Conveyancing - why the variety in price??

[Gratefulgrape]

Hi all,

I am in the process of buying my first home and looking for a conveyancer. I am baffled by the range of prices available and hoping someone could offer an explanation.

It will be to facilitate the purchase of a flat worth circa 440k bought between 2 first time buyers

Quotes I am receiving range from £500 to £3000 and the list of services offered seems to match up. I cant understand how there can be such a vast difference in price between companies, am i missing something? This is all completely new to be

TIA

You will get what you pay for. At £500, don't expect a qualified lawyer to look at your file or answer any questions you have. Also, don't expect the same person to deal with the file the whole way through - it will be a call-centre style operation.

For the lowest value sale of a freehold property (leasehold or new build would be more) I would charge £1400 plus vat, disbursements and searches

I've just been through the same process. I only applied to solicitors who were local and who came recommended. My quotes ranged from £2000-3000. In the end I made my choice based on the firm who was most responsive to my queries (some took ages to respond, had ignored what I had explained, and one sent me confidential information relating to somebody else!). They may charge slightly different legal fees per hour but costs for searches etc seemed to be fairly similar. So far so good with mine but like you it's all new to me!

As others have said, you get what you pay for. Its one of the biggest and most emotive transactions some people will ever make. Do you want someone who has a top reputation, tells the truth and does what they say or do you want someone who over promises, under delivers and lies to your face?

My partners firm have a rate they charge. When they get busy or they dont particularly want someones business they multiply that rate. They are bloody good at what they do and very busy because of it. They dont bullshit and if they say they are doing something, they do it. Sometimes this involves giving bad news that clients dont want to hear. Imagine investing your heart and soul into a purchase only to be told by your solicitor there are loads of major issues which will either delay or ruin the purchase. Sometimes its a hard job to convince the client they are working in their best interests. The good ones, working on your behalf are sometimes having to protect you from a huge mistake.

Bare this in mind when you try to fathom wether someone is worth £500 or £5000 when making your £500k purchase.

Thank you all, that makes perfect sense

I will do my research very carefully I think