Costs for buying a house

[QBee]

mx stu said:

We got 5 quotes in the end from local solicitors and the firm we used were the cheapest by about £200. They were also law society accredited with the conveyancing quality kitemark.

About 3/4 years ago we re-mortgaged and had free legals included. The firm that did the conveyancing were one of these high volume places and it showed. Made me vow this time to use a 'proper' firm of solicitors with someone I could pick the phone up and speak direct to with any queries I may have.

+1 You are much better off with a local firm for the reasons MX gives. I don't question the skill of the big chains...just the fact that they can be hard to get hold of and impossible to drop by and see.