How long between exchange and completion (no chain, vacant property)?

dizziblonde

Just wondering what kind of timescale we're looking to be thinking about there? Things are finally in the end stages of solicitor paperwork ping-pong I believe, waiting for final confirmations to be sent in writing before they start to draw everything up.

Property's vacant, there's no chains involved - just wondering what kind of timescale there's likely to be once we get to exchanging contracts before we get the keys and I can go on a rampage with a paintbrush!?!

hazyjo

Do you mean how long between exchange and completion, or how long is it likely to be until you exchange?

You'll be setting the time between exchange and completion so whatever you decide on. Could be the same day, could be four weeks apart. I'd advise a couple of weeks as you'll need to get in touch with utilities, etc and won't be able to do that until you've actually exchanged as, until that time, dates are subject to change.

If you meant the latter, sounds like you're nearly there, but your solicitor should be able to give you a clearer indication. Have you signed contracts?

Jx

dizziblonde

Nah it's the timescale between exchange (which I think we're close to) and completion I wanted to know - wasn't sure what the average was and how much control we got over it. Utilities etc aren't really a problem since we can live between the two houses for a couple of weeks and planned to anyway as there's a lot of decorating, filling walls and the like that we'd rather get done while the place is empty and since we currently rent three doors down from where we're buying - we can overlap a bit quite easily.

Trouble we have is our helpers (aka Team Mum and Dad - my husband's banned from DIY after drilling through the lighting circuit) are committed to other stuff from the end of November onwards so we want to be sorted by then!

Charliezoo

As far as I know you can exchange and complete on the same day as long as this is agreed by the vendor. If I was you I'd contact your solicitor and the EA asap to let them know that this is what you want and see if the vendor is okay with it. It may be possible given the fact that the house is empty, it would be less likely if it was occupied as the owner would need time to pack and cancel utilities, etc.

StuHolmes

We just exchanged and completed on the same day, vacant property, no chain. If there is no chain it just for you and the vendor to agree timescales.

firstaspect

It's up to you and your seller to agree on a completion date which is put into the contract for exchange. What you need to do is talk to your solicitor to determine when exchange can happen. Then you can suggest a completion date which is on that date or in the future. They can then speak to the seller's solicitors to see if they agree with that date or want to suggest an alternative.

Evilm

Usually a week is advisable but it can be the same day or even months! Your solicitor will discuss it with you and decide on a date to put to the other side and a mutually agreeable date will be decided before exchange takes place.

jmt

I have done simultaneous exchange and completion on the same day for the last two properties that we have bought.

I sent money to solicitors on Thurday and 9am Friday morning had a final viewing to check that everything was in order and no damage/unwanted furniture left. I then rang solicitor and I gave go ahead. I had the keys in my hand by 2pm each time.

vectistim

A week is typical, especially if a mortgage, or a chain is involved.

Exchange and completion on the same day always puts the wind up me when a chain is involved (someone could still pull out whilst everyone was halfway in/out of their removal vans)

CLARE

A lot of people do exchange and complete on the same day !

BUT......... we exchanged last Thursday and are completing this Friday; our decision entirely !! Good luck

dizziblonde

Thanks - confirmed what I was thinking really. Inconsiderate of the helpers to all go booking holidays really - grrr!

I'm thinking of leaving just a couple of days there if needs be - mortgage is in place and agreed, everything's sorted and the house is empty and has been for a couple of years so I believe what CAN go wrong is minimal from that point of view - I know normally the gap is there in case of chains and things like that, just wasn't sure how much was because of stuff needing doing and how much was out of choice. Wish someone would write a complete idiots guide to buying houses sometimes! Thankfully no vans or anything to book, and because we currently rent we can run the end of the tenancy parallel to give us breathing space to move over a few days and decorate before we move furniture anyway - and if there's delays in things like switching cable over, we just decamp to the house with the telly still on in!