House purchase solicitor fee

[tomylee]

Hi, I am at the initial stages of house purchase and need a good solicitor to deal with the transaction. There are many online solicitors and I can see there are plenty of hidden charges apart from their fees. How much will it cost for a freehold house price at £450,000. I also need a solicitor who will be accessible during office hours. Any recommendations.
Thanks in advance.
T Lee

Lots of companies do online estimates. I've put your figure into the estimator on the website of the conveyancing company I use (they are brilliant and are a company with an office, not online) and it came out at £13,913.20 including £12500 stamp duty.

The online companies might appear cheap, but as you say, there are hidden charges and getting hold of a person who actually knows about your case can be difficult. I'd stick with a local company with good reviews personally.

I have received a quote from a local solicitor with good reviews and their quote seems to be very low, £8,850 including stamp duty. They were answering the phone today, saturday! which is very easy for me as I am not working today.

With respect, the stamp duty is nothing to do with the solicitor's fee. I'd be concerned to check you have been given the correct figure with there being such a difference between the two quotes.

Are you first time buyer? If so, stamp duty will be £7,500.

Yes that's right;

@ Purchase Price £450,000

First Time Buyer: £7,500
Non-First time Buyer and only property: £12,500
Second property purchase: £26,000

I assumed you were not a first time buyer from the tone of your message as you sounded experienced but I may be wrong and that could explain the lower overall quote from your local solicitor firm.

Ah, I'd put you down as a non- first time buyer too. Here's the breakdown of fees from the company I use if its any help:

I would go on a recommendation if possible and use a local firm so you can go into the offices if necessary.

Riotingbananas - the land registry search fee is £3 per document, so a leasehold property would need at least 4 x £3, i.e. leasehold title, leasehold plan, freehold title, freehold plan and probably the lease.

OP is buying freehold though isn't she?

Would still need two documents, title and title plan and possibly any Transfers or Conveyances listed within the title.

Am a bit confused what point you're making - those are the costs copied and pasted from the website of the company I use. That's what they charge shrugs shoulders

Spickle the Land Registry search on that list is a search not a document. The seller pays for title documents, though some buyers firms get a copy of the plan to do the local authority and other searches.

Get a few quotes OP. Most firms base their fees on property value. It's handy to use a local one so you can drop documents in or collect things.

BTW is the house on a newish estate that has a management company for shared outside space? That can add to the fees.

Solicitors don’t have “hidden charges”. Our professional body has strict rules about transparency in fee quotes. (I’m not a conveyancer).
Try Foot Anstey and get an online quote, they were good when we bought our house.