Anyone here able to answer the unanswerable question?

Richard_Webster

It is quite unusual for the period between exchange and completion to be 28 days - typically it is around 14 days - often the Friday that's about 10 days away when everybody is ready.

Mrsmoneypenny

We bought last year, the day we put the offer in we said exactly what date we wanted to complete and it worked like clockwork. .

We had cash, it was a EA that was selling his own home to us and no problems cropped up. It took less than 6 weeks.

Same happened when we bought our daughter her home, she told them on the day of the offer that it was to be within six weeks and six weeks later the owners moved out and she got the key.

On the other hand we sold a property and the people buying it didnt like to push their solicitor, mortgage lender and it took from approx May until October, we didnt live in that house and were still looking for somewhere to buy so we didnt push it either.

So I think if you know your finances are in order, have the searches etc done and you give everyone the date you want to complete things should move along quickly. Be firm. In each instance we didnt know when we would complete until the last minute but all parties knew what we wanted to work towards.

geoffky

I reckon the chain will break as someone gets cold feet with the market...i am sure you dont want to hear this but with a chain in this market it is far more likely...

mlz1413

Three months is normal, everyone says 28 days to 6 weeks when they start and then there is always "something" and it delays the chain so I'd say don't get excited, assume it will March before you get the keys and hope for the sunshine on the day you need to move furniture.

p00hsticks

Richard_Webster wrote: »

It is quite unusual for the period between exchange and completion to be 28 days - typically it is around 14 days - often the Friday that's about 10 days away when everybody is ready.

I've always heard that it's best to avoid completion dates on a Friday if possible. There are a few reasons for this - firstly it means that if the money exchanges get delayed anywhere along the line you may end up in limbo for the entire weekend, and secondly because it's the most popular day for moving (as people like to have the weekend to 'settle in'), then removal companies are at their busiest and it's more difficult / expensive to book them.

poppysarah

Thirdly if its Friday and something goes wrong you've got a longer wait til Monday to speak to your solicitor.

jorichste

my buyers made their offer, and I accepted, early jan 2008, we completed mid april 2008, but there was no chain at all, they were ftb, I am currently renting

lil'H

thanks for all the replies, I shall keep you all posted! Abbey seem to be the first delay in the process, they keep loosing my paperwork, getting worried they are going to seriously mess me about and then say no! (Although they did advise me originally that I could borrow 37k more than i am).

Helga14

i'd say three months particularly with xmas break and lots of sickness in january.

feralkitten

I'll go for 20th March.