Waiting to exchange - Not for the impatient!

Malks

mrsmchapman wrote: »

We are planning to use a removal company, but I will be packing myself. I just have to arrange a company and get prices but I'm reluctant to do this until we have an exchange date and completion date, as it seems to be what they all ask

I would get the quotes now and decide who to use and say you will confirm these dates when you know them. We found that the good removers were booking weeks in advance. At least then you are ahead of the game and know who to phone to confirm the booking with!

moneyistooshorttomention

hazyjo wrote: »

You think it's reasonable, but the norm is now around 2 weeks. So maybe time for a rethink along the lines of 'my 4 week request might be unusual and unreasonable to most, but is there any chance of my buyers accommodating it?'. Chances are they will agree to 4 weeks, but it might mean it'll take around 4 months in total for the transaction if you include that! You don't actually need 4 weeks. Most things can be changed with a phone call. If you're organised enough beforehand, 3 weeks might be a fair compromise.

I would definitely mention it now though so your buyer's aware. By the time you get near exchange, tempers and patience are always frayed. My buyer was going crazy last week and this week and we were totally rushed into an exchange yesterday or they were saying they couldn't commit to the 22nd. At some point, someone has to bend.

Jx

If some people are regarding that 4 weeks as no longer the norm - I guess I'd better ensure my EA tells them after I've accepted their offer that I am:
- next generation up from them and its certainly OUR norm
- moving from home area to back of beyond and its so far away it will be a 2 day move
- woman on her own who has already decided on the removal firm she will be using before she even sold her house (ie one she knows and trusts) and ensuring her firm has as much notice as they had on her last move with them so that they are available okay
- because I'm moving so far away and that will be that I will need my expected time for things like farewell meals with friends, etc

End result = 4 weeks is totally non-negotiable...end of....(phrased as tactfully as my EA wants to put it). I want to be honest and upfront that I AM taking that long from exchange regardless, rather than come out with lies and/or deliberate delays between acceptance of offer and exchange. What's their hurry after all? Once we've all exchanged we are all "safe" anyway...so no problem other than one they might bring on their own heads (ie of impatient feelings because they cant budge me on that point).

We all need time to get preferred removal firm/take time off work/give notice on rented accommodation/arrange all this generally around Our Lives/etc.

If it takes that bit longer to be in my new home then it takes a bit longer...once we've all got the safety of "contracts exchanged" it doesn't actually matter (at worst it means someone at bottom of chain in rented accommodation might have to pay 2 more weeks rent than they thought - as I had to myself when my own vendor took that 4 weeks back when....).

Anyways....I'm moving to a part of the country where the clock still says 1950's it's that slow:rotfl: ....so I cant see my own vendor going at any speed either. I've already had some gentle laughter from a friendly face there how I will have to get used to things being done more slowly ....

mrsmchapman

Our solicitor seems to also think 4 weeks between exchange and completion unless the parties disagree, tbh I don't mind whether its 2 weeks or 4, I would like at least 2, to make life a little easier. Could I ask moneyistoshorttomention, if your buyer wasnt aware despite to telling the ea but they said they had told and then the buyer wanted 2 weeks between exchange and complete would you pull out if the sale? Surely someone has to give be it the buyer or seller, I'm just curious.

moneyistooshorttomention

I think my EA has learnt already that I expect efficient service and "efficient" is what I do myself. They had a couple of "stumbles" before they realised I expect things to be done properly. They've learnt that I give very efficient service as a seller. I'm available at the end of my mobile phone any time during their office hours, instantly agree to all viewing requests (even if at very short notice), make sure the place has a quick tidy-round to be presented well. So I think they'd be well aware by now that they must pass on any/all messages and answers to questions to viewers/buyers or I will not be a happy lassie.

I had another viewing this morning and I could see the friends sitting around me raising an approving eyebrow at the phonecall query from EA during viewing, followed by text at end of viewing and making mental notes which EA to use if they needed one themselves:rotfl:

So I'm prepared to be as flexible as I can be in a lot of ways - but I will be having that 4 weeks, so I cannot "give" on that point. Hope I'm not forced into a "white lie" that its my solicitors fault, as they are so inefficient and slow (when the actual fact is that they are the most efficient solicitors there are round here - and they absolutely don't miss a thing EVER on the efficiency front...)

EmmaHerts

Smiley1987 wrote: »

I don't understand how a lot of other people our age group (mid 20's) cant afford to save a fair chunk of money every month - especially if you live at home

Do the majority of people in their twenties sponge off their parents? How frightful.

Dan-Dan

mtstm , you sound like a nightmare , no offence!

Mezza1979

Dan-Dan wrote: »

mtstm , you sound like a nightmare , no offence!

Could not agree more !

4 weeks between exchange and completion if not VERY clearly stated in writing at the very beginning would absolutely cause me to pull out! (having said that if was told that was a condition of offer acceptance i would walk away at that point)

Sorry but don't care what generation you are. You know the move is approaching and should be reading for that way in advcance of exchange IMO.

Also, its not just you and your buyer ... it afects the whole chain.

Katie__3-2

*should* be exchanging next week (8th-12th) with view to completing my sale on 22nd.

Hopefully ill also complete on my purchase on 22nd but the vendors seem to be dragging their feet and im not willing to put my sale at risk for them. If needs be ill just be homeless for a while...

bclark

Mezza1979 wrote: »

Also, its not just you and your buyer ... it afects the whole chain.

This is the key point. You could be in for a very long wait to sell if you are so inflexible. The chances are that you will be in a chain and they will not all be willing to agree to 4 weeks between exchange and completion.

mrsmchapman

Katie_ wrote: »

*should* be exchanging next week (8th-12th) with view to completing my sale on 22nd.

Hopefully ill also complete on my purchase on 22nd but the vendors seem to be dragging their feet and im not willing to put my sale at risk for them. If needs be ill just be homeless for a while...

Can I ask how this will work (Curious) as wont you be without a mortgage for a while? So I'm just wondering if your mortgage is with the same or different company