Conveyancing solicitor recommendations?

wyx087

I’m about to purchase my first buy-to-let property. I’ve until the end of this week to provide my solicitor’s details before !!!!ing off the EA and risk having the house put back onto the market. The seller also wants completion by April, do-able but the solicitor need to know to chase stuff along.



For a 150k freehold house, EA quoted around £1500 (£500 in legal fee) for their recommended service. My mortgage broker provided a quote of £1200 (£460 in legal fee). The differences are due to hugely inflated other fees (eg, £49 for telephone transfer? I’ve done CHAPS myself many times, they are £30 at most)



My current house is done with a very expensive proper solicitor due to many other reasons. Ended up costing us almost £2000 just on legal fees. You do get what you paid, the service was excellent, but I am looking to save money this time by using a conveyancing company.



Getting online, there’s a lot of other much cheaper conveyancing quotes. I do believe in you get what you paid for, but there’s zero metrics on how good they are. The only metric I can think of is under £300 on searches and telephone transfer fee should be closer to £30. So far none seems to have managed to meet this.
Word of mouth is the best when metrics fail. So any national conveyancing service you’d be happy recommend?

G_M

wyx087 wrote: »

For a 150k freehold house, EA quoted around £1500 (£500 in legal fee) for their recommended service.
Find your own conveyancer. Never use the EA's recommended one. All you are doing is paying the EA additional commission.

My mortgage broker provided a quote of £1200 (£460 in legal fee).
As above
The differences are due to hugely inflated other fees (eg, £49 for telephone transfer? I’ve done CHAPS myself many times, they are £30 at most)


Getting online, there’s a lot of other much cheaper conveyancing quotes.
read the quotes carefulky AND the associated 'terms of Business' which may list 'extras' which other conveyancers include in their basic quote (eg SDLT form etc)
... So any national conveyancing service you’d be happy recommend?

Best solution is to walk up your High street and go in to 3 solicitors offices. Ask to speak to a conveyancing solicitor for a quote. Don't accept a Receptionist/admin clerk etc

Discuss your requirements/timescales in full and get a written quote. Then compare and choose.

You'll be able to pop in whenever there's a problem or need to chase, and to sign documents etc.

If comparing quotes, read:

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

jonathanrolande

Hey wyx,

I have used Conveyancing Direct before, found them good value and helpful.

I'm sure you can find plenty around with a bit of research though!

wyx087

I've found numerous quotes online using all sort of conveyancing quotation website.

But personally I feel word of mouth is the best way in choosing a service. What I'm looking for is your personal recommendations for (or against) any company you had good experience with.