Solicitor costs / conveyancing costs

[Emslifechoices]

I've just been quoted about 6500 (inclusive of VAT) for selling my current property and buying the new one (this includes searches, Land Registry fees etc). Does that seem expensive based on experience? Obviously it doesn't include SDLT.

My mortgage broker has suggested a firm (and sent me a much lower quote) would you use them?

That figure is outrageous

IIRC it's around £1000 - £1200 with the Solicitor that we use - (I work for the lettings arm of an EA)

To add the property we are selling is leasehold but the one we'll be buying is freehold

wow....that's insanely high. Was there a breakdown of costs?

Buyer fees are higher than selling fees typically. Buying typical freehold property is 1-1.5K and that is using central London office. I'm not convinced selling leasehold property should cost this high....

The breakdown was £1950 plus VAT for the sale and £2750 plus VAT for the purchase. The additional amounts are Land Registry fees, search fees etc.

say whaaat? That's outrageous. The highest I've been quoted is £1200 + vat on either, & I'm selling a share of freehold, buying freehold. Bonkers.

That's a huge amount!

You don't have to use a solicitor where you live you know, everything can be done via email and post. I've never met our solicitor but she is brilliant, very efficient.

tell them to take a running jump.

don't use a suggested firm from any broker or EA. Go to reallymoving.com and get quotes, don't pick the cheapest.

that fee is about 3 times the going rate.

You're not in Scotland are you? I know the house buying process / law is different there?

That is way over. Have a word with friends/family and see if they can recommend somebody else.

We are in the process of selling a leasehold and buying a freehold.

Solicitors have quoted £1445. There are a few add ons but it isn't going to be any more than £1600. What you have been quoted is ridiculous.

Specialsubject why wouldn't you use broker or EA recommended one?

^

Because some Solicitors pay money to Agents for referrals/recommendations and so they are not thinking of your best interest.

Estate agents and financial advisors all have averted interest in the sale actually going through, so yes, they may receive an incentive from the solicitor, but they are only going to recommend good solicitors that will actually tell them what's going on in the transaction, picking a name from a website is a big no no....

Oh, but don't go with the estate agent one if it's a big corporate.... A local solicitor they know is best I feel

others have answered for me! Also some of the recommended solicitors have terrible reputations.

questions to ask: How quickly do you turn things round? (Answer -next day). Are you on holiday during this transaction? If so, who will deputise? Is your fee fixed? What happens if the sale doesn't complete?