how long to exchange contracts

megzmam

we're in a very similar position to the original poster too. we accepted an offer on our house at the beginning of februiary from a couple of ftb, a few days later we put in an offer on the house we wanted which was accepted within a wekk to ten days valuations and surveys were done we have completed a fixtures and fittings list for our property and now we wait.... and wait....and wait (could go on like this for a while so better stop lol.
the house we are buyoing isn't in a chain and is now unoccupied as the owners moved out last week, the valuation of our house was slightly less than the offer we accepted and the ftb were unable to increase their mortgage but between us all we negotiated price that will make it still possible for them to buy.
the house we want to buy is all ready to go searches done etc and our house is also all ready to go our mortgage offer is with solicitor, searches av been done ready for the ftb of our house the only thing holding up is ftb mlortgage details to get to solicitors. . . does anyone know if this should be pretty soon. . . or av i just asked the how long is a peice of string question?? we too were ideally hoping to move during easter holidays but now not so sure this is gonna happen but fingers crossed you never know.

normanspine

Its taken us 4 weeks from offer to exchange. Complete in 10 days.
All down to solicitors getting things actioned quickly. They have emailed me searches, questions etc and followed up by snail mail.
The longest wait was for the local searches. FTB and no forward chain.

kford224

normanspine wrote: »

The longest wait was for the local searches. FTB and no forward chain.

Same with us, and it was the last thing I expected to have to wait on!! *Pfft!!*

an3107

Just keep pushing your solicitor and if they don't seem to be doing anything threaten a formal complaint. That's what I had to do.

I'm buying a repo so might be slightly different but I had my offer accepted on 25th Feb, spent ages going back and forth with various enquiries that nobody seemed to be able to answer.

Exchange was set for 5th April, my solicitor still wasn't ready and the vendor's solicitor had imposed a 4 week wait between exchange and completion due to transfer of the license. I phoned my solicitor at least 4 times a day and sent an email which expressed how unhappy I was and surprise surprise, I got a phonecall at 8am yesterday telling me that exchange would take place that day and that completion would be next Friday 15th.

Chase your mortgage broker, estate agents and solicitor. Just keep persevering and you'll get there eventually even if it doesn't seem like it now!

Funkygibbon

Think we are still waiting for local searches as well!! Also information from the vendors solicitor, not sure what though. Received the Environmental searches yesterday. I haven't got a clue where we are upto to be honest!!!

normanspine

I asked my solicitor what was going on after about 8 days waiting for the local search. He called them and told me it would be another 2-3 days. Then later that afternoon they were emailed through. Ask your solicitor to chase them.

Funkygibbon

Just been informed that the searches from the council will be in tonights post to the solicitor!!

kford224

Funkygibbon wrote: »

Just been informed that the searches from the council will be in tonights post to the solicitor!!

Hurrah!!

happycamper3

I am to in the waiting game, put offer on house in Feb, still waiting, keep phoning my solicitor every wednesday, today received land registry documents, so fingers crossed completion won't be long, just a hassle to keep ringing, but Iwould like to be moved by May!!!

Good luck, it is really stressful isn't it.

tiggerjj

Crikey, I bought my little house just over a year ago. Did the whole thing while working on the other side of the Atlantic -6hour time difference, seller had a stroke mid way throught the process, and we had a problem with a lease changing to a freehold and LandRegistry not knowing.
And still it only took us 2 months.
However I had a wonderful sol (family friend who only worked part time) and I had every one on email, and made sure the communication was flowing. I think that was the key, along with a get well soon card to the gentlemen who had the stroke.