Advice needed re Searches - Slightly odd situation

Chemical_Grrl

Deleted this post for personal reasons

G_M

The amount of saving to you is minimal in comparison to the overall costs, so is it worth it?


Though I agree the searches are so recent as to be pretty reliable. Also depends what they show and what other personally attained info you have to add to them. (I always do a lot of personal invesigations eg research LA planning websites etc)


If you've been asked to make an offer, either make a offer or instruct your own searches, but I see no point at all in paying anywhere near the original cost ....


How did you select your conveyancer?

Surrey_EA

Not sure there's anything to be dubious or feel uncomfortable about, all seems pretty straightforward.

£150 seems pretty low anyway, but the previous buyer hasn't got anyone else who would be a willing buyer other than you, so why not say £100?

I don't think there is the slightest likelihood that the solicitor is using this as a way to maximise their own profit.

Not everyone in life is out to fleece you.

Chemical_Grrl

@G_M - We are buying a shared ownership property so we went with a solicitor who is experienced in that field and also they were recommended by our financial advisor

Sanne

We bought the searches off the buyer who had pulled out (different solicitor though), didn’t save any money but the time saving was worth it.

We exchanged within five weeks (could have done four had solicitor not been away for a week...), with a chain completely ready to go when our offer was accepted this was important to minimise the risk of it collapsing.

Go for it if you can buy them!

TBagpuss

It will make no difference to the solicitor - they don't get paid anything for the searches, they just pass on the payment to the search company. It's like paying the estate agents or the stamp duty, the solicitor is simply passing your money on to the person or organisation you owe it to, they get nothing out of it.

Its pretty common to buy searches in this situation. You can check with your conveyancer what they cost new - I think around £300 is fairly common so if you pay £15 you'd probably be getting them for about half price, but it does vary so ask what they would cost new.