Contract

dogaholic

Hi

Can someone please tell me how long it should take for a solicitor to draw up a contract for a house sale?

We had an offer accepted on a property on 18th November and things have been progressing to the point that we are virtually ready to exchange on our house but our solicitor STILL hasnt received the contract for the house we are purchasing!

Every time this solicitor is chased she tells everyone this has been sent but she keeps lying!

The house was owned by a lady who passed away in July and we have been assured the probate has been completed but we have a horrid suspicion this is not the truth.

Can anyone give me any advice please?

Thank you

lynzpower

I had my contract drawn up and on my kitchen table about 10 days after I instructed my solicitors ( im a seller though ,not a buyer)

dogaholic

Hi Lynzpower

Same here, my solicitor sent out our draft contract for our sale 2 weeks after we instructed him so I just cannot believe their solicitor hasnt done a thing in a whole month!

Every time I call my solicitor he says just wait and everything will fall into place sometime in January! I am scared that any day our chain is going to fall through.

Doozergirl

It takes no time at all. As far as I can tell, each solicitor uses a standard document which they send to the buyer's solicitor to review and amend.

You need to get on to the EA now and establish that your vendor really is willing to sell. It's very unusual not to have received contract - it's the first thing they do.

dogaholic

I have and told them exactly the position!

My purchaser is threatening to pull out today if we cant complete on 5th Jan and my solicitor told them this morning he doesnt think we'll even exchange by that date!

We have asked if we can rent the property from them until it completes and this is being put to them today. (Something I learned from someone else on this board!)

It's all hanging by a thread I think!

Thank you very much for replying - I know I only mostly lurk here but I have learned so much from everyone).

Doozergirl

The best situation for you is of course to stay put until your purchase is ready and I would try everything to manipulate the situation to your advantage; that means getting your buyers to agree to a reasonable, acheivable date for exchange - but this needs to come from the people higher up the chain; another date just made up by your buyers is only going to make matters worse when they set themsleves up to be disappointed again.

Most people are reasonable if they know what is going on, you will probably find this with your buyer, especially if you talk to them directly. It's unfortunate that people don't trust EAs.

Once you yourself have managed to establish what is going on(!) Ask your solicitor to see what date the people further up the chain think is reasonable and also set them a deadline for contracts to be received ie. this week or you start looking again (nb. I said start looking again, not pull out!)