1 Start with the same details
Put the written quotes and any accompanying terms beside each other. Check that each firm has priced the same job. If you are buying and selling, keep the two transactions separate so a sale-only price does not end up beside a combined price. Use our sale-and-purchase fee checklist to ask about both bills and what happens if only one transaction proceeds.
- Buying, selling or both, and the relevant property prices and addresses.
- Freehold or leasehold, plus any new-build or shared-ownership details.
- Your mortgage lender, if known, and any existing mortgage to be repaid on a sale.
- Anything else the firm asks about, such as a gifted deposit or a Lifetime ISA.
Send a correction if a quote uses the wrong assumptions and ask for a revised breakdown. Keep its date and reference. MoneyHelper recommends comparing the total cost of the service, with VAT and other charges broken down.
2 Use a quote-comparison worksheet
Download the blank comparison worksheet (CSV) to open in a spreadsheet, or use the checklist below beside your quotes. Enter an amount, “included”, “not applicable” or “ask the firm” for each item. Leave unknown amounts unresolved; do not turn them into zero.
| Item | Check and record |
|---|---|
| Legal work | The fee including any VAT, the pricing basis and the work covered. |
| Other firm charges | Any separate lender, ID, transfer, tax-return or property-specific work. Ask what each charge covers. |
| Third-party costs | Each disbursement, its amount and whether it is confirmed or estimated. |
| Property tax | Any applicable tax shown separately, using the same transaction details. Do not confuse it with a tax-return preparation fee. |
| Total and exclusions | The total for the listed work, anything omitted and any estimates still to confirm. |
| Payment timing | What is needed upfront, what it pays for and when the balance is due. |
| If the move stops | What the written terms say about work done, third-party costs and any refund. |
| Lender and service | Lender acceptance, the case handler, contact method and absence cover. |
For SRA-regulated firms, the price-transparency requirements address total costs or ranges, VAT, likely disbursements and services included or excluded. For CLC-regulated firms, the Estimates and Terms of Engagement Code (PDF) covers written estimates, fees, expenses, disbursements and the basis for charging if the transaction does not proceed.
A firm may group an item differently from another firm. Match the work described before adding it: a transfer charge already inside the legal fee should not be counted again. If an item is called a disbursement, ask who receives the payment. Our disbursements guide explains the terminology.
3 Check the arithmetic, not just the headline
These invented figures illustrate a comparison; they are not real quotes, typical prices or a full moving budget. Both columns assume the same work. Figures include any applicable VAT. Property tax and any work outside the listed scope are excluded from both columns.
| Listed cost | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Legal fee | £720 | £840 |
| Other firm charges for the same work | £120 | Included in the legal fee |
| Estimated third-party costs | £350 | £350 |
| Total for these listed items | £1,190 | £1,190 |
Quote A starts £120 lower but reaches the same total once its separate charge is added. The £350 is still an estimate in each column. If one firm leaves that row blank, you cannot assume its final bill will be £350 lower. Ask for the missing amount and what could change it. For a broader explanation of fee categories, see conveyancing costs.
4 Resolve exclusions before deciding
Ask which work a fixed fee covers and which circumstances could require a revised price. If the firm gives a range, ask what determines where your transaction falls within it. Where a third-party cost cannot yet be confirmed, record that uncertainty beside the estimate.
- Which extra work could change this price, and how would you tell me before proceeding?
- Does this quote allow for the property and mortgage details I supplied?
- If I pay money upfront, is it a fee, money towards future costs, or both?
- If the move falls through, which fees and costs could I still owe?
Read the conditions of any “no move, no fee” offer rather than using the label as your answer. Ask the firm to identify the relevant terms. The CLC code requires its regulated firms to explain how fees are charged when a transaction does not proceed and provide written information about charges once those can reasonably be calculated. It also addresses revised estimates when costs are likely to exceed the original estimate.
5 Compare the service as well as the price
For a mortgage purchase, confirm that the firm can act for your named lender. Ask who will handle the file, how you can contact them and who covers their absence. MoneyHelper includes lender approval and communication among the checks to make when choosing a conveyancer.
Record the answers in the worksheet. If two prices are close, a contact arrangement that suits you may help you choose. A quoted price or introduction does not guarantee a completion date. Use our choosing a conveyancer guide for the broader checks. If the quote came through an agent, read whether you have to use the agent’s recommended firm.
6 Ask for the missing information in writing
Adapt this suggested message with your quote reference and the items you need clarified.
“I am comparing conveyancing quotes for the same transaction. Please confirm the total including any applicable VAT, list the work and third-party costs included, and mark any estimates or exclusions. Could you also explain what I would owe if the move did not proceed, when payments are due, and who would handle my file? [For a mortgage purchase: can you act for my lender, NAME?]”
Before instructing, compare the reply with the firm’s written engagement terms. Ask about any inconsistency rather than relying on the shorter summary alone. This is general information for movers in England and Wales; your chosen firm should explain the terms that apply to your transaction.
MoveGuide is a conveyancing comparison and onboarding service. Our £150 onboarding payment is included in the quoted price and credited against the final bill, so do not add it twice. Check the payment and cancellation terms before proceeding. Our panel does not cover every conveyancing firm. For any service you use, establish whether an onboarding payment is included or additional. You can use the worksheet with quotes obtained through MoveGuide or elsewhere.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked on .
- SRA: Price transparency. Price, VAT, disbursements and included or excluded services for SRA-regulated firms.
- CLC: Estimates and Terms of Engagement Code (PDF). Code effective from 1 January 2025; estimates, abortive fees, revised costs and written terms for CLC-regulated firms.
- MoneyHelper: Find the right solicitor or conveyancer. Comparing total costs, checking lender approval and contact arrangements.