how long to exchange contracts

kford224

SnowBelle wrote: »

Six months from sale to move date,my solicitor was brilliant theirs was useless.
Towards the end I was on the phone every other day,it seems that in a lot of cases people don't think to ring you & put you in the picture they seem to think you can read minds!

I think we might have the same thing. Our solicitor has been awesome, but we are still waiting for responses to two basic queries regarding the deeds/draft contract over a week later....:(

CheeseCat

Wowee, your post could've been written by me! I viewed mine on 19th Feb, put an offer in 21st and have been waiting, waiting, waiting.

I don't get WHY it all takes so long. I've documented every important date so far - mortgage accepted, survey done.. searches 'in hand' (why weren't they done ages ago?I paid for them ages ago ) No chain, so whats the problem? I am still waiting for a fixtures and fittings list

I also hope to exchange/complete before the two bank holiday weekends (so Thurs 21st April - over 3 weeks away) I really don't see what they'll waste their next three weeks doing but I am sure they'll think of something!

You are not alone OP

Alibear

My offer was accepted on Jan 29 and I'm completing on Friday. Also no chain either side. I reckon it could've beed done quicker but no-one's gonna tell us that! I tended to call my solicitor every Friday to check everything was progressing. I don't think there would be anything wrong with calling your solicitor/EA to suggest when you'd like to complete? At least you'd know soon enough whether that's achievable or not?

SmlSave

I am still waiting for a fixtures and fittings list

Cheesecat, it sounds as though your seller's are the problem then, not the solicitors as the seller fills out the F&F. You'd be amazed at how many clients (I'm a legal sec) say they want to move quick and then p*ss about filling out forms, sending money and getting back in touch with you.

Not saying that there arn't some terrible solicitors out there though!

However, if you ever meet a solicitor/agent who says you'll complete in x amount of weeks or exchange in so many ask them for the lottery numbers too as they must have a crystal ball.

westv

Back in 98 (which of course was a long time ago) I bought a new build. Contracts were exchanged within 28 days.

Funkygibbon

I've just been told from the estate agent that the vendors have found a house and want to complete in 28 days! I haven't seen a fixtures and fittings list yet but they only sent it back either Friday or Saturday. Hopefully we are both looking to exchange around one of the long weekends! I wonder how many people will be looking at the same time as well!!

Kraken27

I had an offer accepted back in early March - with a "complete in 28 days" caveat from the Estate Agent (branch manager). Agent dealing with the sale was off sick at the time. Seems that the EA kept the sick agents deals moving, but dealt with none of the associated paperwork.

Offer accepted on the Friday, mortgage survey done the following Monday (& fine). Both parties solicitors did not recieve the Memo of Sale for a further 12 days (when the sick EA was back at work & catching up on paperwork... yes, both vendor & buyer [me] had chased this). Tomorrow we will be 5 weeks down the line & still no exchange date mentioned, despite all surveys being back with no problems. Just to add, I am a FTB with nothing to sell and the vendor does not live in the house they are selling, so there is nothing to hold the transaction up - but it is dragging along slowly. Yes, there were a few questions answered incorrectly on the Property Info / Fixtures & Fittings form, but these were flagged up almost three weeks ago.

I really do not look forward to moving house when I am in a chain and am also relying on a sale so I can buy my next house!

kford224

Kraken27 wrote: »

I really do not look forward to moving house when I am in a chain and am also relying on a sale so I can buy my next house!

Me neither! I think when we come to move (not for many years yet!) we shall sell, rent and then buy afterwards.

As for our progress now, the only thing holding us up has been the local search but apparently the information was sent from the Borough Council to the agent yesterday. Hopefully by close of play today we shall have an excahange date?! Fingers crossed!!

Good luck to everyone else, hope it is all going OK?

flora48

It took 6 months from offer to completion for my sale last year. Lost paperwork by the solicitor and a buyer who b******ed of for 6 weeks between exchange and completion. There is just no telling how it will go.

Catatonia

I think the only way to get it done promptly is to keep chasing people. Even if it's the seller's solicitors that are slow, you should still be chasing EA (to chase seller's sols) and your solicitor (to chase seller's sols). Your solicitor shouldn't really be sending out a letter to the seller's sols and then sitting around and drumming their fingers for a few weeks while they wait for a reply.