What is taking the solicitor so long

rs82uk

Hi all
I had an offer accepted on a house 6 weeks ago yesterday, and immediately instructed solicitor etc, within a week survey was done and searches were back, and had a letter from the solicitor confirming as much.
Fast forward 5 weeks and nothing more seems to have happened, I am still waiting for the call to come in sign on the dotted line and transfer the deposit.
I am getting contacted by the agent regularly asking me what is happening and saying that all that is needed is for the contract at my end.
What is going on, I talked to the solicitor on monday and he said he hopes to be calling me in within a week, what is going on it would appear that there is nothing holding up the whole process other than him.
WE are in limbo at the moment we have half of our stuff packed, luckily my landlord isn't hastling us to get out yet, but I would like to have some information to give him.

alenax

rs82uk wrote: »

Hi all
I had an offer accepted on a house 6 weeks ago yesterday, and immediately instructed solicitor etc, within a week survey was done and searches were back, and had a letter from the solicitor confirming as much.
Fast forward 5 weeks and nothing more seems to have happened, I am still waiting for the call to come in sign on the dotted line and transfer the deposit.
I am getting contacted by the agent regularly asking me what is happening and saying that all that is needed is for the contract at my end.
What is going on, I talked to the solicitor on monday and he said he hopes to be calling me in within a week, what is going on it would appear that there is nothing holding up the whole process other than him.
WE are in limbo at the moment we have half of our stuff packed, luckily my landlord isn't hastling us to get out yet, but I would like to have some information to give him.

If it was me, I would call my solicitor and ask why it's taking a long time, and also inform him you would like it done faster, and keep calling him every day.

rs82uk

Yeah my work colleague says I should do that, I just worry that every time I phone, he puts my file to the bottom of the pile.

I guess now I know why he was £300 cheaper than my usual solicitor.

G_M

Ask for specifics - what is the delay? Has he agreed the contract with the other side? Has he completed all searches? If not, which is he waiting for and when does he expect them? Is the mortgage arranged? Money in his client account?
Get details and specifics. eithere there is a reason for waiting or you can Exchange Contracts tomorrow. Which?

chickmug

If I were the agent acting for the seller I would chase your solicitor and see what is going on. First I would ask your permission to call on your behalf and then the solicitor can't refuse to take my call.

Why not try that?

Fire_Fox

My advice to Mr. Fire Fox was that you contact the solicitor and estate agent once a week from day one to find out the state of play and to ensure things keep progressing. He thought I was talking rubbish and lost the flat due to the other side's solicitor being a useless waste of space. Sounds to me like your solicitor is putting you to the bottom of the pile because you are letting him get away with it!

rs82uk

Well im even more confused now, I have spoken to the Agent again and he confirmed its all waiting on my signature and deposit.
But the solicitor has said he is still waiting on some information and that he will get me in to sign the contract soon. He has been saying soon for about 3 weeks now.
Am getting to the end of my tether now, I just want some information to tell my landlord.

dippydog_2

rs82uk wrote: »

Well im even more confused now, I have spoken to the Agent again and he confirmed its all waiting on my signature and deposit.
But the solicitor has said he is still waiting on some information and that he will get me in to sign the contract soon. He has been saying soon for about 3 weeks now.
Am getting to the end of my tether now, I just want some information to tell my landlord.

You need to ask him to be more specific - what information is he waiting on?

G_M

rs82uk wrote: »

Well im even more confused now, I have spoken to the Agent again and he confirmed its all waiting on my signature and deposit.
But the solicitor has said he is still waiting on some information and that he will get me in to sign the contract soon. He has been saying soon for about 3 weeks now.
Am getting to the end of my tether now, I just want some information to tell my landlord.

You asked for advice... but ignore it! Why?

Ask for specifics - what is the delay? Has he agreed the contract with the other side? Has he completed all searches? If not, which is he waiting for and when does he expect them? Is the mortgage arranged? Money in his client account?
Get details and specifics: either there is a reason for waiting or you can Exchange Contracts tomorrow. Which?

Ignore the Esate Agent. His job is to find buyers which he's done. The SOLICITOR is the one doing the conveyancing.

Where is the solicitor? Local? If so, go in (no apptmt needed, you are his CLIENT), just turn up and insist, then ask for answers. Offer to sign the Contract there and then. GIVE HIM your deposit (if it's not already with the solicitor?). Then he has noexcuse not to Exchange.
If far away, get on the phone, don't get palmed off with an assistant, and insist on SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

chickmug

G_M

Spot on and you sound how I often feel when I give the right advice and the OP's still wallow around but don't seem to get stuck in. On many other threads as well and particularly gauling when they seem to think certain advice seems the option they want to listen to and it is not the best

I would say that many EA's do not have a clue, of the detail, if they spoke to a solicitor so my comment 'get your agent to do it' was based on how I would of handled it. But does depend on how good the EA is?

G_M

Thanks chickmug.

My view is firmly that people should do their own jobs. EAs have a job to do, so do solicitors. But they cannot do each other's jobs and should not be asked to by clients.