When to get a solicitor! advice please

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Hi all
We have had an offer accepted and are now waiting for the mortgage offer. We are purchasing but not selling. As soon as we made offer we were asked for proof of ID from EA which is fine and we have. They also wanted our solicitor details. Is this normal? We felt rushed and our broker said they thought would be a goodbye idea to sort but now I feel that we could/should wait til the offer (hopefully) comes through. I wouldn't mind but the solicitor is now phoning a lot asking us to sign contract do they can start searches etc... and pay a bit of money upfront. So.. is this standard practice?
Thanks

Yes it's standard really, same situation I was in a few weeks ago!

Yep, totally normal and standard practice.

If I were the seller of the property you wished to buy, and knew that you had not instructed your solicitor it would suggest that you’re not serious and/or had doubts about whether you would be offered a mortgage. I would then begin to look for an alternative buyer.

I’m surprise md you were able to submit the mortgage application without a solicitor arranged.
Where I work you the solicitor receives the offer as the same time as the applicant so details are needed at point of application.

Oh right - will get cracking then and send the form through. It's all good to go I was just having another wobble (not about buying). Thanks all

We got our solicitor first! The house can't be removed from rightmove (according to the EA) until those details are confirmed to show we are serious buyers. Seems pretty standard