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Original poster

Can you haggle conveyancing fees

43 replies

Alexatancu · 20/02/2023 14:58

hello,
we have a leasehold property to sell valued at £290k and we want to buy a new-build house at £370k one of the quotes I received including legal fees, disbursements, and stamp duty is £9300 for buying and selling. Is that a good deal and is it possible to haggle on this if so how would I proceed to do that? Via email or phone, or face to face?

OP posts:
Original poster
Alexatancu · 20/02/2023 17:27

Looking at the online quote now and it's actually £9725 as last time I forgot to check the new build box. So it is £1365 for selling and £8360 for buying

OP posts:
eternalopt · 20/02/2023 20:06

Online quote? Is this a large / national chain? I'd phone a few local options. Being able to speak to a real person is vital. And if you want to try and see if there's any wriggle room on fees, that needs a conversation anyway.

RidingMyBike · 20/02/2023 20:16

Look for a local one, we found it speeded the whole thing up no end being able to post some documents through their door directly rather than wait for recorded delivery.

pilates · 20/02/2023 20:27

sounds reasonable.

Original poster
Alexatancu · 21/02/2023 10:09

They are quite local to me, a 35 min drive. They're called Backhouse solicitors and seem to have good reviews. We can obviously go and speak to them face to face too

OP posts:
Gwen82 · 21/02/2023 10:23

and then if you’re successful… you know you’ll have secured one that was desperate for the work.

Absolutely no way would I have been able to haggle with mine in the past. Always got local Recs and they were batting away work as so sought after

Gwen82 · 21/02/2023 10:30

Op

myou have started many threads about whether you can haggle estate agents fees, mortgage broker fees, new build offer etc

are you sure you can afford to buy this property?

Original poster
Alexatancu · 21/02/2023 10:37

I don't think that's needed. We have a decision in principle and are able to afford this. I think anyone in their right mind would try negotiate where possible.

OP posts:
caringcarer · 21/02/2023 11:07

So if you take off stamp duty that is very reasonable. Also I never use large chains who advertise on line as they take on too much work then of someone is on holiday or off sick they fall behind. I always use a local firm who I trust.

Asdf12345 · 21/02/2023 14:10

We got a load of quotes with a couple
of grand between highest and lowest responses. Went with one that was not the cheapest but at the cheaper end.

We got a surprise partial refund a few weeks after completion out of the blue as it had taken less time and expense than they had estimated.

Jolyy77 · 21/02/2023 16:04

I would always go for local ones - in the same town ideally. As others have said its far easier to drop off documents etc and you will have to show them passports/ driving licences/ other id to proceed. Plus if they are local to you you can always go to the office to find out why the transaction is not proceeding as quickly as you thought.

Gwen82 · 24/02/2023 12:01

Something of anon issue considering your thread yesterday re your haggling with the developer resulted in developer saying point blank no?

Original poster
Alexatancu · 24/02/2023 12:12

Gwen82 · 24/02/2023 12:01

Something of anon issue considering your thread yesterday re your haggling with the developer resulted in developer saying point blank no?

You do realise that was our first offer and we are prepared to go significantly higher as our last offer right? We put the first offer down as the lowest because they had no offers in 3 months and they are at their last few plots. I have asked several questions to know for the near future since we haven't sold before. Also if at worse it doesn't work with this house there are lots of other houses that are way more in our budget that we'll consider so it is relevant for me to ask about conveyancing. I do find your question quite irrelevant

OP posts:
Gwen82 · 24/02/2023 12:19

Did you manage to haggle anything off your estate agent fee?

Gwen82 · 24/02/2023 12:19

Oh and the mortgage broker fee?

RosesAndHellebores · 24/02/2023 12:28

A good quality solicitor needs to charge a reasonable professional fee. We use our family solicitors, medium sized SW London practice who are by no means the cheapest. However, we have usually managed to complete a transaction in about 6 to 8 weeks. We paid £7,500 for sale and purchase in 2015. We had a one week delay because of a blasted tree preservation order.

@Alexatancu you will read threads about properties left like tips and dirty. A good solicitor will include clauses about a professional clean and removal of tat and will support any action you need to take to recoup expenses.

Original poster
Alexatancu · 24/02/2023 12:38

Gwen82 · 24/02/2023 12:19

Did you manage to haggle anything off your estate agent fee?

Our broker didn't charge us anything he gets money from the lender and I was able to negotiate estate agent fees (as most people do) and it is now on the market

OP posts:
Vegrocks · 04/03/2023 06:11

Did you secure your property and all your haggling come through op?!

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