If you get several quotes, make sure you compare like with like.
Some solicitors have a very cheap basic fee, but don't include things that others would include.
Here's a very generic example of fees which may help you understand the basic fee plus a list of other variables which are often added to the basic fee:
Selling
Freehold Sale up to £500,000.00 is £750.00 plus VAT
Freehold Sale up to £800,000.00 is £850.00 plus VAT
Freehold Sale up to £1,000,000.00 is £950.00 plus VAT
Buying
Freehold Purchase up to £300,000.00 is £750.00 plus VAT
Freehold Purchase up to £500,000.00 is £850.00 plus VAT
Freehold Purchase up to £800,000.00 is £950.00 plus VAT
Freehold Purchase up to £1,200,000.00 is £1,150.00 plus VAT
Additions
If your transaction is Leasehold add £200.00 plus VAT to the fee shown above.
If your transaction is shared ownership add £250.00 plus VAT
If you are using funds from a Help to Buy ISA add £50.00 plus VAT
If you are using funds from the Help to Buy Scheme add £100 plus VAT
In addition to the above fees there will be a number of disbursements (payments to third parties) these can include:-
Sale disbursements:
ID check £4.20 Per Person
A copy of your title and any documents referred therein approximately £9.00 but it depends on your title
If your property is leasehold you might like to contact your freeholder and/or managing agent to establish the exact cost of the leasehold information pack as the cost of these can differ substantially and it may be that you need two packs one for ground rent and one for the service charge. You should allow approximately £400.00.
Purchase disbursements:
ID check £4.20 Per Person (if you are buying and selling only one check will be required).
Stamp Duty Land Tax (please follow the attached link to access your liability) www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro .
Land Registration Fee – more information can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees#scale-1-fees in most cases where the property is already registered you will benefit from the reduced fee however if the property you are buying is newbuild, unregistered or only part of an existing title, the full fee will apply.
The usual searches we carry out are a Local, Water and Drainage, Environmental and Planning search, other searches may be necessary depending on the property you are purchasing. The cost of the standard searches is approximately £210.00 plus VAT.
If the property you are buying is Leasehold there may be additional fees but these will not be known until a copy of the Lease and leasehold information pack is seen but you should allow approximately £250.00.
Other disbursements can crop up during the transaction but you would always be advised of the cost before the same was incurred and advised who should be responsible for the same.