How Many Conveyancing Quotes Should You Get

Most people should get three to four conveyancing quotes before instructing anyone, comparing not just the headline price but exactly what's included, how the firm communicates, and whether they're regulated and covered by proper indemnity insurance. Fewer than that and you risk missing a better fit, more than that and you're often just adding admin without learning much new. The right number depends a bit on how much time pressure you're under, but three or four is a sensible sweet spot for most buyers and sellers.

When you're buying or selling a house, it's tempting to just go with whichever conveyancer your estate agent recommends, or the first name that pops up after a quick search. It's one less thing to think about during an already stressful process. But conveyancing quotes vary more than most people expect, both in price and in what's actually covered, and a bit of comparison shopping early on can save you real money and real hassle later.

Quick disclaimer before we get into it: I'm a blogger covering the conveyancing process, not a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer, so nothing here is personal legal or financial advice. Think of this as a practical starting point for your own research, not a substitute for speaking to professionals about your specific purchase or sale.

This guide covers why the number of quotes matters, what a sensible range actually looks like, how to compare quotes properly rather than just looking at the bottom line, the red flags to watch for, and how to turn a shortlist of quotes into an actual decision.

Table of contents

• Why the number of quotes you get actually matters
• What's a sensible number of quotes to get
• Where to actually get conveyancing quotes from
• How to compare quotes properly, not just the headline price
• Watching out for hidden costs and vague quotes
• Red flags to watch for when reviewing quotes
• Why price shouldn't be the only factor
• Turning your quotes into an actual decision
• FAQs about getting conveyancing quotes
• Summary and what to do next

Why the number of quotes you get actually matters

It's easy to assume conveyancing is a commodity service, that one firm's fee is much the same as another's, and that the whole exercise of shopping around is barely worth the effort. In practice, that's not quite true. Fees can differ by several hundred pounds for what looks on paper like the same job, and the service behind that fee can differ even more.

What getting more than one quote actually reveals

• The genuine market rate for your type of transaction, rather than whatever the first firm you called happens to charge
• Differences in what's actually included, since one firm's "fixed fee" might exclude things another firm bundles in as standard
• How each firm communicates before you've even instructed them, which tells you something about what to expect once you have
• Whether a particularly cheap quote is genuinely competitive, or whether it's a low headline figure designed to be topped up later with extras

Getting just one quote means you have no way of knowing whether you're being charged fairly. Getting a small handful gives you a baseline to judge against, without turning the whole thing into a research project that eats up days of your time.

The flip side: too many quotes can backfire

There's also a point of diminishing returns. If you request quotes from ten different firms, you'll end up with a spreadsheet full of numbers that are hard to compare properly, and you'll spend more time chasing responses than you save in fees. Beyond four or five quotes, you're mostly just adding friction without learning much that's genuinely new.

What's a sensible number of quotes to get

For most people, three to four quotes hits the right balance between having enough to compare and not turning the process into a chore.

Why three to four tends to work well

• Two quotes only tell you which of two firms is cheaper, not whether either of them is actually reasonably priced
• Three or four gives you enough spread to spot a genuine outlier, whether that's suspiciously cheap or unusually expensive
• It's a manageable number to actually follow up with properly, rather than letting most of them go stale while you focus on just one
• It leaves you time to still ask follow-up questions of your shortlist, rather than just picking blind off an initial quote

If you're under serious time pressure, perhaps you've already had an offer accepted and want to move fast, two or three solid quotes gathered quickly is a reasonable compromise. If you've got more breathing room, particularly if you're selling first before you've found somewhere to buy, it's worth taking the time to get four or five and compare more thoroughly.

When it makes sense to get more

There are situations where going beyond four quotes is genuinely worth it. Buying a leasehold flat, dealing with a shared ownership property, or handling a more unusual transaction, such as a new build with a complex legal title, are all cases where fees and expertise can vary a lot between firms. In those situations, a slightly wider comparison helps you find a firm that's genuinely comfortable with the type of property you're dealing with, not just the cheapest option on a generic quote form.

Where to actually get conveyancing quotes from

Once you've decided how many quotes to get, the next question is where those quotes should actually come from. Not all sources give you the same quality of comparison.

