First time buyer - what do I really need in a conveyancers quote?

[B1rdinthebush]

We've had an offer accepted on our first home and so I'm in the process of obtaining conveyancers quotes.

How essential are environmental and chancel searches? Some say very much so, others say a waste of time.

Can anyone advise what I absolutely must make sure is included? I'm getting so confused!

They may be required by your mortgage lender so the small amount of money you would save by not getting these carried out is irrelevant. The environmental searches you definitely should have. The chancel repair liability - it really depends where the house you are buying is. I've asked the vicar at the parish church (suburban area) whether there was one and got the answer 'no' by email, which was sufficient.

Thanks Wowfudge.

I have asked a solicitor to include the environmental and chancel searches on a quote as I felt they were necessary. He responded saying that they weren't! So I just wanted to see what the general consensus was. I'm more than happy to pay for the right service.

It depends on the area for chancel repair but at the very least you should get a desktop environmental search

Local Authority Search, Environmental and Water & Drainage will be essential if you're getting a mortgage. Other searches may be recommended based on the results of these searches.