How could I hurry the chain along a little?

Islaboo

I realise I need to be patient to some extent but im interested if anyone has any suggestions on getting people moving.

We are FTB at the start or end of the chain depending on how you look at it, we made the first offer in the chain. Anyway its now up to 5 and complete as far as people have found what they are looking for and this was the case 3 weeks after the offer was accepted.

We had our offer accepted 2 months ago and have since done all the survey and searches etc we are just waiting to exchange contracts.

Our sellers have done the same on theirs but are just waiting a few more days for searches.

This is where it gets sluggish as the people further up the chain seem to be past retirement lets say they dont seem to get the urgency to get this moving.

Both myself and the people we are buying from have young kids both have one starting secondary school in sept so we really want to be moved and settled before the end of the summer holidays.

The older people have just been saying they will get around to it soon. !! I dont get the impression they dont want to move just that they dont have a time scale like us.

We also have to give notice on our rented place and it will be extremely tight to pay rent and mortgage both for a full month so we need a moving date asap.

I dont think the good old threat of pulling out would help as houses sell so quickly here it would resell in days.

At what point should we be asking for a completion/moving date? I did originally say 20th july when we offered as our moving date but we will be lucky to get 20th aug now.

I think if I had a date to work towards it would be easier to wait.

I have tried contacting my solicitor who isnt returning calls, he is also acting for number 3 in the chain so should know whats going on.

aggghhh never doing this again its way too stressful!

Mr_Moo_2

Sorry to hear - you have two choices - threats or communication followed by negotiation. Get onto your conveyancer, and your Estate Agent - the people at the top may be blissfully unaware of your desires, and you may not be aware of their issues.

The rental issue is trick but in reality you'll never get a perfect situation with minimal overlap, so you might need to revise your budget. Whatever you do, don't serve notice until you've exchanged. Good luck.

JimmyTheWig

Islaboo wrote: »

the people further up the chain seem to be past retirement lets say they dont seem to get the urgency to get this moving.

You'd think they would want to go quickly, in case they run out of time

We also have to give notice on our rented place and it will be extremely tight to pay rent and mortgage both for a full month so we need a moving date asap.

You won't get a fixed moving date until you exchange contracts. Which is normally two weeks before you move. So the chances are whatever happens you'll be paying rent plus mortgage for a couple of weeks.

I have tried contacting my solicitor who isnt returning calls

Try the estate agent?

Try to find out what is supposed to be happening next and when it should have happened by. Then chase the people doing it to make sure they've done it by then.

landybabe

We are in a chain to , but we are at the top. I have phoned our EA to find out, but have not heard back from them. Will have to chase them as well. We also have the schooling issue.

swc

We too are in the middle of a chain with two small children to re-home and settle into a ne nursery. I'll second you in saying that I NEVER want to do this again. It's WAY too stressful when moving with kids :-/

Good luck with it all!

hazyjo

If it's only two months ago, you're still doing well. The average is 12 weeks from offer to completion - generally longer if flats are involved.

I definitely wouldn't start making threats at this stage...

Jx

cattie

It doesn't sound from what you have said that the delay has anything to do with the older couple. It will be their solicitor doing the work, not them & I'm sure having made the decision to sell their property, they are as keen as you are to be settled in their new home as soon as possible.

You can't be settling on a completion date until you have exchanged contracts. With so many in a chain, it is inevitable that there will be delays somewhere along the line.

As another poster mentions, average time between exchange & completion is 12 weeks. This is how it has always been for me & that's with every sale being to a ftb & moving into a property already vacated, so no onward chain to slow things down.

Having a solicitor who doesn't answer/return calls isn't good, unless you are the type of client who is constantly phoning & he/she just wants to be left to get on with their work.

GM11

we are currently selling in devon and buying in scotland, so we have the added hastle of two different systems to deal with. we are currently on week 6 and nearly there, we have to complete by the 19th july or we will be in default on the scotish side! plus schools, kids, and moving lorry booked etc. we have had to realy fight to keep it all going and at times we have wanted to give up. So my advice would be..... make sure you make business decisions NOT emotional ones!!!!!! DO NOT make threats you are not prepared to carry out .
PUSH PUSH PUSH. without you the whole chain falls like a pack of cards, so with that in mind press the EA they have targets to meet and dont like to have spent money and then lose a fee, phone solicitor and EA EVERY DAY!! asking for updates get the EA to call the other people in the chain solicitor's to check progress. press for exchange so you have a completion date. DO NOT under any circumstances take wishy washy answer's ask for facts and updates every day. basically take control. and the best of luck

one last thought to keep in mind when things look grim ................. nothing worth having comes easily

best wishes J

hazyjo

Just to clarify...

cattie wrote: »

As another poster mentions, average time between [STRIKE]exchange[/STRIKE] offer(!) & completion is 12 weeks.

Jx