Conveyancing fees

class2ldn

Making the estate agent one look like a bargain as the local ones seem to be charging much more.

sam2015_2

class2ldn wrote: »

Making the estate agent one look like a bargain as the local ones seem to be charging much more.

Is it countrywide conveyancing? I'm currently waiting for my quote. Used them once before and was ok.

mariecc_2

Malmo wrote: »

Try the search below (for Horsham), which is through the Law Society's official database.

Search Results

Contact several of the firms listed, ideally with 2 or more senior partners, with your requirements. I sent an email to each requesting a quotation and heard back quickly. You can use the template below, which may be useful.

Also, check that each firm's conveyancing practice is not a hotbed of formal complaints by reviewing the Legal Ombudsman's decision data - see this link, filter on "Residential Conveyancing" and sort by OMBUDSMAN REMEDY REQUIRED in descending order.

=====
Hello,

Can you please provide detailed quotations for I]both sale & purchase[/I, split out by:
a) your basic conveyancing / legal fee (including VAT)
b) all itemised disbursements (please specify which searches are included) & other charges (including VAT where applicable & estimated SDLT)

We also have some questions to which we'd like responses to help us evaluate our options.

1) On what basis is your basic conveyancing fee for processing the transaction(s) payable? (fixed-fee OR scaled to the sale & purchase prices OR per hour)
2) Do you operate a "no move, no fee" policy?
3) What costs (if any) are payable upfront for both sale & purchase and at what point in the process? For example, what costs (if any) should I expect to pay prior to preparation of draft contracts and would there be any costs simply to open a file?
4) For our purchase, are you able to specify which lender's panels you are currently approved on (or not approved on, if that list is easier or shorter to answer)?
5) Are you available by email & direct dial number?
6) In the event that the solicitor representing our case is absent for any reason, would you handover to another representative at the firm?

Our Details
Number of Applicants: [X]

Purchase Postcode or Local Authority: [...]
Purchase Amount: [£...]
Purchase Tenure: [...]

Sale Postcode or Local Authority: [...]
Sale Amount: [£...]
Sale Tenure: [...]

I look forward to your response.
Many thanks,

[Your Name]

wish I had this when I was emailing for quotes...I'm just buying (no Mortgage) and the base cost for conveyancer is from £486 - £600. plus all the extra costs So what is the £500 for in my case all that is required is id check and sign of contract I will be transfering money myself.....that is a hefty wage for a few hours work at most!!!

mariecc_2

out of curiosity, what are the cost when people are saying up north???

is this derbyshire, yorkshire etc???

I think Imight widen my searh... I have no searches to be done at all...

Lilly1994

I'm new to this site but I am in the process of buying my first house.


The quotes you are mentioning are nowhere near what I am paying? I don't know if ive chosen the wrong one to act for me.


I've found the email I got with the quote on at the start of the transaction.


Solicitor fee: £450.00 + VAT (£540.00)
Bank Fee £35.00 + VAT (£42.00)
SDLT Form fee £50.00 + VAT (£60.00)
AML Check £5.40 inc VAT
Searches:
Local - £49.00 inc VAT
Drainage - £44.16 inc VAT
Environmental & Coal - £79.20 inc VAT
Land Registry fee - £95.00
Land Registry searches fees - £7.00


All together: £921.76 with £177.76 upfront for the searches. is this too cheap for a decent solicitor?!

libf

Not being local isn't necessarily a problem. I went with an Oxford firm for my first purchase, partly because it was local but mostly because there was a discount agreed between the firm and the housing association, and it was all done by email. The re-mortgage was done though a firm allocated by the mortgage company, mostly online with some chasing on the phone. Now the sale of that property is being handled by a firm in Ipswich, so far all email.

If you want the option to chase in person, stick with local. Personally, I'm at work all the time that solicitors are open so it's phone and email only.

AlexMac

Another vote for shopping local, and action in line with G_M and others about getting a feel for how they operate, by ringing three local solicitors, asking not only for a quote, but whether they are happy to deal by email if you prefer this (I do). Then take a judgement on the basis not only of cost, but whether they were accessible by phone, communicated effectively, confirmed the quote immediately by email, etc...

A cheap firm 'up North' might save you £200-300, but that's one tenth of 1% of your purchase. Our kids last purchase was nearly derailed by the fact that their seller chose a useless cheap online conveyancer at the other end of the country; 3 months in and she had to sack 'em and start again.

Best wishes

class2ldn

Well we've decided to go with the one I posted originally. There a firm in Northampton, glover priest. The solicitor has been used by the broker on numerous occasions and he said she's been very good. Have no reason not to believe him as hes been straight with us all the way through.
Proof will be in the pudding lol

Malmo

Please keep us updated on how the Northampton solicitor works out. They weren't one of the firms I contacted for a quote so it would be interesting to understand how they perform for your purchase.

class2ldn

Yeah will do. So far the correspondence has been quite good. Just had the letter through asking for documents for Id checks which we are doing tomorrow.
Had a phone call about arranging for the search fees but they said it's when we are ready. Obviously need to wait for the mortgage to come back ok first before I shell out the cash for that.