It is not usually necessary to employ a solicitor to buy or sell a property, but of course you would need to know the basic checks to carry out, or have someone to guide you,
When the purchase contract is signed in front of the notary (which it must be) he/she will have made certain checks to ensure that the person selling has the right to do so and that there are no debts.
I have bought and sold several times, and assisted family and friends to do so, and have never employed a solicitor.