Well, Here goes - a stress and hassle free purchase.......

klolav

tristinh wrote: »

Does anyone have a definitive (or generic) list of what is needed prior to exchange, then completion? We keeping being told 'it is moving along nicely' but I am impatient!

Me too!!!!

Your list looks complete to me....no expert but bought and sold a few and in process of selling again. I would be very happy if my 'list' was at that stage-surely can't be long now!

[/QUOTE]We have been looking for 14 months and our offer was accepted in April on this one! [/QUOTE]

You would seem very patient- APRIL!!!!!!!! that must have been painstaking knowing you had had your offer accepted but only just happening now- 6 mths later!
good luck-nearly there!

Mummytobe

My broker rang me today as Northern Rock (the mortgage provider) havent got our solicitors that we have appointed on their system. This is because they have recently moved offices. Therefore its now going to take a few more days for them to get them on to the system. My broker did say that because they got to this stage with regards to attempting to add the solicitors then its more or less done. (the mortgage offer that is), do you agree? And if so...what happens now. I have instructed the solicitors to commence the searches and then what?

klolav

Mummytobe wrote: »

My broker rang me today as Northern Rock (the mortgage provider) havent got our solicitors that we have appointed on their system. This is because they have recently moved offices. Therefore its now going to take a few more days for them to get them on to the system. My broker did say that because they got to this stage with regards to attempting to add the solicitors then its more or less done. (the mortgage offer that is), do you agree? And if so...what happens now. I have instructed the solicitors to commence the searches and then what?

Well, did you find out? Are you close???

I have today been told our searches are still not in (I phoned the council-again!), even though for the 3rd time in nearly 3 weeks the buyers solicitors have told us they are in????
The purchaser has told us they paid a cheque in Tuesday, so are the solicitors waiting for the cheque to clear? Bit rich considering they told us 3 weeks ago they had done them.

Mummytobe

Still not had an offer. Spoke to northern rock direct as broker wasnt answering (this was on fri and wanted an update before the weekend), and they just said they are waiting for the solicitors details. So hopefully tomorrow ill hear more. The solicitors have cashed the cheque so fingers crossed the searches will take place this week. How long do they normally take and how long till i get a completion/exchange date?

klolav

Mummytobe wrote: »

Still not had an offer. Spoke to northern rock direct as broker wasnt answering (this was on fri and wanted an update before the weekend), and they just said they are waiting for the solicitors details. So hopefully tomorrow ill hear more. The solicitors have cashed the cheque so fingers crossed the searches will take place this week. How long do they normally take and how long till i get a completion/exchange date?

It's frustrating to say the least isn't it. You seem to be at the same place as us.
I emailed solicitor Friday to ask if we could start setting dates, as we really want to be out by end of this month.
If the cheque is cashed, no reason why they shouldn't be put in this week- today really!
Council websites display the length of time that searches are presently taking to come back in. If you go to the website and search for 'searches' it generally comes up. Mine states 5 working days. You can also call the council and they should be able to put you through to someone in the correct dept that can help. Mine are extremely helpful and have told me they will ring as soon as mine are in, (prob fed up of me calling them!), and they have said they are taking 3-5 working days, so worth a phone call so the solicitors can't fob you off.
You can by all means start asking for expected dates but until everything is through they are usually reluctant. If they have said all the conveyancing is complete, just awaiting the searches and offer, then as soon as they are in (assuming no problems with searches or queries) then dates will be agreed!! Getting closer!!:)

davilown

tristinh wrote: »

Does anyone have a definitive (or generic) list of what is needed prior to exchange, then completion? We keeping being told 'it is moving along nicely' but I am impatient!

Our Sol has:

1. Draft contract - These need to be signed for exchange
2. Copy of vendors title & deeds - Yes
3. Property Info Form - Yes
4. Fixture & Fittings Form -Yes
5. Environmental Searches - Yes
6. Water searches -Yes
7. Mortgage offer - We had to sign the mortgage deeds form
8. Copy of buildings insurance - No, they need that for completion, you need it from exchange
9. Mortgage information from (i.e. where is your deposit coming from, proof of deposit, has your situation changed etc) - They need the deposit for exchange
10. She is expecting Land Registry searches any day. - Add to this the land registry deed forms

Apart from us transferring the deposit, what else does she need to enable us to sign and exchange contracts?

VERY excited now! We have been looking for 14 months and our offer was accepted in April on this one! Legal stuff only kicked off 2 weeks ago though following the vendors messy divorce settlement.:T

These are the bits my solicitor required, may be more but I have signed so many pieces of paper that my mind is still coming to terms with it

I think a lot of the stress of moving can be alleviated by a good solicitor. I've used one recommended by some on these boards and he (and his sec!) have been very efficient, precise (some may call it anally retentive - I call it doing the job properly first time) and informative throughout the process.

When we offered, we told the vendor that we wouldn't be able to completed until the 6th Oct (so we were able to save a few thousand as a backup if the boiler broke etc) and we are on course to complete tomorrow! Just off out to get the van and pack the first load. Thank God it's only a mile around the corner.

Roll on 28 hours and we should have the keys and first load moved in.

Its be very normal this buying a house lark, perhaps because e are only buying and not selling, until this weekend when I haven't been able to sleep more than 3 hours a night. Need that bottle of wine and the chinese takeaway tomorrow night once we've finished unpacking:p. Aim is to have furniture, clothes, kitchen and electrical kit setup completely by 2200 tomorrow and garage, shed and book cases by 1600 wednesday. 9th move in 13 years has made us efficient movings :cool:

davilown

klolav wrote: »

Well, did you find out? Are you close???

I have today been told our searches are still not in (I phoned the council-again!), even though for the 3rd time in nearly 3 weeks the buyers solicitors have told us they are in????
The purchaser has told us they paid a cheque in Tuesday, so are the solicitors waiting for the cheque to clear? Bit rich considering they told us 3 weeks ago they had done them.

Are your solicitors doing the searches or are they paying a company to do them for them? May make a difference but not sure

klolav

davilown wrote: »

Are your solicitors doing the searches or are they paying a company to do them for them? May make a difference but not sure

It's the buyers solicitors (we are just selling) we are waiting on. I have been told that they always do them themselves and don't use a search company!
The girls in the office have my details and have told me that they will call when they come in, I just don't see what is taking so long, just to put them in!

klolav

Congrats Davilown, I bet your so excited!!
Hope you settle quickly into your new home, I'm like a sergeant major when we move. All very organised and efficient! My husband loves it!! All he does is actually move it, where I tell him to! Makes life easier the other end!
It's like an unwritten law that you HAVE to have a takeaway (and preferbly bottle of wine) the night of moving in!! Enjoy

Sugared-frog

Things have started to move on a bit....

However first a confession/piece of advice to pass on - if you are going to send a letter to the solicitor with lots of documents in ... make sure you put enough stamps on it!!!:embarasse It finally arrived at the solicitors this Monday!! and just as we were preparing to completely resend all the information and cancel the cheque etc.

Anyway - we now have the full survey in paper form, and the solicitor has an electronic copy. He has also told us that the contract has now arrived and a copy of the mortgage instructions - which we have yet to see. So definitely moving forward. Only fly in the ointment currently is the mortgage instructions says something about getting a further structural report and estimates - not sure whether it is in relation to the suspected wall tie problem or a mention of some settlement which our surveyor thought was historic on a 1920's/30's house. But as we haven't yet seen the document we aren't too sure exactly what it is going to be.

If we had a structural survey done - that the mortgage company won't have seen as we did it independently will that count - I'm not sure till I read the exact wording.