Ready to exchange - is this normal?

scooter_chick

Banananamana, that's really useful, thanks. I've spent all evening trying to compose a response, with specific points, and I think I'll add your list of general ones to it.

The thing is, it's a 350 year old, grade 2 listed building. I was just expecting something much more complicated. Or does being freehold & detached make it easier?

The building works are fine, it's things like a shared access path that don't seem to be fully answered. I don't think that much will put me off actually buying (hopefully not famous last words!), but I do want to know exactly what I'm getting!

timmyt

scooter_chick wrote: »

Apparently I'm finally ready to exchange contracts. This is the first time I've sold a property & I last bought 13 years ago, so I can't remember what happened then. So I need your help - I don't know if this is normal procedure or not.

My solicitor came on a personal recommendation, she's based in a different town to both me & the properties concerned. I have no intention of going to her offices.

So anyway, she's just emailed should be hardcopy nicely bound to act as your 'bible' throughout your ownership as reference me the 'report' for the property. This consists of 2 pages terrible. we use 12 in plain english with headings and very good reading so our clients say of report, the HM Land Reg page, the TA6 (Property Information form), the TA10 (F&F form), a copy of the listing (it's a Grade II listed building), then a few planning docs & damp guarantees. 27 pages in total. She's then said "If you are happy with the report perhaps you will be kind enough to email authority for me to sign the Sale and Purchase Contracts you should see sight of them at least, but it is ok for her to sign on your behalf and we can then go ahead to exchange with a completion date of xxx"

Now, I've not seen copies of the actual contracts (although we have discussed a couple of clauses over the last few weeks). Is this normal? Surely I should see a copy of what's to be signed, crrect, she could quite easily email them. ok you won't understand them but at least look at them even if she then signs on my behalf. Or are they completely standard beasts? they are but the front page is easy to read giving details of the deal

Would really appreciate the advice of the more experienced people on here, I don't want to hold up the process unduly, but this does just seem odd to me. If I asked to see copies of the contracts, would that be reasonable? yes

Many thanks!

good luck op, you sound very close, so just ask for the contracts

tnimbus

I am a practicing property solicitor and would concur with Mr Webster. My property reports (excluding associated documents) usually run to 2-3000 words. I am also uncomfortable about the idea of a client signing contracts they have never seen

poppysarah

G_M wrote: »

Sounds unusual. I've always seen the contracts and physically signed them but maybe recent processes, with email etc.....

You can do it all by email apart from the showing of proof of id.