Solicitor conveyancy timing

I am interested in buying a holiday home (rural house). Should I employ a solicitor within the county I would be buying in with local knowledge on rights of way, well etc., ? Also, do I get a surveyor to inspect the house & boundaries ahead of employing a solicitor ?

A good solicitor is more important than a local solicitor.

You should definitely get an inspection done, an engineer rather than a surveyor I would think, at the same time as the solicitor. You will have to pay for the engineer's report even if you do not go ahead with the purchase.

Just an opinion.

Thanks cremeegg. I was just wondering though. If I waited to employ a solicitor based on the inspection report then I would have no legal fees if not going ahead. If I do both at the same time and the inspection report was not good and I did'nt want to go ahead then I would have to negotiate reduced legal fees. Do you still think I should have both going at the same time in that scenario.

I would advise a good engineer as far away from the area as possible.
I would advise a good solicitor as far away from the area as possible.