Solicitor fees when buying & selling house

frash

Hi there,

I think this is the right forum but please move if wrong.

What's the average price for solicitor fees when buying & selling a house?

Thanks.

2012paddy2012

I was quoted 1 .5 percent the other day I'm out near westmeath tho

frash

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

I was quoted 1 .5 percent the other day I'm out near westmeath tho

1.5% of which though when buying & selling?
or 1.5% of the total sell price plus purchase price?

machalla

Between €1,250-2000 (ex vat) fixed fee plus any additional s such as land registry, searches, etc is more typical I would think these days.
I would not be doing it on a percentage basis unless it worked out cheaper than the figures above.  It might pay to go further afield, you will only have 1-2 trips into the solicitors office under any normal circumstances.

1641

First thing first, try to get a recommendation for a reliable and accessible solicitor. Buying and selling can be very stressful and the quality of your solicitor will either lessen or exacerbate this.

Based on doing this some years ago I would guess a combined estimate in the region of €2400-€3500 + VAT + registration/search fees +expenses incurred. Ballpark total in the region of €5000 for buying and selling. But whatever the charge, they will be very dear if they are unresponsive, inaccessible when needed, or less than helpful for whatever reason.

sophfudge

my solicitor in cork is charging €1,500 plus any additional charges

CathalDublin

I wouldn't work with a percentage, its the same work for them regardless the price the property sells for.

When selling a property in 2016 in Dublin we paid
Professional fees €800 plus VAT of €184
Disbursements of €213
Total: €1,197.00

When buying a property in Dublin at the same time we paid
Professional fees €800 plus VAT of €184.00
Disbursements €930.00
Other charges €100.00 plus VAT €18.70
Total: €2,032.70

I've no doubt the professional fees would have been higher if we had just been buying/selling.

Munstermissy

I have been quoted 1% of value of house. Solicitor has deeds to house already. I am thinking it is on the high side. Is there any point haggling with them?

denismc

Many banks offer to pay legal fees when taking out a mortgage, I think 2k is the figure offered from most banks.
If you can negotiate a fee below this figure then you can pocket the rest.

Munstermissy

No mortgage on house and not buying another. I think it is a bit saucy

Mskimee

Just to piggy back on here for a second. I’m buying a house and I’m told it’s standard to pay the sellers legal fee (minus the extra bits).
Is this normal? And what price is it usually? Would this be part of my solicitors flat rate? We are paying about €5000 all in (including 2,200 stamp duty).
Any light on this would be great. We are buying off family so I don’t mans paying just want to know what price to expect.

Rows Grower

Munstermissy wrote: »

I have been quoted 1% of value of house. Solicitor has deeds to house already. I am thinking it is on the high side. Is there any point haggling with them?

You can haggle with every service provider and only agree to pay what you are happy with.

At the end of the day a solicitor is no different than a painter or any other tradesman, they provide a service you pay for and if you're not happy with an individual there are plenty others out there who will be happy with your custom.

It seems to be an Irish trait that whatever a solicitor says is the last word, it's not.

godtabh

I used some one in athlone. He was great. A lot less than the 1.5% quoted.

Moonjet

Mskimee wrote: »

Just to piggy back on here for a second. I’m buying a house and I’m told it’s standard to pay the sellers legal fee (minus the extra bits).

They're chancing their arm, this isn't normal or standard at all.

2012paddy2012

frash wrote: »

Hi there,

I think this is the right forum but please move if wrong.

What's the average price for solicitor fees when buying & selling a house?

Thanks.

1,25 % plus vat. Suburbs Dublin
Selling

machalla

Mskimee wrote: »

Just to piggy back on here for a second. I’m buying a house and I’m told it’s standard to pay the sellers legal fee (minus the extra bits).
Is this normal? And what price is it usually? Would this be part of my solicitors flat rate? We are paying about €5000 all in (including 2,200 stamp duty).
Any light on this would be great. We are buying off family so I don’t mans paying just want to know what price to expect.

Thats not in the least bit normal to be asked to pay the sellers legal fees!

In this case there "might" be an argument as you are buying off family (perhaps at a slightly better price than on the open market).

kippy

The boom is most definitely back if solicitors are charging a percentage of the transaction cost as their fee!

Has everyone read the initial post correctly? The OP is looking for guidance on the solicitor fees. These generally (for the last number of years) are not a percentage of the buying/selling price but a fixed professional fee (subject to VAT) advised before agreement to engage is made, as well as a number of fees on top of that (depending on whether you are selling or buying)

Mskimee

Moonjet wrote: »

They're chancing their arm, this isn't normal or standard at all.

Kinda thought that, but we are buying from family so i don't mind having to pay their fee if it's not too high. Its just the professional fee they are looking for (minus all the extra bits).

I'm assuming it's the same as the buyers fee roughLy.

4ensic15

Are you using the same solicitor as the current owners?

kippy

4ensic15 wrote: »

Are you using the same solicitor as the current owners?

I would hope not.....

3DataModem

I paid 4,500 including everything except stamp duty for a purchase and sale in Dublin very recently. My advice: don't choose based on price and don't go with friends / family.

jaffa20

3DataModem wrote: »

I paid 4,500 including everything except stamp duty for a purchase and sale in Dublin very recently. My advice: don't choose based on price and don't go with friends / family.

Seems expensive. What was the professional fee for buying and selling?

3DataModem

jaffa20 wrote: »

Seems expensive. What was the professional fee for buying and selling?

We agreed an all-in fee of 4500 beforehand, so no breakdown. Two buyers fell through so three sets of sale contracts were issued. Price not affected.