Quote Originally Posted by LisaUK View Post
Exactly :/ That's why I really want to go on recommendations. It seems that hardly anyone uses an agency or a lawyer though. Most do it themselves - but there's just so much info required and one wrong move means refusal
It's always a personal choice.
If your circumstances are complex then there's an advantage using professional help as they can use caselaw to support your position.

If your circumstances are straightforward but you find your unable to dedicate the time to put the application together then it just comes down to financial budgets.

Do be aware that in either case, the very best that the professional advisor can do is to only compile the application supporting evidence supplied by yourselves. They will send you a list of required documentary evidence and you will be the ones to gather it together and send it to them.
They cannot answer the application questions without first asking you to answer them.
Don't be fooled into thinking that any guarantee of visa success is secured. There are many horror stories around.
Also don't be fooled by meaningless statistics about success rates.

Take your time. Browse through the vast knowledge resource here within the forum posts and then decide the best course of action for yourselves.
There's always a danger in asking for recommendations since you'll not know if visa success was actually down to the actions of the professional advisor or was in spite of the actions of the professional advisor.

If your decision is to engage a professional, then my only advice would be to use an experienced UK based advisor.