From: Lotana Von Amor
Respectable Forum,
I am trying to understand the tricks of the trade in the area of conveyancing. I have bought 5 properties so far with a little help of 3 solicitors, and still have not found the one that I could recommend my friends. I don't feel comfortable negotiating with them and feel that they treat me as a dummy ripping me off.
Solicitor A. gave me a quote of $890, but at settlement charged me $1640, arguing that the quote was for "acting on the contract". They also charged $400 for "acting on the mortgage" and another $350 for the searches.
Solicitor B. quoted $1000 "for everything" and charged $1199 including disbursements + $350 for the searches. This person also assisted many other people buying from the same new strata titled development charging everybody full fee for identical searches. Is it normal?
Solicitor C. ordered the survey for $400 without asking for my permission. His argument was that the bank will need it. I managed to get a letter from my bank explicitly stating that they don't need the survey, however the solicitor threatened me that the settlement will not occur if I don't pay for the survey he's done - so I paid.
What do others think about these practices? Am I expecting too much? What exactly is "acting on the contract" and "acting on the mortgage"? If I don't mortgage the property I'm buying, does it make the conveyancing less expensive? How much should it cost to buy a strata unit through a solicitor in Sydney? And the most important question - how can I find a solicitor (in Sydney) who is honest, direct, accessible via mobile and e-mail when I need him/her?
Probably too many questions for one post, but it's an emotional issue for me.
Regards,
Lotana
Respectable Forum,
I am trying to understand the tricks of the trade in the area of conveyancing. I have bought 5 properties so far with a little help of 3 solicitors, and still have not found the one that I could recommend my friends. I don't feel comfortable negotiating with them and feel that they treat me as a dummy ripping me off.
Solicitor A. gave me a quote of $890, but at settlement charged me $1640, arguing that the quote was for "acting on the contract". They also charged $400 for "acting on the mortgage" and another $350 for the searches.
Solicitor B. quoted $1000 "for everything" and charged $1199 including disbursements + $350 for the searches. This person also assisted many other people buying from the same new strata titled development charging everybody full fee for identical searches. Is it normal?
Solicitor C. ordered the survey for $400 without asking for my permission. His argument was that the bank will need it. I managed to get a letter from my bank explicitly stating that they don't need the survey, however the solicitor threatened me that the settlement will not occur if I don't pay for the survey he's done - so I paid.
What do others think about these practices? Am I expecting too much? What exactly is "acting on the contract" and "acting on the mortgage"? If I don't mortgage the property I'm buying, does it make the conveyancing less expensive? How much should it cost to buy a strata unit through a solicitor in Sydney? And the most important question - how can I find a solicitor (in Sydney) who is honest, direct, accessible via mobile and e-mail when I need him/her?
Probably too many questions for one post, but it's an emotional issue for me.
Regards,
Lotana
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