Chasing Solicitors/EAs after sale.

bylromarha

Hi all

Who should be chasing who when the sale is going through? The solicitor tells me the details are with the EA...the EA tells me the solicitor should be processing such and such.

As I don't have the first clue about what I can do to hurry this along, who should I be ringing to get the answers I want?

And they say they're all working for my benefit...yeah right!

The impression I get from those in the know on this forum is that the mortgage broker/EA and solicitors should all talk to each other and sort out what they need to do amongst themselves, but it doesn't seem to be happening that way with us! It would be a dream world if I didn't have to make one phone call as they've all sorted themselves out.

So can someone tell me a definitive list of who contacts who, what I can do to chase, and who I need to chase.

Cheers

Jorgan_2

You could argue that that the EA's job is to find the buyer & the solicitors job is to get it to completion, however most EA's will chase the sale to ensure that surveys have been carried out, searches applied for, mortgage offers issued etc. Your solicitor should work with your EA to get to it to completion with the least possible hassle to your self. A good EA will progress the sale once every 7-10 days, more often if their issues that need resolving.

dander

With my sale I found it was the estate agent who was best at getting things moving. My estate agent had a dedicated Sales Progression team, so I'm not sure if it would be different with other estate agents.

In my experience the estate agent has the most riding on the sale - they only get their commission if we complete - where as the solicitor gets paid for his work whatever happens. Estate agent should be in touch with both sets of solicitors as well as the buyer so has the best overall view in my opinion.

lush_walrus

Generally, all are working for the same goal to get the sale complete in as little time as possible, with the goal to get paid.

Initially the EA sends all of the sales particulars through to the solicitor, which includes details of the op's solicitor and contact details.

The EA will also get details from the buyer of if the mortgage has been applied for, etc and if they are in a chain the details of their EA and their buyer and from the vendor details of if they have found somewhere to move to, what they are buying and EA they are buying through.

While that is going on the solicitor will put in for all of the searches etc, and generally get along with their work independantly of the EA. The EA will then go up and down the chain to get progress and check that nothing is going wrong, for example that the buyer hasnt lost their sale or the vendor has got a complete chain above etc, the EA will also chase the buyers mortgage advisor or company to get a survey done asap and check that there are no problems with finance.

Its all a very slow process and can all be even slower if a chain isnt complete, a mortgage company is slow in getting the survey, or a buyer is slow in arranging finance. If any leasehold properties are involved then the solicitor will also be requesting information from the building maintenance people, which really does take a lot of work and eons of patience they are the true horrors of sales!

Tassotti

I have dealt with many agents, but only ONE sales progressor.

I must admit I was impressed by the Progressor. It is their main job to ensure that buyer/seller is aware of the facts all the time. I even had a call from mine, saying that there were no further developments, but he is doing this, that and the other to chase it up.

it gives peace of mind to know someone is on your side.

Jorgan, does your company employ a sales progressor?

I think that often, once a sale is secured, the agent will move onto other deals. Not a criticism, it is fair enough, but with this type of service, word gets round and then business increases.

Would appreciate your views.

Tass

Me_Myself_2

My OH is a solicitor and much preferes his own client calling up for updates etc. rather than the EA. He often feels the EA says the client wants this or that and later finds out the client hadn't asked anything. He feels things progress much better if he deals with clients directly and there are fewer 'mis-understandings'.

E.G. "EA told us we were exchanging on [DATE]." Whereas the actual conversation might have been. "We're hoping to exchange on [DATE], but depends on ..... Will speak to clients when we know more."

This is VERY typical.

dander

Wow. I had no idea sales progressors were so rare! I didn't think to go looking for an estate agent that did that when I sold, just struck lucky I guess. But I would definitely look for that as a criteria when selling in future, as I had a tricky sale and the progressor was worth his weight in gold.

Jorgan_2

Tassotti wrote:

Jorgan, does your company employ a sales progressor?

I think that often, once a sale is secured, the agent will move onto other deals. Not a criticism, it is fair enough, but with this type of service, word gets round and then business increases.

Would appreciate your views.

Tass

Tass, we don't employ a sales progressor, the sales progression is split between myself & another senior member of staff. In my experience, people prefer to deal with the agent they viewd the house with/put the offer in with. That way they don't have to go over old ground with with a new personand.

We don't get paid until the sale completes so whilst we do have to agree new business its as important to keep on top 'exisitng business' to make sure it goes thru. If you've got 50 sales agreed, its only 10 sales a day to chase, split between 2, thats five each per day to chase. As long as your notes on the sales file are updated, others can take calls from solicitors confirming information etc.

I have worked for a coporate who used a sales progression department that was located in a call centre about 40 miles from our office, buyers & sellers hated dealing with them as they didn't know the properties or areas.

Jorgan_2

Me_Myself wrote:

E.G. "EA told us we were exchanging on [DATE]." Whereas the actual conversation might have been. "We're hoping to exchange on [DATE], but depends on ..... Will speak to clients when we know more."

This is VERY typical.

I never quote dates, leave that one to the solicitor to sort out. I actually tell people never to agree to dates without speaking to their solicitor.

Me_Myself_2

Good idea Jorgan. I also prefer to always deal with the initial sales person (with personal business).