Exchange & completion help please

Pupster

There are two others in my chain - a first time buyer and the one who is buying mine. Since April when the offer came in I have repeatedly said that I want to exchange and complete with at least a week between. I am a woman on my own and would like to move over a few days. The process has seemingly been beset with various hold ups which I have not been privy to and despite being told exchange was imminent a few time in the last 3 weeks - we seem to now be moving toward exchange and completion on the same day next Friday. I cant seem to make myself heard and Im afraid it will happen all in one day and just wont be ready to move (I am also trying to retain a rental which I want to move into). So my question is - how can I have a say here - can they just go ahead and do it with full knowledge that I cant manage it all on the same day? Thanks for any pearls of wisdom.

suebfg

You need to make it clear via your solicitor and estate agent that you need the gap. Most people do prefer a gap so it shouldn't be too much of an issue. If you don't ask though you don't get!

caeler

Nothing will happen unless you agree to the dates proposed so as suebfg says you need to make it clear to your solicitor what you will accept and what you will not.

dexterwolf

Tell your solicitor that you need a few days between exchange etc. I am sure that if you explain the situation then they will be able to pull some strings.

ValHaller

dexterwolf wrote: »

Tell your solicitor that you need a few days between exchange etc. I am sure that if you explain the situation then they will be able to pull some strings.

It is not a matter of pulling strings. They must do as they are told.

So if OP wants some time between exchange and completion, OP's solicitor must negotiate for this and must not settle for less even at the expense of losing the deal.

Pupster

Thanks everyone. I have tried to make it clear that I need the gap but tbh its like I am a voice in the wilderness - no one seems to be listening This process is like a steam train (albeit a slow one) that is heading for its destination and no amount of me jumping up and down is being acknowledged. I even emailed the buyers solicitor as I don't feel mine is relaying my wishes but of course I was ignored there too. Very frustrating

HildaM

I said all along that we needed time between exchange and completion. Insisted. Kept on insisting. Said it over and over.

Nobody seemed to pay any attention. They just ignored that part of my email or phone call. Or said "it won't prove a problem" (not one of them offered to come and help me move, though!)

In the end we did have a gap - and they all seemed to act like they were indulging a child - we had a gap of 17 HOURS. Exchanged about 4 o'clock the afternoon before we moved.

Although your solicitor is working for you, you're just one client out of a bunch and they will bulldoze you into doing it the way THEY want. You're just going to have to be a bit more forceful than I was, I'm afraid.

Yorkie1

Your buyer's solicitor is professionally not allowed to have dealings with you. They have to "ignore" you.

You must continue to deal with your solicitor.

Richard_Webster

Do not rely on phone calls - make it clear in witting by post or e-mail and get an acknowledgement from your solicitor that he has understood your instructions.

Tell him that he has no authority to exchange contracts unless you clearly tell him in writing to do so.

Better_Days

Whenever I have sold and purchased in the past the exchange and completion dates were mutually agreed. My solicitor wrote to me to ask which dates I prefered and the gap between exchange and completion. Also my solicitor always rang on the day to check I still agreed to exchange.

Richard Webster has given you good advice. Write to your solicitor asap and make it clear that you require at least week between exchange and completion and you will not exchange if the time between the two is shorter. Delays are to be expected when moving house and also your request is not at all unreasonable. Exchange and completion on the same day can be more dicey as there is no time to sort out any problems with funding. I wouldn't want to do it.