FTB In process of buying still totally confused!

lindseyh2

Hello

I have posted on here before, im a FTB, in process of buying and im still so confused about how it all works

We put offer in on Feb 11, which was accepted, processed full application for mortgage on Thursdsay 15 February, this was with C&G and was fast tracked apparently, so should hear back in 2 weeks or so, valuation will be done i meantime, house is only 1 year old so dont have to have full survey

Filled out house purchase form for sol on same day and took this in with ID etc, have heard nothing further since from solicitors regarding searches or anything, is this normal, I expect I am being impatient, but I am not sure how it works so dont know really when to start chasing or anything, I worry too much I think! have I dont this right, and also how does it normally work, are searches done straight away or do they wait for valuation??

Im confused!

Doozergirl

Some solicitors do searches straight away, some wait for the survey to come back.

If you're trying to do things quickly with no chain above than you might want to ask them to put in for searches (you have to pay up front for them) otherwise, if you're in a chain you may as well play it safe and wait as things never really seem to move that quickly when there are more transactions (and egos) going on.

HTH

x_Wilco_x

Don't forget the solicitor is working for you, you are paying them! - You chase them up all you want and don't feel bad about asking questions etc about how your process is going.

Hope it goes well for you...

lindseyh2

Thank you

the people above us are moving into a newer newbuild (tongue twister there), so not a full chain as such, I will give the solicitor until wednesday and then just ring and ask to put my mind at rest, the only thing that put me off doing that, was that my sister who bought last year (FTB also)was on the phone every day to them panicking and never received a call back more than once a week, so just stressed for no reason I think and it all went through fine, they just ignored her in the end!

I havent used the same solicitors by the way!, I just worried that he hadnt received our forms or something, but I assume they would have contacted us if not, I must be the only person keen to hand money over I think!

Ill check on weds/thursday just to make sure, Thanks again, everyone on here is so helpful!

Doozergirl

They don't call you that often tbh, only really as things happen. So, you'll get a call when your mortgage offer comes in and when the searches come back (they may just send them to you) and when they are ready to exchange and, of course, if any problem crop up. Otherwise, they're pretty quiet! To be fair, they'd spend a LOT of time on the phone if they just called to say nothing's happening.

However, there's nothing wrong with calling to ask when they normally like to carry out searches. You don't need to speak directly to the solicitor for that either, a secretary would be fine.

lindseyh2

Thanks doozergirl,

You really are very helpful, is there anything you dont know!, I will give them a ring in the morning just to check maybe what they will do regarding searches etc, at least when EA starts annoying me I will know what to say, just very scared about all this and am a bit blind to what should be happening, so its all a bit worrying, unfortunately, I expect everyone is the same first time though!

Thanks again

x

ormus

in my experience the legal profession is not in the real world.
they would all starve if it wasnt for the virtual monopoly of house conveyancing.

ie,
our last but one house puchase, we had to chase up the solititor to pay him!
they make incompetance and slow, into a fine art.

Madjock

Please don't be worried about the solicitors from the post above. As has been stated, they won't contact you until there is something to report. If you've gone direct to C&G you could give them a call for an update on the status of the app, or if you are using a broker, ask them. Alternatively, call the agent and ask them if the VAL has been appointed yet.
If your application is being Fasttracked then you shouldn't need to provide any more documents to the lender, unless anything comes up on a credit search. C&G are pretty fast at getting to offer stage, however, once they are ready to offer, the file will go to their head office for it to be produced, which can take 2-3 days. So, don't be worried about that either.
Usually solicitors do wait for either the survey, or the formal offer before starting searches etc, so once you have an offer you should start hearing from your solicitor as well.
Good luck.

lindseyh2

Hi again

In panic now, I just spoke to vendor she called me for something to do with separate fixtures and fittings arrangements, she just advised she needed to exchange on 16 March, which is only 3 and half weeks away, our mortgage offer wont come through till next week at the earliest and solicitors havent done searches yet, I had no idea about this, EA didnt even mention it and im cross, I wouldnt even have known, is this doable??

cwcw

x_Wilco_x wrote:

Don't forget the solicitor is working for you, you are paying them! - You chase them up all you want and don't feel bad about asking questions etc about how your process is going.

Hope it goes well for you...

I'd be careful about doing that - our conveyancer whacked on an extra £200 on to the bill due to "having to deal" with our phone calls and letters about progress/ instructions. It's a bit like taking your car into the garage for a repair and being charged for explaining what the problems are.

cwcw

lindseyh2 wrote:

Hi again

In panic now, I just spoke to vendor she called me for something to do with separate fixtures and fittings arrangements, she just advised she needed to exchange on 16 March, which is only 3 and half weeks away, our mortgage offer wont come through till next week at the earliest and solicitors havent done searches yet, I had no idea about this, EA didnt even mention it and im cross, I wouldnt even have known, is this doable??

I'd say it was unlikely. When did your solicitor submit the searches? It took us 5 weeks to get all of our searches back.