Common sources worth considering

• Recommendations from friends or family who've moved recently, particularly if their transaction was a similar type of property
• Your estate agent's recommended panel, though it's worth remembering agents sometimes receive referral fees, which is worth keeping in mind when weighing their suggestion
• Comparison websites, which can be a quick way to get a spread of quotes, though it's worth reading the small print on what's actually included in the headline figure
• Local firms you find through your own search, particularly if you want someone who knows the specific local authority and area well

It's generally sensible to mix your sources rather than getting all your quotes from one comparison site or one agent's panel. That way you're comparing genuinely independent options, rather than several quotes that are all pulled from the same limited pool of partner firms.

Online vs high street vs recommended firms

Online-only conveyancers can sometimes offer sharper prices because their overheads are lower, but you may lose the option of walking into an office or speaking face to face if something goes wrong. High street firms often cost a bit more but can offer that personal touch, and a recommended firm from someone you trust carries a certain reassurance that a random online quote doesn't. None of these is automatically the "right" choice, it depends what matters most to you.

How to compare quotes properly, not just the headline price

This is where a lot of people go wrong. They line up three quotes, look at the total figure at the bottom, and pick the cheapest one. That's a mistake, because conveyancing quotes are notoriously inconsistent in what they actually include.

What to check in every quote

• Whether the legal fee is genuinely fixed, or whether it's described as an estimate that could rise
• Whether disbursements (the third-party costs like search fees and Land Registry fees) are included in the headline figure or listed separately
• What happens if the transaction falls through, some firms charge a reduced "abort fee" in that scenario, others don't charge at all, and it's worth knowing which applies
• Whether VAT is already included in the number you're looking at, since a 20% difference can hide in that detail alone
• What's covered if the transaction becomes more complex partway through, for example if a lease extension or an unusual title issue comes up

A genuinely useful trick is to ask each firm for a full breakdown in writing, itemising legal fees, disbursements, and any potential extras, rather than relying on the single total they first quote you. Firms that are happy to give you a clear breakdown tend to be more transparent generally, which is itself a useful signal.

Build yourself a simple comparison table

You don't need anything fancy. A simple table with columns for legal fee, disbursements, VAT, estimated total, and any notable exclusions makes it far easier to see which quote is genuinely cheapest once everything is accounted for. It also makes it obvious when one firm's headline figure looks great purely because it's leaving out costs that another firm has included upfront.

Watching out for hidden costs and vague quotes

Some quotes look brilliant on paper and then balloon once the transaction is underway. This is one of the main reasons comparing more than one quote is genuinely worthwhile, since a single quote gives you nothing to measure a later "actually, it'll cost more" conversation against.

Costs that sometimes get left off an initial quote

• Bank transfer or telegraphic transfer fees for moving completion funds
• ID verification or anti-money-laundering check fees
• Fees for dealing with a leasehold management pack, if the property turns out to be leasehold and this wasn't clear at quote stage
• Charges for acting on behalf of a mortgage lender as well as you, sometimes listed separately as a "mortgage fee"
• Postage, admin, or file storage charges added at the end of the transaction

None of these costs are necessarily unreasonable on their own. The problem is when they're not mentioned upfront and only appear on the final bill. Asking directly, "is this the full cost, or are there any extras that might apply to my specific situation," is a simple question that can save you an unpleasant surprise later.

Red flags to watch for when reviewing quotes

A handful of warning signs tend to show up when comparing quotes, and it's worth knowing what they look like before you commit to a firm.

Signs a quote might not be quite what it seems

• A price that's dramatically lower than every other quote you've received, with no obvious reason for the gap
• Vague wording like "from £X" with no clarity on what would push the price higher
• Reluctance to confirm whether the person quoted is a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer, versus an unqualified case worker
• No mention of professional indemnity insurance or regulatory body when you ask directly
• Pressure to instruct immediately, with claims that the quote is only valid "today"

A cheap quote isn't automatically a bad one, plenty of competitively priced firms do excellent work. But if a quote is unusually low and the firm can't explain clearly why, or dodges basic questions about qualifications and insurance, that's worth treating as a genuine red flag rather than a lucky find.

