I'm a fool, aren't I?

[Cantseetheforest]

I agreed to using the agent's solicitor, without clarifying their fees. I've already paid £400 and the total is over 2k.

No papers have been signed or anything. Can I back out and get a refund??

Pretty sure you can.

Or use the old ' my OH has already instructed some one else- very sorry' excuse.

I have wheeled that one out on occasion.

Have you actually instructed the solicitor to act for you If so while you can change solicitors you will have to pay for the work done to date If you haven't instructed them you won't have to pay Are you sure the 2k is just for fees and not outlays and are you sure you can get it cheaper including outlays

£2k for what - Selling and Buying, including stamp duty, searches, VAT?

"We (over) estimate that the full conveyancing costs, including stamp duty, legal fees, searches and Land Registry fees to be £2,335.25."

This is about £600 more than another quote.

If it's an estimate then they haven't done the work yet? Sounds like you can run for the hills safely, then.

ps: I couldn't believe variations in costs when we shopped around. Anywhere from £500 to £1.8k, 12 yrs ago.

Just buying then, Id expect about £1000 plus stamp duty?

Just buying, yes. The agents are saying the vendoris stipulating we need to use the same company to speed the sale up, but that's such a huge price difference. I'm scared that if we backed out the vendor would cancel our offer or something. I m tempted to just carry on with the expensive option just to stay on their good side.

Interesting, we werent allowed to use the same solicitors as our vendor. Have you promised to complete on a certain date? If not, then any competent solicitor can be used and you are free to chose whoever you want.

It's the same company/office, not the exact same person. I hate going through an agent and want to speak to the vendor direct.

If the vendors are stipulating this for a speedy sale, see if they'll front the additional cost. With the alternatives being you use your own solicitor or withdraw the offer.
Is it definitely the vendor requesting this or is the EA trying it on?

I have a feeing it's the agents but can't be sure. Trying to get another viewing booked so I can get a clear picture.

When we sold our rented flat to our tenants, our solicitor said we couldn't use the same office, so passed the tenants to another branch of the same company. The tenants were first time buyers and didn't have a clue what to do.
This probably wouldn't make a difference to the price for you though. I would say use who you like, just say you had already instructed someone and feel as though the sale will progress just as quickly with them.

I've now got another viewing booked for tomorrow so will speak direct to the vendor. None of this messages sent back and forth rubbish. I want to get on with this as quickly as possible, without paying through the nose!

Isn't there conflict of interest if buyer & seller use same solicitor?

If they've only just sent the estimate, you're completely within your rights to say no thanks to them.

Yes, we would be using the same company rather than the same person.

Well, one way or another, the issue will be settled tomorrow!

AFAIK you can use the same firm as long as each party instructs a different solicitor, who both agree that there are no conflicts of interest. There would need to be at leat an informal Chinese wall arrangement within the firm.

Searches can cost 500 quid plus. Are you sure the other quote included searches?

Yes, the cheaper quote includes everything.

My advice would be to use a local solicitor because you can go in and sign things and ask questions. Its good to be on their radar. We have used local solicitors and ones further away and local has always been easier.

We've gone with the firm my broker recommends. They aren't local, but I trust his recommendations implicitly; he hasn't steered us wrong yet!!