The estate agents solicitor versus my own?

Sorry boiler, electrics and windows etc

There will be a difference then between buying a flat where you have to sort most stuff (lived in one before and you had to do boiler elective and so on even new windows)

And McCarthy and Stone type where it’s their responsibility (hence huge charges)

A bit different - but when I sold my DF’s house, the EA had ‘a deal’ with a local solicitor. As we were selling, we were happy to use him. It’s the purchasers solicitor who (I feel) has to work harder? Buyer beware and all that.
However, in 2012, when I bought a new build to rent out, the builders offered a legal deal I was happy to accept, as did most of the other buyers. I renewed the EPC there last year and it was under £80.

Thank you.

Wyllow I used my own solicitor she was great and from the start said if a buyer pulled out me there would no extra cost to me. And the price she quoted was the price I paid. I had 2 buyers pull out on me. I know some on the buying and selling thread their solicitor charged them extra when their buyer pulled. With the estate agent I wanted at fixed price for them selling my house as I wanted to know from the start what the end fee would be. The estate agent organised the EPC it cost me £80 this was in 2018.

I had a good surveyor so I had no surprises when I completed on my bungalow. I had the mid price survey can't remember what it was called but cost £450 in 2018. So I had already decided what to have done first when I moved.

I know Franbern on buying and selling thread brought an apartment can't remember if it was just in a block or classed as a retirement one. But most of the residents are older people . She can probably give you some pointers . I know she's very happy to where she lives. And has got a garage which came with the apartment.

Hope this has been of some use.

Germanshepherdsmum

Retirement flats can be difficult to sell. Your solicitor will advise you. Very different to ordinary flats. Annual costs can be much greater too.

Yes, gone into that. But you buy what you need and pay for levels of support etc.

Wondering why the valuer didnt mention the EPC. On the list.

Retirement flats can be difficult to sell. Your solicitor will advise you. Very different to ordinary flats. Annual costs can be much greater too.

Wyllow3

I'm really happy to hear what all you people have to say here and very thankful! Hadn't thought of all the snags but it seems to me that using my own I get a lot more support as they will act in my interests.

Now Primrose I hadn't actually thought of that at all, in fact never heard of it? what does it cover, things like insulation and so on? the attic has fab insulation, but its angle brick walls with rendering so no double walls to be filled/insulated.

I assume you are selling a property Wyllow. All houses for sale (and indeed for rent) need to have an up to date EPC.

Covers things like lighting, types of heat, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation etc. the more you have, the better your rating and they also tell you what you can do to improve your rating.

We had to get one when we sold my late Mum’s house and also for a property we rent out. I just googled EPC providers and a woman not far away came up. She was able to come asap, arrived on time, was very efficient and I think I saved £60+. That is obviously the cut the EA would have got.

It's either an ordinary flat GSM or a retirement flat so a slightly different situation.

Good advice Wyllow. Your choice of solicitor is the way to go - especially if s/he is local and you can visit/ drop things off / sign documents if needed. It also lessens the possibility of email hacking which is an increasingly worrying crime, used at the time of exchange to seize funds from the purchaser.

Do get a full building survey, not just the cheaper Home Buyer’s Report. It’s worth it, believe me.

single brick walls

I'm really happy to hear what all you people have to say here and very thankful! Hadn't thought of all the snags but it seems to me that using my own I get a lot more support as they will act in my interests.

Now Primrose I hadn't actually thought of that at all, in fact never heard of it? what does it cover, things like insulation and so on? the attic has fab insulation, but its angle brick walls with rendering so no double walls to be filled/insulated.

I would stick with a solicitor I know and trust Wyllow. Buying and selling property is stressful at the best of times and anything you can do to mitigate it is well worth it.

Good luck.

Use your usual solicitor if you have confidence in their ability, as you obviously do. Estate agents receive payment from firms they recommend (a despicable practice imo) and you are unlikely to be looked after by a qualified solicitor if you pay a low fee. Firms recommended by EAs also have a conflict of interest - the EA wants the transaction to proceed as quickly as possible so they get their commission and the firm wants further recommendations from the EA. Corners are cut and unbiased advice isn’t always given, I have seen it in practice. I strongly advise you not to go there. As they say, you get what you pay for. Never more true than in the choice of lawyer,

They’re all after their cut!! 😉 I saved loads by getting my own Energy Performance Consultant to come and rate a house we sold. The Estate Agent said they would sort all that for me and when I told him I had sorted it he asked why and I said I saved a lot of money and he was a bit sniffy.

I think I'd prefer to use my own family solicitor, especially if you are on good terms and trust them. The EA will naturally want to "push" their own but I can't see any benefit because usually solicitors are professional enough to talk only to their client.
Cheaper isn't always good, though you could research for your own online.