When buying and selling, do people use the same solicitor or two local ones?

[beaglesaresweet]

never done selling and buying in the same time before, so not sure what's the usual practice. Especially if moving to a different area?

It's not legal for the same solicitor to act for both buyer and seller, though you can use two different solicitors within the same firm if they agree it's not a conflict of interests. When I sold my old flat to a family member we approached the same firm of solicitors but were told we each had to be represented by a different office and team.

Your solicitor/conveyencer doesn't have to be local to the property you're buying/selling - wherever in the UK I've bought or sold I've always used the same London-based firm I used to buy my first flat because I liked them and thought they were efficient. Some people think a local solicitor will have better local knowledge which I suppose is true although in most straightforward transactions it's unlikely to be necessary.

yes, everlong, I did mean for me to buy and to sell (at the same time), not to use the other party's solicitor! would be a clash of interest on some issues if that was done.
Re local - I think they charge less, that's what I was hoping for. everlong, do you know if the fees would be slightly lower if the same one was doing both buying and selling?

Like everlong, I assumed everyone used the same solicitor for both parts of the move.

thanks! do you get a better deal this way regarding fees, or no difference?

Separate fees for buying and selling - no discount in my experience. If you are selling and buying with proceeds both comp,eating on same day I think it would be extremely difficult to use 2 different solicitors

Definitely one solicitor... One fewer communication to break down!

hmm, good point, mystery - haven't thought of completing same day and possible hitches being double the risk. As far as non-local solicitor for the new property wouldn't take too long with searches etc (meaning the locals know of the usual poss issues).

true, Brown, similar to what mystery said.

Go for one that does no sale no fee and uses email and allows you to check progress online.

Ask your mortgage company for recommendations then send of emails for quotes.

They don't need to be local to you at all, it's all done over the phone or online. I moved from Surrey to Norfolk and used a solicitor in Oxfordshire for both sale and purchase.