Some sites quote very low headline prices but they will charge you extra in their small print for things that are should be included as in a quote as standard.
Things to look out for are:
- Acting for your lender to ensure their security is registered
- Separate charges for postage and ‘admin’
- Charging extra if the property is leasehold or unregistered
- Completing a Stamp Duty Land Tax [or SDLT] form.
Charging for these things if necessary if perfectly legitimate just be careful that you check what is included in the quote you see particularly when looking online.
Most good local Solicitors will make this clear when they quote. It may be harder to tell if you look on ‘price comparison’ site and site designed to capture your interest so they can then sell your details to solicitors on their ‘panel’
Quotes for conveyancing usually comprise of the fee being charged by the Lawyer for the work he/she does throughout the transaction plus VAT plus the things they have to pay for on your behalf such as searches and Land Registry fees, which are referred to as expenses also referred to as disbursements.
Although these are often the same, there are a number of different types of search the you might need depending where your property is, for example a mining search which highlights any previous mining activity in or around the house you intend to buy. A local solicitor will normally know from experience what searches are required where as a ‘processor’ talking to you from another part of the country may not.
Searches are of course included in your sellers Home Information Pack [HIP] but more may be advisable.
For this reason it’s often better to telephone for a quote as by doing so you can ask these questions and get a feel for how your transaction will be dealt with. You should also consider whether you want a relationship with your lawyer and be able to meet him/her face to face and call into their office or deal with a conveyancing factory where you will rarely speak to the same person twice and where you are a transaction rather than an individual.
You may come across some offers of so called ‘free legal’s’ made by some lenders. Whilst this might sound tempting the work is usually contracted out to an out of town lawyer who is paid for the conveyancing so ask yourself who is really paying?
The vast majority of people will think about the experience, service and location of the lawyer they instruct and by whether the ‘personality’ and ethos of the firm is in tune with theirs and not just price. Many are also influenced in their decision by whether they have a family lawyer already, and by both the recommendation of friends and family and their estate agent.
You should be aware that many estate agents particularly large ‘chains’ are paid to recommend certain Solicitors or other ‘in-house’conveyancing solutions. Indeed some agency staff are set bonus targets to do just that. It is therefore well worth asking yourself when being directed towards any particular conveyancer whether the person making the recommendation is doing so in your best interests or their own. So it is worth asking whether they have a referral agreement in place before making your decision.