Conveyancing fees

Up_To_Scratch

Hi everyone! I'd really appreciate some advice...
What can I reasonably expect to pay (total bill) to the conveyancing solicitors re sale of a property at £153k and purchase at £250k? I have had a quote from AV Rillo (who our Estate Agent advises we use) at in the region of £2000 (excl VAT) + the £2500 Stamp Duty - this includes all mandatory disbursements. When I enquired about hidden/unexpected costs that weren't on the quote though I was told 2x £97 +VAT for 'no move no fee' and £297 + £397 +VAT for something else (I think he said Mortgage Lender Work - what is this?!). Do all in all this sounds like £3K ish +VAT. Is this right? Or expensive? Money VERY tight with this move, so advice gratefully received! Thank you, in advance.

bclark

That's expensive but I suppose it depends on the part of the world. Having said that I am in an expensive part of the world but outside London and our fees for selling at £240k and buying at £350k are £1900 including everything.

Edit: Actually I have just looked and its £1795 including VAT. Excluding stamp duty obviously.

Lister_2

Agree it sounds expensive. Selling at £250k and buying at £300 our fees were £1800 here in the midlands, and that was with a good quality solicitor.

kingstreet

Get quotes where "acting for lender" and "completing stamp duty return" are included in the headline fee.

You could find cheaper than quoted and ride there in a limo and still have money left over...

mrsmchapman

Our fees are £2300 inc vat, we know we could have probably found cheaper, but the solicitor is very on the ball both work wise and in replying to us etc and so we feel more comfortable using this firm, we have used them previously. This is for a sale at £245 and purchase at £485, I would therefore say your price is a little high and to look around more.

Obviously this doesn't include surveys, stamp duty, mortgage fee etc etc

Up_To_Scratch

Thanks for your replies so far everyone... The quote letter we've had details as follows:

Sale £485.00 + £97 VAT (This is the price after a discount of £200 if we sign up within 48 hours)
Purchase £485.00 + £97 VAT (This is the price after a discount of £200 if we sign up within 48hours)

Section 2: SALE- 3rd Party Mandatory Disbursemenrts NOT OUR basic costs £
Office Copy entries from Land Registry 12.00
Title plan from the Land Registry 12.00
Sundry postage packing/special delivery costs/mobiles/telephones/copying 37.00
Bank Telegraphic Transfer Fee per transfer (if any) 39.90
UK Government Money Laundering: on line checks 25.97

Section 2: PURCHASE - 3rd Party Mandatory Disbursements NOT OUR Basic Costs £
Stamp Duty: 2500.00
HMLR: Registration Fee 270.00
HM Land Registry Search 4.00
Telegraphic transfer, TT or BACS transfer via bank 39.00
UK Government Money Laundering: On line checks 25.97
Local Authority Search: 150-250
Water Drainage Search: 50-87
Sundry postage packing/special delivery costs/mobiles/telephones/copying 37.00

Then there are the optional bits I mentioned:
No Move No Fee: Sale £97 + VAT, Purchase £97 + VAT
Mortgage Lender Work (?): Sale £297 +VAT, Purchase £397 +VAT

We are in Warwickshire, but happy to use online conveyancers too... If anyone thinks this is excessive and can recommend an alternative? I have another 24 hours before this 'discount' expires, and the estate agent has left me a voicemail as he wants to confirm our solicitors details ASAP so we can 'get the ball rolling'... Thank you so much!

nomoneytoday

I wonder why the photocopying and calls are not covered in the £485??

loubel

A lot of the 'disbursements' listed (postage, TTs and ID checks - which they appear to be charging you for twice) are actually additional fees. These, along with their fees for acting for your lender(s), need to be added to their base fee to get the full quote for comparisons.

Fire_Fox

Don't use conveyancers recommended by estate agents, they could well be on a kick back. Use ones recommended by friends, relatives, colleagues or neighbours.

Leodogger

Lister wrote: »

Agree it sounds expensive. Selling at £250k and buying at £300 our fees were £1800 here in the midlands, and that was with a good quality solicitor.

Can I ask who you used in the West Midlands? We are selling and buying and have been quoted £1991 and our properties are £100000 selling and £130000 buying (although the cheaper one is a leasehold). These costs we have been quoted have increased by £800 with the same solicitor from 2 yrs ago when we sold another property and bought this leasehold at approx. the same value of properties.

kingstreet

We routinely use;-

James Bunn, David Bunn & Co, Stirchley

Tony Major, Woodhouse & Co, Walsall

Joss Hunt, ESN Solicitors, Erdington.

They all give decent service at a good price. My last quote for a purchase at £165,000 was £499 + VAT + Disbursements from Bunns.