Conveyancing costs

[Merlot]

I've been getting quotes from solicitors for purchasing a 1 bed converted apartment, share of freehold @ £155k.

So far, quotes seem to be going like this:

Online Quotes (From large conveyancing companies) = £650 ish (£150+vat)

Small Local Firms = £900-£950ish (£400+vat)

Big Local Firms = £1200ish (£600+vat)

Senior partner I know in a small firm, with discount = £1200 (£600+vat)

(The above fees include all searches and so on - I have put the broken down legal fee in brackets)

What is a reasonable amount? Should I pay the extra and go with someone I know/trust?

[Road Pest]

A good solicitor is worth their weight in gold when buying property. Flats are also notoriously complicated things too.

[sinizter]

Someone you know or have a personal recommendation for is always best regardless of cost. I would have paid more to avoid the rubbish service I received from one set of solicitors that I first started with. I then moved the conveyancing over to another firm which came with a personal recommendation and things were much better - fortunately, it was also cheaper because the first set was in London and the 2nd firm was in Milton Keynes.

[Penny-lope]

Am paying £850 (all in) on a 100K flat, but this is Scotland