It's a common misconception that brokers make a mortgage more expensive because you'll usually need to pay a brokerage fee, but the opposite is true in the long term!
Investing a small commission in a broker can save a tremendous amount of cost due to:
Access to broker-exclusive deals with better rates than anywhere on the open market.
Inside knowledge about niche lenders or specialist providers who can offer terms tailored to your requirements.
Independent advice when selecting the right lender to apply to or identifying ways to strengthen your application to achieve lower rates.
Professional assistance with compiling paperwork and supporting documentation.
Leverage with negotiations since brokers have established relationships with lenders and can often liaise to agree on better rates, more competitive terms, or get an application over the finish line that a lender may have rejected on a technicality.
Therefore, getting a mortgage through a broker is often much faster, less stressful, and cheaper since you'll save thousands of pounds (sometimes within a year or two) compared to the costs of applying directly to a mainstream bank.