Do these solicitors fees sound reasonable?

[BumWad]

I hope you don't mind me asking this question as doing a quick survey on the internet has brought about a variety of results! We have also rang around a few local firms who have either sounded completely uninterested or are in the process if emailing us back with no response do far.

The quote we have which is who our estate agents have recommended is:

Sale of our home at £139K:

Our Cost £495 + VAT
Bank Transfer Fee £36
Land Registry Documents £6
ID Check £12

Sale Total £648.00

Purchase of a property in the region of £200,000

Our Cost £420 + VAT
Electronic Land Registration Fee £135
Local & Drainage Searches £103
Land Transaction Return Fee £60
Bank Transfer Fee £36
Land Registry Searches £7

Purchase Total £845.00 + STAMP DUTY at 1% of the purchase price up to £250,0000

TOTAL FOR BOTH SALE & PURCHASE £1493.00 + STAMP DUTY

So does that sound ok or are there savings to be made?

Thanks in advance

That about the same as we are paying. Our bank charges are only £12 though, but that fee will depend on the cost the bank charges your solicitors.

I think that's about right. We had a similar quote a few years back.

Sounds about right but you can get quotes from as many solicitors as you like.

not too far out at all. Local searches vary between areas, but obviously you are stuck with what the council charge. The bank transfer fee is also annoying but there is no way out of that.

however I would expect the charge for buying to be greater than that for selling, as the former involves more work as the unexpected comes up.

still, I don't think you'll get much lower and still have a competent solicitor. Expect them to turn round documents within a day or so, to have a system of cover if your solicitor goes on holiday and to respond to emails and phone calls.

oh, and confirm it is 'no complete no fee'. You would lose the money paid on searches but any work done by the solicitor that does not have to be repeated need not be charged again.

ps I also found the high-street lot (at both ends, 200 miles apart) to be grossly expensive and often not that bothered!

We are just purchasing (costs a bit more), and the quotes I got was your combined total... so that looks quite reasonable to me.

i think that is very reasonable, i asked a local firm for a quote after being advised by estate agent to use a people they recommend based on it being s set fee, local solicitors said they had a set fee system as the needed to be competitive; i preferred local option as could pop in with documents and chase them up if necessary. saying that we used same solicitors with subsequent house purchase even though they were further away as they had been reliable first time round.