A residential conveyancing quote should set out a fixed legal fee, an estimate of disbursements, and a realistic timeline before you commit to a solicitor. Whether you’re buying your first home, selling a property in London, or doing both at once, comparing conveyancing quotes properly — not just on price — is the single biggest factor in avoiding delays, hidden costs, and a broken chain further down the line.
This guide explains how conveyancing quotes work, what to check before accepting one, and what home buying solicitors and selling solicitors actually do for your money.
What is a residential conveyancing quote?
A residential conveyancing quote is a written estimate of the legal costs involved in transferring ownership of a property. It should always be broken into two parts: the solicitor’s legal fee (their charge for the work) and disbursements (third-party costs the solicitor pays on your behalf, such as Land Registry fees, search fees, and Stamp Duty Land Tax on a purchase).
A genuine, comparable conveyancing quote should include:
- A fixed fee, or a clear explanation of when hourly rates apply
- All anticipated disbursements itemised individually, not bundled as “extras”
- Confirmation of whether the fee is “no completion, no fee”
- VAT stated separately, not hidden in the headline figure
- An indicative timeline based on the type of transaction (freehold, leasehold, shared ownership, new build)
Quotes that look unusually cheap often exclude searches, bank transfer fees, or leasehold administration charges, which then appear later as “additional” costs. Reading the full breakdown — not just the headline number — is the most reliable way to compare like for like.
Getting an online conveyancing quote: what actually happens next
Requesting an online conveyancing quote is usually the first step, but it isn’t the end of the process. After you submit the property details — purchase price, freehold or leasehold, whether you’re in a chain — a genuine quote should be followed by:
- Identity verification (AML checks) required under the Money Laundering Regulations before any solicitor can act
- Confirmation of the specific fee-earner handling your file, not just a call centre reference number
- A client care letter setting out the scope of work, complaints procedure, and estimated completion timescale
- Source of funds checks, particularly where a deposit is a gift or comes from overseas
An online quote that skips straight to asking for payment before any of this is a signal to look more closely at the firm. A properly regulated conveyancing solicitor — SRA-regulated and listed on the Law Society’s Find a Solicitor directory — will always confirm these steps before starting work.
What home buying solicitors actually do for you
Home buying solicitors manage the legal side of a purchase from offer acceptance to completion. Their core responsibilities include:
- Reviewing the draft contract and title provided by the seller’s solicitor
- Raising enquiries on anything unclear in the title, planning history, or property information forms
- Conducting property searches — local authority, water and drainage, and environmental — to flag issues like flood risk, planning restrictions, or unregistered rights of way
- Reviewing the mortgage offer to check the lender’s conditions are met before exchange
- Handling exchange of contracts, at which point the transaction becomes legally binding
- Completing the purchase, transferring funds, and registering the new ownership with HM Land Registry
For leasehold purchases, buying solicitors also review the lease terms, service charge accounts, and any outstanding building safety or cladding certificates — an increasingly common source of delay on flats in London.
What a solicitor selling a house is responsible for
A solicitor selling your house works in parallel, but the obligations are different. Selling solicitors typically handle:
- Drafting the contract pack, including the Property Information Form (TA6) and Fittings and Contents Form (TA10)
- Obtaining the official copies of the title register from HM Land Registry
- Redeeming any existing mortgage and confirming the redemption figure with the lender
- Responding to the buyer’s solicitor’s enquiries promptly, since delays here are one of the most common reasons a sale falls through
- Managing leasehold sales, including obtaining a management pack from the freeholder or managing agent — often the longest lead time in a leasehold transaction
- Accounting for Capital Gains Tax considerations where the property isn’t the seller’s main residence
Sellers who instruct a solicitor before accepting an offer — rather than after — tend to complete faster, because the contract pack and title documents are already prepared when the buyer’s solicitor raises enquiries.
Common mistakes when comparing conveyancing quotes
- reliable if it excludes disbursements or is handled by an overstretched high-volume firm.
- Not checking who the fee-earner is. Ask whether a qualified solicitor or a licensed conveyancer will handle the file directly, and what their current caseload looks like.
- Ignoring the firm’s regulation status. Confirm the firm is SRA-regulated before instructing.
- Overlooking leasehold costs. Leasehold sales and purchases usually carry additional fees for lease reviews and management pack requests — make sure these are in the original quote, not added later.
- Assuming all quotes include the same searches. Some quotes offer a reduced set of searches to appear cheaper; ask exactly which searches are included as standard.
When a property transaction becomes a dispute
Not every conveyancing matter runs smoothly. Boundary disagreements, breach of contract before completion, or disputes over a deposit can turn a straightforward sale or purchase into a formal property dispute. Where this happens, early advice matters — the longer a disagreement goes unaddressed, the more it tends to cost to resolve. If you’re facing a disagreement with a buyer, seller, or neighbour, speaking to a property disputes solicitor before the situation escalates is generally the more cost-effective route.
How Adam Bernard Solicitors can help
Adam Bernard Solicitors provides residential conveyancing for buyers and sellers across London, from its High Holborn and Upton Park offices. Conveyancing quotes are itemised in full before instruction, covering legal fees, disbursements, and Stamp Duty Land Tax where applicable, so there are no surprises once a transaction is underway. Clients can be updated by phone, WhatsApp, Zoom, or Teams throughout the process, with 24/7 phone contact available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a residential conveyancing quote typically include?
Is an online conveyancing quote binding?
How long does conveyancing take once I accept a quote?
Can I switch solicitors after accepting a conveyancing quote?
What's the difference between a solicitor and a licensed conveyancer for house sales?
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific transaction, contact Adam Bernard Solicitors on 0207 100 2525.
