So much information just to make an offer?!

[Skippi]

I offered on a property today. Normal thing, emailed agent with amount, information about my position, and offered to send proof of funds if needed as I’m a cash buyer. Said I’m happy to work with vendor’s timescale. Got a reply several hours later with a form to fill out asking for solicitor’s details, preferred exchange and completion dates, any info on fixtures and fittings to be included… is it really normal for an agent to ask all this before even putting forward an offer? Just feels a bit unnecessary to instruct a solicitor and start incurring costs at this point.

They want to know it's a serious offer. We included details of our solicitor with our offer email.

What @RidingMyBike said.
It's perfectly normal. You won't start incurring costs with your solicitor until they start work - you're only passing on a name at the moment.

Surely you know who your solicitor is going to be if you're at the point of offering? Just give them their name, you don't need to instruct them yet.

Fixtures and fittings is weird as you're not the seller- unless they're just asking if there's anything specific you want included, which again is quite normal at offer stage (if there is indeed anything specific).

Preferred dates is also something I'd include, even generally with my offer- nobody is holding anyone to it, but I think it''s pretty normal to say whether you're eg keen to move quickly or you need to delay things for some reason.