2 weeks between exchange and completion - is it okay?

bluedrop

Hi all,
We are in the process of buying a house. We are due to exchange later today or tomorrow. I've been asking for a completion date of 24th (next friday). My solicitor just told me that the vendors want to complete on 31st but they are happy to exchange tomorrow.

Its a probate sale with the old man's daughter (executor) living in the property. I am worried about the vendor being careless about the property after we exchange. I am happy for 1 week - but 2 weeks - its making my stress levels shoot.

Am I being unnecassarily paranoid? Shall I exchange tomorrow Or postpone the exchange to next week so that we have 1 week between exchange and completion?

PasturesNew

I was in your vendor's position and I requested a clear week between E and C, although (in the event) I got 3.5 days (which I agreed to for fear of them pulling out).

The issues I faced were having to clear the entire house of my stuff and household stuff (e.g. plates/foodstuffs) as well as getting all furniture removed by a house clearance firm. I didn't want to do any of that before exchange in case the deal fell through, and it can't be organised at the drop of a hat as you're at the mercy of the diaries and reliability of others.

Additionally, in the same position, I also had to find somewhere to move into at very short notice, which takes a bit of a ring around to find local vacancies (I moved into two temporary places in the next two weeks, before moving to a hotel).

I had absolutely NO intentions of letting the property go, which was a constant reminder of my recently departed parents and all the memories. One takes particular care right to the very last minute to ensure everything's ship shape and in order.

GDB2222

Yes, you are being paranoid.

A week is a very short time to arrange removals etc. Mostly people have 4 weeks between exchange and completion.

You need to check with your solicitor whether you need the house insured between exchange and completion. I think that's far more important than whether the vendor is careless. Careless over what? Spills coffee on the carpet, say? She can do that in one week as easily as two.

sirmosh

From a legal standpoint they must provide the property to you in the condition it was in at exchange. Therefore if something did happen you could in theory get them to foot the bill for sorting it out.

In practice of course it'll be an uphill struggle to ever get that to happen and unless it was something really major you'd be better off just living with it.

hamster2013

i had 3 weeks between exchange and completion
that is why you get insurance as soon as you exchange, to cover any damage done between now and then

phoebe1989seb

The most time we've ever had between exchange and completion (six property purchases in just over over 20 years) is one week. Even when we were moving long distance from a 3500 sq ft house we managed to do everything in that time -although it was a bit hectic, even with a lot of forward planning/de-cluttering!

As someone that recently had to clear & sell her parents' marital home of 49 years (although they were not deceased in my case), I agree with PN that whilst it is hard work, it is unlikely that the beneficiary living in the property will allow their parents' former home to fall into disrepair in the two weeks between exchange & completion.....in fact after completion DH and I had a lovely card from the buyers stating how they could tell the house had been a much-loved family home and thanking us for taking such great care of it!

moneyistooshorttomention

GDB2222 wrote: »

Yes, you are being paranoid.

A week is a very short time to arrange removals etc. Mostly people have 4 weeks between exchange and completion.

You need to check with your solicitor whether you need the house insured between exchange and completion. I think that's far more important than whether the vendor is careless. Careless over what? Spills coffee on the carpet, say? She can do that in one week as easily as two.

...and..if shoved out earlier than is reasonable could spill rather a lot of coffee on every single carpet in the place even in just a day or two (from getting very shakey with anger at lack of consideration for her....;)).

motherofstudents

I agree with the others, I don't think you have anything to worry about at all. It is a hard job clearing a house both physically and emotionally and if you have to get people in to help it can be quite difficult to organise quickly. Make sure you have insurance and relax.

princesstippytoes

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

...and..if shoved out earlier than is reasonable could spill rather a lot of coffee on every single carpet in the place even in just a day or two (from getting very shakey with anger at lack of consideration for her....;)).

How is it that you keep saying that your "karma sheet" is clean and you are a considerate person yet you'd advocate vandalising someone's home just because you thought they were inconsiderate??

Whereabouts on the moral compass you despair of does that little vindictive act come?

DaftyDuck

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

...and..if shoved out earlier than is reasonable could spill rather a lot of coffee on every single carpet in the place even in just a day or two (from getting very shakey with anger at lack of consideration for her....;)).

And then receive a bill for carpet cleaning or even new carpets from the purchaser - who, by the way would be in the right, legally, morally and decently!

Completion is an agreement between both parties. AGREEMENT. It's not forced on a vendor any more than on the purchaser. Money, you have such a selfish, and one-sided approach to house selling, and you convince yourself you are always taking the high ground... you are not.

DaftyDuck

Bluedrop

Two weeks is fine. Relax. If there were any damages done to the property (other than the odd scuff), the vendor would be responsible for reparation. Two weeks is perfectly normal, as is one. The vendor is probably on a slightly slower timescale for 3 obvious reasons. 1) She probably has another residence, so isn't pushed for moving simultaneously 2) She probably has emotional attachment to the place and 3) any probate sale appears (appears) more difficult to both parties, so more time might be left for sorting out paperwork.

Relax, and look forward to your new home. Enjoy it!!!