FTB - choosing a solicitor

[MrsPussinBoots]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place but I'm a bit overwhelmed. First time buyer, have a mortgage broker but how do I find a decent solicitor? I've viewed a property that looks promising so if the second viewing goes well then I'd like to make an offer.

Any recommendations or general tips for finding a solicitor would be greatly appreciated. I know to ask for fixed price quotes before signing anything but there are so many companies that I could ask. How do you narrow it down?

My friends and family haven't got any recent experience. I'm in south Devon if that makes a difference.

We went with the cheapest fixed price option and had a good experience. That was probably just good luck though.

Sorry - that's not much help, is it.

We asked the solicitors selling the property who they recommended on the grounds that if they knew each other/had a good working relationship it might go easier.

It worked really well for us, everything went really smoothly and I suspect certain things were facilitated by their close working relationship.

I know to ask for fixed price quotes before signing anything.

Make sure that you are comparing like-for-like. Some companies give a lowish fee for conveyancing but omit to tell you that they will charge all sorts of admin fees for this that and t'other. Others will have one figure: it may appear high but will be less overall.

Asking the other side's solicitor sounds like a good idea. They deal with each other all the time so they are likely to recommend someone who will make their life easier do a decent job.
I'd avoid the online merchants. They are OK if it goes swimmingly but not if things go wrong.

Are you likely to need other services - wills etc? - if so, find a general firm and not a conveyancing-only firm.

Estate agents sometimes get a kick-back so I wouldn't trust their recommendation.

Also bear in mind how needy you are. If you want hand-holding and guidance all the way through the process, then don't choose a cheapo conveyancing factory, because they don't have time to spend talking you through the form filling and next steps. Better to pay more and get a personal service. There is absolutely nothing wrong with conveyancing factories but it is about transferring the ownership of a property to someone else, not nurturing the client/solicitor relationship.

Thank you all! I feel much more positive this morning.

They are the only person who's on your side.

This.
Never, never agree to have them appointed for you by someone else (mortgagor, property developer, etc).

Talking of other people's legals ... Conveyances go on all the time so there's a system set up for everything. One of the systems is a short-cut ID process so that your mortgagor knows that your conveyancer is kosher, it's called the Money Lenders Panel. Make sure that your solicitor is on the panel for your particular lender (if not, the lender's legal people have to double-check the work and they will pass the cost on to you).