Accepted offer...now what?

first78

I accepted an offer on my house 2 weeks ago and was told by the EA they would get the paperwork started. Since then I have heard nothing...is this usual? I need the sale to go through asap and the EA advised me it would take approx 6 weeks...all I want is to move before Xmas. Should I call them and ask how the sale is progressing?

GavB79

Have you instructed a solicitor? They should be dealing with your sale and should be able to advise you on how things are progressing.

Apple45

I my view unless a surveyor is on his way then you can't be sure if the buyer is serious

first78

My EA is Fixed Price Sales, they charge a fixed fee and arrange the solicitor as part of the package. When I initially put my house on the market I filled out a load of paperwork for the solicitor and I e-mailed them last week to notify them that I had accepted an offer.

firstaspect

I ask my solicitor for an update once a week at least.

G_M

first78 wrote: »

My EA is Fixed Price Sales, they charge a fixed fee and arrange the solicitor as part of the package. When I initially put my house on the market I filled out a load of paperwork for the solicitor and I e-mailed them last week to notify them that I had accepted an offer.

?????
GavB79 asked you "Have you instructed a solicitor? They should be dealing with your sale and should be able to advise you on how things are progressing. " (My bold)

Apple45's point about surveyor is also relevant.

If/when you get impatient, just tell your EA to put the property back on the market. That should scare the buyers into speeding things up (assuming the buyers are being slow, which, till you speak to your solicitor, you don't know).

**curlywurly**

Contact the solicitor straightaway and ask if the contract has been drawn up and if not, when it will be.

first78

**curlywurly** wrote: »

Contact the solicitor straightaway and ask if the contract has been drawn up and if not, when it will be.

Thanks for the advice, I'll make a call in the morning. Is everything now done through the solicitor as opposed to the EA now?

**curlywurly**

Not exactly, but the solicitor will do all the legal work - draw up the contract, negotiate terms with the buyer, get the searches done, report to you on any problems, liaise with buyer's solicitors as to any problems/dates for exchange of contract, etc. The estate agent will probably ring up buyer and seller periodically to chivvy everything along but other than that their only role is to deal with the handover of keys and collect their fee. Which, considering the amount of work they do is likely to be extortionate compared to the solicitor!

Remember you are the client. You are paying the solicitor to do a job. You won't do yourself any favours if you ring up every hour, but asking for an update is normal. And if your solicitor doesn't hurry up you might lose the sale.