Choose a conveyancer

• The best way of telling if a conveyancer is any good is if they have lots of positive reviews from previous clients who are verified as genuine.
• These are a better indication of good quality than price.
• You can find verified reviews of conveyancers on Really Moving (see below).

• Your total legal costs are made up of the fees for the conveyancer’s time, and the disbursements (costs they pay to other people on your behalf).
• This total can vary from £1,000 to £3,000. The UK average is ~£2,200.
• The total cost depends on how complicated the legal side of your home purchase is, and your choice of conveyancer.
• Price is not a great indicator of quality (see “reviews”).
• It’s also worth remembering that the quote you’re given may be lower than the final cost you end up paying if things turn out to be more complicated than expected.
• Finally, consider looking for a “no sale no fee” conveyancer. 1 in 3 house sales fall through, so this could save you money if things don’t go perfectly the first time.
• For more information we have written a comprehensive guide to the legal costs of buying a house.

• Conveyancing can be done exclusively via post and email, so you don't need a conveyancer local to you or where you are buying.
• Online conveyancers also tend to be a bit cheaper.
• However if you do want to meet your conveyancer in person or drop off signed documents in person rather than via post, consider whether the conveyancer has an office you can visit, and their location.

• Qualified conveyancers should be members of the CLC (Council for Licensed Conveyancers) or the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority).
• If you use Really Moving for conveyancing quotes (see the form below), all the conveyancers suggested will be qualified.

• If you’re getting a mortgage, your mortgage lender will only let you use a conveyancer that they have approved.
• You may hear this being referred to as “being on their mortgage lender panel”.
• Ask the conveyancer which mortgage lender panels they are on. If you know which lender you plan to get a mortgage from, make sure to ask specifically about that lender.

If your purchase will involve anything “non-standard”, ask if the conveyancer has had experience with that aspect before to make sure they will know what to do.

“Non-standard” purchases might include:

• Buying a new build or listed property
• Buying a property with share of freehold
• Making use of shared ownership or a Lifetime ISA

• Avoid choosing a recommended conveyancer without first looking at their reviews, and getting other quotes to compare price.
• The estate agent, your lender or the developer may suggest a conveyancer.
• Bear in mind that they often get a fee for referring you, and their suggested conveyancer may not have the best customer reviews, price, or the appropriate knowledge needed for your purchase.
• For conveyancers suggested by the estate agent or developer, the conveyancer may struggle to give impartial advice if they are representing the seller or developer as well as you, so this situation is best avoided.