Tax!

Plus you have not posted its legal fees as such. The listed items are merely disbursements. They total £10 078.
Deducted from the £10 762, that leaves £684.00 over. Is this meant to be £570 + VAT? If so, it sounds a bit low!

tulipz

Thank you. The purchase price is £320k (in the worst case). We are still negotiating...

and yes, they charge £570 + VAT

Jeffrey_Shaw

Oops. Sorry for miscalculating the SDLT. Serves me right for doing it in my head.

G_M

It seems a reasonable price, and it is an honest and transparant quote. As they say, many conveyancers add on 'extras' such as they list, which should really be included.

So full marks to them for an all-inclusive price.

Whether they proficient, speedy, accessable, and whether the work will be done by a solicitor, a licenced conveyancer, an articled clerk or an admin assistant is another question.