Cost of a solicitor

moneylover

Hello, can anyone tell me how much conveyancing should cost me, its 20 years since we last moved house!
My son who lives in London used a solicitor up in Northumberland who was recommended and I asked for a quote.
The actual legal fees with vat (excluding all the bits and pieces that you always have to pay ) are £600 for the sale of a £499,000 house and the same for purchase so £12000 all together. We will be doing the sale separate from the purchase though and moving into rented accommodation for a few months.
Does this sound about right amounts or not?
And if anyone wants to recommend me anyone good then a pm would be great
Many thanks

mrluke

Heres ours ( 225,000 house ) ( Only buying )

Price for Conveyancing 690 inc vat
stamp duty fee 72 inc vat
Bt charge 42 inc vat
stamp duty 2250 inc vat
land registry fee 270 inc vat
searchs 300 inc vat

Hope it helps !

cattie

I moved 18 months ago & had some quotes from local solicitors & their legal fee was in the range of £650-£800 for freehold sale/purchase & approx £150 extra legal fee if property purchase leasehold.

Legal fee is the one to keep your eye on as all the other costs will be pretty standard no matter who you use. Some charge for filling out the SDLT form & others don't, so again that's something to look at when making comparisons.

So I'd say your quote is quite a good price for a property circa £500k. Don't forget there may be vat added onto price & this can make a big difference if you don't budget for it.

G_M

Sounds about righ, but always look carefully at what is included and what are extras:

http://www.theadvisory.co.uk/conveyancing-quote.php

googler

moneylover wrote: »

£600 for the sale of a £499,000 house and the same for purchase so £12000 all together.

2 x £600.00 = £1,200, not £12,000

and yes, £1,200 sounds about right

ConfusedofYorkshire

Ours was 840 for solicitor plus searches. That's for buying under 250k

moneylover

all very useful. The main thing about the one I have had a quote from is that my son said he doesn't hang about. Must be practically the only one who doesn't unless things have vastly improved.
Have read the info on the helpful link provided. Thanks

moneylover

I can't believe how much the Land Registry fees are these days, I don't remember having to 'budget' for them when we last bought, but, as I said, that was 24 years ago!!
I have had a couple of quotes and will probably stick with my son's recommendation but have emailed and asked:
Cant they do electronic ID - I don't want the fag of going to a solicitor and getting copies of docs validated. Seems v old fashioned, bank accounts don't ask for certified copies any more in my experience. Also they haven't mentioned what happens about charges if other party pulls out. But main thing - and someone may know answer:
On the land registry site there are the costs of the fees and they are half the price if docs are delivered electronically ie for us £270 rather than £540 so makes a difference. But have filled in a couple of online quotes and all come back with the higher figure. Odd
http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/media/all-releases/press-releases/2013/fee-order-2013-land-registry-customers-to-benefit-from-lower-fees