Agree with some of what Rosy says - the point is, choosing the right agent is as important or more important than using a solicitor (in my opinion). If you want 'belt and braces' go for both! There are good and bad (and useless) solicitors and also solicitors who represent the people you are buying from. Not anything shady, they can chase your paperwork and check for debts but when a push comes to a shove, you pay them for one transaction and the builder provides them dozens.
As a separate point, I lost count of the number of people I lost into the night who thought themselves very smart to cut me out to save an agency fee, and deal direct with a developer. All clever folks, you'll see some of them on this very website - discussing what they are going to do or how much it is going to cost to get their living permission (that the developer promised and didn't bother getting) or whether they will ever get their title deed (tapu) at all, what with it sounding like the builder is going to the wall.
I'm biased of course as I was an agent, and a fine one too
but when spending say £40,000 on a property in another country, their £1200 is money well spent. Good agents can't stop a developer going bust, or going back on promises to give the legally required habitation certificate, but they'll know a lot more about their current financial situation than you do. And certainly more than the builder is going to tell you!!
Good luck with your search - if you need to know anything just shout, that's what we are here for.
