Conveyancer/ Solicitor costs - Please help!

_Andy_

welshwizard1927 wrote: »

Not quite sure of the need for you to be critical of the OP's phrasing here? The point is that the fees are a lot higher than they should be.

Going back to the point of this message - others are right - avoid estate agent panel solicitors. They'll be the most expensive of the lot.

I was just questioning why something being more than they expected equates to 'extortion'.

retepetsir

I received 5 quotes a couple of weeks ago and to be honest they were all around this kind of figure. It's certainly not cheap. We picked one after being recommended them and this is their breakdown of fees:

Sale fees - £575 + VAT
Office Copy Register Entries/Filed Plan - £6
Bank Transfer on redemption of mortgage - £35

Purchase fees - £595 + VAT
Local searches - £100
OS Map - £7
Land Charges Search - £4
Land Registry Search - £3
Bank Transfer fee - £42
Stamp Duty - £2,500
Stamp Duty online submission - £60
Land Registry Fees - £270
Enviro Search - £44
Water & Drainage Search - £46

Total - £738 for sale and £3790 for purchase.

Certainly not cheap but I think a lot depends on the area you're in and the purchase/sale prices. We're selling at £170kish and buying at £250kish and are located in South East England.

Thrugelmir

nursenat83 wrote: »

This seems a lot more than we were expecting but maybe we're a little naive.

Have you made allowance for the stamp duty payable as well.

hamster2013

i just purchased a £400k+ property
this was what i paid
Our Legal Fees £ 575.00
VAT @ 20 % £ 115.00

Disbursements
Local Search & Drainage Search
(including VAT, perusal and advice) £ 200.00*
Bank Transfer fee £ 35.00
Land Registry fee £ 270.00
Land Registry search £ 4.00
Land Charges search £ 4.00
Stamp Duty Please see fact sheet
Total £ 1,203.00

so it matches whta you have more or less

i chose a good reputable firm - avoided the online only convayencing
and am glad i did - i know someone who used one of those and his file got transferred 3x in the span of his sale..... adding delays and stress of buyer pulling out etc

i would recommend to look for serious firms - especially if you have a mortgage involved, one which the lender will accept to avoid further costs - delays.

firsttimeforeverything_2

If you haven't already, I'd recommend comparing costs on 'reallymoving' (won't let me post the link). Endorsed by Martin elsewhere on this site, naturally.