Get solicitor before or after house purchase?

Jovetic

Looking at buying (first time) and have been looking at properties recently. (have mortgage approval)

Should I get a solicitor now so I'm ready to go if I find the right place. I guess I just want to be ready to move fast if the right place comes along. Or should I wait till I find somewhere first and then look for a solicitor

What other hidden costs are there besides legal fees, stamp duty, assessors.

Thank you

eefums

You should shop around now for a few solicitors get quotes detailing all the costs for conveyancing etc. No harm to ask around for a recommendation. It will range anything from 2500 to 4000 depending on solicitors. Once you are happy with a quote then you will be good to go when the right house comes along. Up until the point you go sale agreed you wont need a solicitor imo. From that point then they get the mortgafe details and the sellers details deeds etc and work rather quietly from rhen on. All the best with it. I am in the samd position myself at the moment waiting to sign contracts and move. Stamp duty is 1% of purchase price btw

Little Miss Cutie

Jovetic wrote: »

What other hidden costs are there besides legal fees, stamp duty, assessors.

Don't forget you will owe a portion of the local property tax.

Regarding legal fees, one if the biggest cost is land registry and charges which is on top of the "professional fees"

Good luck with your search

Thoie

Another thing to keep in mind is how convenient the solicitor is to your office. You might save €500, but if you have to take the odd half day from time to time just to see them it's a pita. Having one that you can pop in to during a late lunch, or by leaving the office a little early is very convenient.

All going well there you'll hardly see them, but if you do need to drop in to sign something you'll be grateful.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Go on a trusted recommendation, not just on price alone. This will probably be the biggest purchase of your life. What's an extra couple of hundred euro. For my first place I went on price and it came back to haunt me. All worked out in the end, but the hassle was huge.

Went with a recommended solicitor for my current place. No problems whatsoever

Jovetic

can you recommend anyone in cork :P

handlemaster

Thoie wrote: »

Another thing to keep in mind is how convenient the solicitor is to your office. You might save €500, but if you have to take the odd half day from time to time just to see them it's a pita. Having one that you can pop in to during a late lunch, or by leaving the office a little early is very convenient.

All going well there you'll hardly see them, but if you do need to drop in to sign something you'll be grateful.

all the transactions can be done by post no need to visit the solicitor

Arbiter of Good Taste

handlemaster wrote: »

all the transactions can be done by post no need to visit the solicitor

I have always had to go to the solicitor to sign. And sometimes you will pick up the keys from the solicitor.

handlemaster

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

I have always had to go to the solicitor to sign. And sometimes you will pick up the keys from the solicitor.

Thats a preference not a requirement.