Very expensive quote from solicitors - advice on next steps?

Boosh

We’ve got a quote through from the solicitors we’ve used for previous house purchases and they seem extortionate for both buying and selling. Appreciate that inflation etc has pushed prices up but this still seems very steep. Would love forumites’ advice on a) if it is as steep as we think b) where we could make savings from the quote eg removing admin tasks we can do ourselves c) if we go elsewhere, what the best comparison sites are as we’ve got some very cheap quotes from online conveyancers but not sure about reputation, hidden charges etc? Note for simplicity I’ve only listed the price with VAT added and have removed the stamp duty (£12,500) which we’ll need to pay on top. 

Purchase Price: £500,000.00

Tenure: Leasehold

Legal Fee £4200

Electronic ID and Money Laundering Check £60

Leasehold Fee £600

Bank Funds Transfer Fee (per transfer) £60

Search Services £420

Land Registry Fee £150

 Total £5490

SALE

Sale Price: £372,500

Tenure: Freehold

Legal Fee £4200

Bank Funds Transfer Fee (per transfer) £60

Search Services fee for Land Registry and associated documentation £60

 Total £4380

Thanks in advance for any advice offered!

lika_86

That does seem steep, particularly on the freehold sale.

Best thing to do is to get recommendations from friends and family or try local solicitors to you. You'll soon get a feel for how fees start to line up. I wouldn't go with an online conveyancer.

Mstty

Shop around locally that's is very steep imo

JGB1955

My sale of a freehold house (£320K) in 2020 was 1/3 of  your quoted price.  I know there's inflation but......?

MeteredOut

£8,400 in legal fees for a purchase and sale! Look elsewhere. Ask friends or local facebook groups for recommendations of people they have used (not just people they know).

Tiglet2

Maybe they've quoted such a high figure because they don't want the work?

lika_86

Tiglet2 said:

Maybe they've quoted such a high figure because they don't want the work?

The inference being that the OP was a nightmare last time they were instructed? 😅

propertyrental

very steep. Avoid.

Personally I'd walk down the high street and pop into 2 or 3 local solicitor offices and ask for quotes (make sure they are on your lender's panel if getting a mortgage). If youu can get to meet the solicitor, better still.

Becksie11

I’ve recently Brought/Sold both being Freehold Properties in April this year, roughly off the top of my head was £2500 total. 

This was a firm in Manchester & I live in the midlands, they were on an approved list of the builders we brought from, can’t fault their communication. 

Your quotes seem very steep. 

Jonboy_1984

We are we were around £2500 for sale of leasehold, purchase of freehold last year. The quotes did have a £1200 leasehold purchase surcharge detailed in their standard terms and conditions list of possible extra charges.