Compare solicitor quotes by their scope and expected total, not just the headline professional fee. Ask each firm to separate its fee, VAT, third-party outlays and purchase taxes, and to explain what could increase the estimate.
Send the same brief to each firm
Describe whether the property is new or second-hand, a house or apartment, whether you need a mortgage and any unusual feature you already know about. Mention an extension, a site purchase, probate or other complication rather than expecting a standard quote to include every possible issue.
This is a way to make comparisons fair; it does not determine the legal work your purchase needs. Let the solicitor identify that work after reviewing the transaction.
A quote-comparison sheet
| Item | Question to put to each firm |
|---|---|
| Professional fee | What conveyancing work is included? |
| VAT | Is VAT included in the displayed fee? |
| Outlays | Which searches, registration or third-party expenses are additional? |
| Mortgage work | Is the lender-related work included? |
| Stamp duty | Is the tax separately estimated, and is filing work included? |
| Extra work | What can trigger an additional charge and how will I be told? |
| Timing | When are payments due and who handles my queries? |
Check the total rather than filling gaps with guesses
If a figure is marked “to be confirmed”, keep it visible in your comparison. A lower quote with several unknown charges is not yet directly comparable with an itemised estimate. Request clarification in writing and keep the response with the quote.
A practical comparison can use one column per firm and a final row for unresolved items. Avoid assigning a made-up average to an unknown outlay simply to produce a neat total. Ask which amounts are fixed, estimated or dependent on the work that emerges.
Before you instruct the solicitor
- Confirm who will handle the file and how to contact them.
- Read the engagement terms and check the agreed scope.
- Explain your expected funding and any timing constraints.
- Ask how changes to the estimate will be communicated.
Keep the solicitor’s quote separate from survey, valuation, moving and repair budgets unless the quote expressly includes a particular item. Before completion, request a statement separating the price balance, tax, fees and outlays. A clear quote helps you plan; it cannot guarantee a problem-free purchase or a fixed completion date.
If the purchase stops before completion
Ask what work would still be chargeable if you withdraw or the sale falls through. Record the answer with the engagement terms; do not assume a quoted completion total explains an abandoned transaction.
A cheaper fee can still leave a higher unknown total
| Focus | Action or question |
|---|---|
| Compare | Use the same transaction brief for each quote. |
| Unknowns | Leave uncertain outlays visible and ask for the basis of the estimate. |
| Choice | Compare confirmed scope and communication alongside price; a low headline does not answer what extra work costs. |
Your next step
Prepare questions for the property itself