Why price shouldn't be the only factor

Price matters, of course it does, but conveyancing is a service you're relying on to get a legally significant transaction right, not just a product you're buying off a shelf. The cheapest firm isn't always the best value once you account for everything else.

Other things worth weighing alongside the fee

• How responsive the firm was when you first got in touch for a quote, which often reflects how they'll communicate once you've actually instructed them
• Whether you'll have a named point of contact, or whether your file gets passed between whoever's free on a given day
• Independent reviews, particularly ones that mention communication and turnaround time rather than just overall satisfaction
• Whether the firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, and whether they hold proper professional indemnity insurance
• Whether they seem genuinely familiar with your specific type of transaction, be that a leasehold flat, a new build, or a straightforward freehold sale

Think of the fee as one input among several, not the whole decision. A firm that's a little more expensive but clearly communicates well and knows your type of property inside out can easily save you more in time, stress, and avoided mistakes than the difference in price.

Turning your quotes into an actual decision

Once you've gathered your quotes and compared them properly, the final step is actually making a decision rather than letting analysis paralysis set in.

A simple way to narrow it down

1. Rule out anything that's noticeably vague, evasive, or missing basic information about qualifications and regulation
2. Compare like-for-like totals, including all disbursements and VAT, across your remaining shortlist
3. Call or email your top two with any final questions, particularly about communication style and who exactly will be handling your file
4. Weigh price against everything else you've learned, and pick the firm you genuinely feel most confident in, not just the cheapest one
5. Confirm your instruction in writing and ask for a copy of the client care letter setting out fees and terms clearly

It's fine to trust your gut a bit here too. If one firm's quote was clear, their communication was prompt, and they answered your questions properly, that's often a better predictor of a smooth transaction than a small saving on the final fee.

FAQs about getting conveyancing quotes

Is it rude to get multiple conveyancing quotes?
Not at all. Getting quotes from a few firms is completely normal and expected in conveyancing, just as it is with most professional services. Firms quote for new business all the time and won't think twice about it.

Do conveyancing quotes cost anything to get?
Getting a quote is generally free. You're only charged once you formally instruct a firm to act for you, so there's no cost or commitment in comparing a few options first.

Should I always choose the cheapest conveyancing quote?
Not necessarily. The cheapest headline figure can sometimes exclude costs that appear later, or reflect a firm that's overstretched and slow to communicate. It's worth weighing price against service and reputation together.

How quickly should I get quotes once my offer is accepted?
As soon as possible. Getting quotes lined up before or right at the point your offer is accepted means you can instruct a conveyancer immediately and avoid losing time at the start of the process.

Can I switch firms after getting a quote if I change my mind?
Yes, generally, especially if you haven't formally instructed them yet. Once you have instructed a firm and work is underway, switching becomes more involved, so it's worth being reasonably confident before you commit.

Do online conveyancing quotes tend to be cheaper than local firms?
Not always, but online-only firms sometimes have lower overheads which can be reflected in price. It's still worth comparing them properly against local or recommended firms rather than assuming online is automatically cheaper or better.

Summary and what to do next

• Three to four conveyancing quotes is a sensible range for most buyers and sellers, balancing genuine comparison against wasted time
• Compare full costs, including disbursements and VAT, not just the headline legal fee
• Watch for vague wording, unusually low quotes with no explanation, and firms that dodge questions about qualifications or insurance
• Weigh communication style, reviews, and regulatory status alongside price rather than choosing on cost alone
• Get quotes early once your offer is accepted so you can instruct a conveyancer without losing momentum

Just to reiterate what I said earlier, I'm not a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, I'm a blogger writing general guidance based on how the conveyancing process typically works. Your own transaction may have specific quirks that change what's sensible for you, so please treat this as a starting point for your own comparison shopping rather than a personalised recommendation.

Need help or have questions?

I can't advise you on legal matters directly, but if you're looking for more general reading on choosing a conveyancer, understanding fees, or what happens at each stage of a move, there are more guides like this one across the site.

If you'd like to ask a real firm a specific question rather than rely on a blog post, our contact form is the quickest way to reach us, just send your question through and we'll get back to you.

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This piece is intended as general information from a blog, not legal or financial advice from a law firm, so please check anything specific to your own transaction with a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer.