FTB In process of buying still totally confused!

Madjock

it depends how long the local search will take, ususally that takes about 2 weeks, all the other searches will be quicker than this. It may be worth checking with C&G daily, as once they tell you the offer is approved you can get cracking with searches. I'd say it's entirely doable to exchange in 3 weeks' time. As the vendor wants to the quick exchange date, you could suggest to the agent that her solicitors cooperate in the sense of being quick with contract docs, enquiries etc. I completed on my purchase last year from offering on the house to moving in, in 5 weeks. I made sure I chased the mortgage lender, my solicitor and the vendors (Barratt Homes, bag of crap company) and provided all required docs and info asap. Granted, I work for a broker and placed my mortgage app via my company, but this doesn't mean I had any special treatment from the lender, I just chased incessantly and got everything they wanted immediately. The solicitor I used is notorious for being slow and steady, but I like her a great deal and I knew she would get the job done.
Don't be put off by nay sayers, keep plugging, be pro-active and you will get there.

olly300

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??

The vendor may be pushy because someone dropped out of the chain before. If it was a quick sale then the vendor should have told you at the beginning don't let them try and bully you into acting faster than possible. Some solicitors won't do searches until there is a survey done as if the survey is bad they don't want you to lose money doing searches. Just tell the vendor you are getting your solicitor to act as fast as possible. Lots of solicitors will charge you more if you want to move quickly so you need to find out what is happening in your chain.

However it can also be the vendor's estate agent making things up. The EA doesn't get any money until the sale completes so it's in their interest to get you to move as fast as possible. The vendor's EA can contact your solicitor to find out how things are going. If nothing is happening on your part then the EA will ring you up and have a go at you. Some EA's can be very nasty about this as if they harass your solicitor too much, your solicitor will stop speaking to them and so they will phone you up and try and harass you.

Go back and do another viewing to agree about all the fixtures and fittings. It is much easier than doing it over the phone, and will help calm the vendor down as it shows you are serious. Make sure all white goods are labelled individually particularly in the kitchen i.e. washing machine (fitted), fridge, etc that way there will be no confusion about what is being left.

Richard_Webster

Although you can sometimes do searches with just an address it is usually wiser to see the copy Land Registry entries or (if not yet registered) copy deeds to see exactly what area is being purchased and whether there are any backways or access roads etc whose status need checking.

Seller's solicitor will send this to buyer's solicitor with draft contract papers and buyer's solicitor cannot really do anything much until he gets this set of papers - so first thing is to get seller's solicitor chased to send them out - this may not even have happened yet!

As a conveyancing solicitor I believe the information given in the post to be useful but I accept no liability except to fee-paying clients