Instructed Solicitor, but after reading the T&C's and prices, I want to change

JXB9000

Hi

Sorry for the newbie question:

I had my offer on my first house accepted and the estate agents recommended a solicitor. Without really thinking, I instructed them but as I started the process of completing the initial paperwork, I looked through their T&C's and realised the estate agents get a kick back for the referral (fair enough). Upon looking at quotes from other providers, it kind of looks like I foot the bill for the referral. Most other quotes seem to be £350-400 cheaper.

I haven't signed any documents or paid anything to them yet, but is it too late for me to swap without incurring fees?

I felt rushed and overwhelmed and didn't feel like I got a chance to search for the best deal.

Thanks for any help.

EssexHebridean

Nope - as long as you have not returned the Terms of Retainer letter signed off, you can simply say that you have had quotes elsewhere and on this occasion you will be going with a different firm. 

It should be said that these days, any referral fee paid by a solicitor to an estate agent should absolutely not be added to any costs that are paid by the client. That's been a no-no for a while now, too. Their take on this will no doubt be that they just have higher fees because X, Y & Z - however, I can certainly understand your suspicion! 

propertyrental

unless of course the solicitors have actually undertaken any work at your instruction eg you asked them to apply for searches which they did.

but that seems unlikely.

MEM62

JXB9000 said:

I looked through their T&C's and realised the estate agents get a kick back for the referral (fair enough). Upon looking at quotes from other providers, it kind of looks like I foot the bill for the referral. Most other quotes seem to be £350-400 cheaper.

Hardly a shocker or uncommon practice.  Don't think the estate agent was doing you a favor - their only interest is the commission.  The rule of thumb is always to select your own solicitor.   

Jami74

JXB9000 said:

Hi

Sorry for the newbie question:

I had my offer on my first house accepted and the estate agents recommended a solicitor. Without really thinking, I instructed them but as I started the process of completing the initial paperwork, I looked through their T&C's and realised the estate agents get a kick back for the referral (fair enough). Upon looking at quotes from other providers, it kind of looks like I foot the bill for the referral. Most other quotes seem to be £350-400 cheaper.

I haven't signed any documents or paid anything to them yet, but is it too late for me to swap without incurring fees?

I felt rushed and overwhelmed and didn't feel like I got a chance to search for the best deal.

Thanks for any help.

Exactly the same thing happened to me. I was told conveyancing tended to be a fixed cost so prices don't vary. I felt rushed into doing an electronic signature so the property could be taken off the market but afterwards realised I had been naive. There was a paragraph in the document about cancelling so I followed the instructions, copying in the estate agents (who weren't happy, quizzed me on my reasons and told me it would take much longer). It all felt a bit unpleasant but my chosen solicitors are much cheaper and seem to be doing everything they are supposed to and I haven't had any further contact with the estate agents.

35har1old

Jami74 said:

JXB9000 said:

Hi

Sorry for the newbie question:

I had my offer on my first house accepted and the estate agents recommended a solicitor. Without really thinking, I instructed them but as I started the process of completing the initial paperwork, I looked through their T&C's and realised the estate agents get a kick back for the referral (fair enough). Upon looking at quotes from other providers, it kind of looks like I foot the bill for the referral. Most other quotes seem to be £350-400 cheaper.

I haven't signed any documents or paid anything to them yet, but is it too late for me to swap without incurring fees?

I felt rushed and overwhelmed and didn't feel like I got a chance to search for the best deal.

Thanks for any help.

Exactly the same thing happened to me. I was told conveyancing tended to be a fixed cost so prices don't vary. I felt rushed into doing an electronic signature so the property could be taken off the market but afterwards realised I had been naive. There was a paragraph in the document about cancelling so I followed the instructions, copying in the estate agents (who weren't happy, quizzed me on my reasons and told me it would take much longer). It all felt a bit unpleasant but my chosen solicitors are much cheaper and seem to be doing everything they are supposed to and I haven't had any further contact with the estate agents.

If the estate agent was doing there job they would be keeping in touch with all parties seller buyer and both solicitors In my case if it had not been for the estate agent I think the deal would have fallen through 

FlyMeSomewhere79

The primary thing to do is check a solicitor is local and has good customer reviews, we got stung for £100 referral fee recently on our completion but they were a brilliant solicitors! Don't put price over quality of service and accountability, my buyers did that and went for a conveyancers over 100 miles away and they did cause issues!