Are all these add ons standard fare for conveyancing house purchase

[Mum5net]

I've not purchased a house for quite a while so am out of the loop.
My first quotation has come through and listed all these add-ons. I'm off to get another couple.
I'm fully aware the solicitor deserves proper recompense for their work but are all these add-ons actually necessary? I'd like to be able to query some of them.

Thanks

Conveyancing Fees
File opening fee
Legal fee
Mortgage fee
Stamp Duty Land Tax fee

Third Party Expenses
ID Verification Fee
Electronic Transfer Fee
Lifetime File Retrieval Fee
Verification of Lawyer Fee
Source Of Funds Fee

Additional Fees & Disbursements
Local/Water/Enviro searches
Land Registry fee
Stamp Duty Land Tax
Land Registry Searches
VAT

Just realised you can get online quotations from comparison sites.
I really am out the loop!
Now I can see my first quote was adding on lots of extras. I'm aware that conveyancers will be under loads of stress so I do have some sympathies.

Is it adding on lots of extras or is it just that other firms are quoting you for those bits within their conveyancing fee?

Third party expenses and disbursements are fees that they pay for you/ on your behalf. Eg, stamp duty, land searches or the registry filing fee, all things you need.

Most seem very normal but you might not see them split out to such detail in other quotes.

When I've looked at the breakdowns... so Land Registry Search: is £7.00 and
the first one is £36.00 , Just adds up to a £700 difference once you get to the bottom of the list! I think very many are legitimate but the first quote is just adding in some 'flesh',
Thank you. I think i will be able to get better quotes now.

My view is that the File opening fee, the ID Fee, the Verification of lawyer fee and the Verification of funds fee are all just costs of providing a conveyencing service and should be included in their base fee quote. But then that would just be higher Certainly my lawyer doesn't break them all out, but then I expect they charge more as a 'base' fee!

It’s really difficult to compare like for like quotes because they all do this. I ended up with a spreadsheet last time! Some of them quote a low base fee but the rest adds up. I found one who just charges a flat fee on top of the disbursements, stamp duty, bank transfer fees etc.

Lots of them do this. Don’t discount your local solicitor for conveyancing. Call centre type places tend to quote a low figure then have a list of “optional extras” that really aren’t optional so you end up paying as much as you would for a traditional solicitor. The bucket shop places can also be an absolute nightmare for communicating and getting things done. Staff have lots of cases, little support and aren’t always qualified. Get a good one and they’re great, get a not great one and they will make your life hell. Get a recommendation from someone you know and do lots of research on how how to be a good seller/buyer.

What’s a file opening fee??

It's probably the charge for taking you on as a client, money laundering checks etc

Yup, completing the regulatory “know your client” and due diligence, checking evidence of sources of money, identity and address checks, residency status, etc etc. A lot of background work is now required by the regulators of solicitors, accountants etc to check against money laundering, proceeds of crime etc. Very different to how it was 20 years ago when showing them your passport met the regulatory box ticking.

The cheaper online quotes charge you a basic fee but then add on the extras. Other firms just charge a higher fee but it covers more or less everything. A search pack and ID checks are always charged separately. In the end they all charge clients a similar amount.