why is house buying so hellish?

ginandtonic1988

If you want the transaction through quicker why not pay for it, some lawyers will push it through faster if you pay their premium for it?

henrik1971

Two things I realised some time ago about house selling:
1. Don't be the link in a chain. Have the least contact you possibly can with any such chains. Sell before you think about looking for a house to buy and get a short term rental in between if needs be.
2. Most solicitors don't want the process to be nightmare for you. If they're working on a fixed-fee, they want you off their books as quickly as possible. The four main reasons for delays:
(a) There are genuine difficulties with the legalities (searches, title issues, etc) and these can get strung out quite easily
(b) The solicitor is at the mercy of other third parties who have no particular interest in cooperating within a timescale that is in your head
(c) Solicitors don't refuse instructions however busy they are. This can lead to delay due to the sheer volume of work any given solicitor has to get through. It would be good if they didn't do it, but they do.
(d) Other unforeseen 'urgent' matters keep cropping up on a daily basis, when they should be dealing with your conveyance. I work in property, and this happens all the time. Everyone thinks their transaction is an urgent critical priority - but of course, they can't all be, and so the solicitor has to make a (flawed) judgment about which things to deal with first. Usually based on which has the worst consequences if things go wrong, and/or who will give him the most gip if there are delays. Cases inevitably get put on the back burner. Sometimes for far too long.

Suffice to say, perhaps start phoning and emailing the solicitor daily. Don't be abusive, just make a nuisance of yourself. The conveyance will be sorted quickly enough.

kingstreet

propertyman wrote: »

Things that don't happen how and when you THINK that they should.

As jumbly and muddled as the process is, gossip common sense logic hope and assumption is no substitute for understanding the process- buy a book about it.

From a professional point of view, I have to say this is a very accurate picture of the average house buyer and seller. I'd also add that you need to be dispassionate about what you are doing and an early emotional attachment to a property is more likely to leave you unhappy, rather than with the state of blissful satisfaction you've built up in your mind.

wastedtalent

My guess is they've handed in notice on their place before exchanging?

I was thinking about this and glad I didn't as it's taking a few weeks longer than we expected, but just gotta wait it out. no point stressing it's out of my hands.