Stuck before exchange!

alipops1986

Hello All,

I'm looking for some advice on how to solve our current predicament. I'll try to keep to be brief and to the point:

1. We sold our house to a FTB at the end of May. Things were slow to start with but picked up. We did advertise the possibility of 'No Chain' but as FTB was in rented, it all seemed ok.

2. We found a house we liked, offer accepted about 10 days after we accepted the offer on ours. We decided that we'd complete in 2 separate transactions so as no to hold up the FTB.


Fast forward to now and there have been various sticking points:
- V slow solicitors for the FTB and the house we are trying to purchase.
- Our solicitor hasn't actually followed any of my instructions, I asked for a completion date weeks ago, got given 2 and then it transpired no other parties have agreed. Also, our solicitor said, now nearly 3 weeks ago, we were 2 wks away from completing on our purchase so not to break the chain.


So, after a bit of complaining, we are nearly ready to exchange and have suggested a completion date of 2nd week in August. Now, this is a must for us as we get married a week later and then fly off on honeymoon! But the couple we are buying from, don't want to put a deposit down for rental until we've exchanged (which I do understand) but they won't commit to the 2nd wk of August for completion.

We're feeling v frustrated because we told everyone our need to move before we got married and was told this would be achievable etc.

How can we move this forward? My worry is FTB will be up for the 2nd wk of August, we are but the other party wont be. If they don't agree we'll be delayed by 3 weeks.

Alipops x

PS: I'm feeling thoroughly frustrated by the entire process and feel like we're the only ones with any urgency!

Seabee42

I would take a deep breath.

Unfortunately you just cannot ensure everyone completes by any set date except by cooperation. I would therefore if possible ask to speak to both other parties directly to see what they want as well to see if there is anyway it can be done. I would only approach this in we are getting married and it would be nice if we could complete by x.

I would however change my expectations to expect very little (i.e. it wont happen by then) go and enjoy your wedding and just look forward to that. It is frustrating the system is lousy best of luck:)

pops5588

alipops, everyone in our chain (all two of us!) want to complete at exactly the same time (9th August) and even then it still isn't happening for us!! Solicitors and the processes involved are agonisingly slow. It's taken me a long time but, as Seabee said, i've finally learned to take a deep breath and at least try to be a tiny bit more chilled about the whole thing. The only person who was getting a stomach ulcer over the whole thing was me, the solicitors certainly aren't!!

Just keep chasing, definitely worth speaking to the other parties directly as we didn't even find out that we were on exactly the same page as our vendor until we did this, apparently the solicitors didn't think it was relevant...

Good luck

hazyjo

When you say they won't commit, they can't commit. How can they commit to a week in August when you're not ready to exchange? Try not to worry, see exactly who is waiting for what, and do all you can to speed things up.

If it's three weeks later, it's three weeks later. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter if you don't complete that week. You have enough to worry about with the wedding, honeymoon, etc! I doubt you'll want to be moving before that, I would have thought it'd be much easier to face moving once you're back from hols!

Trust me, you'll be searching round a new house for everything for your honeymoon, not knowing where things are... it's a nightmare packing at the best of times! Far easier to pack for jollies from where you live now, then come back and sort out the move.

Good luck with it all.

Jx

landybabe

We are on week 12
we really wanted to exchange last week or this week due to sorting out school for the children and going on holiday. Yesterday i was so stressed out trying to phone and gather information i had to leave work early. today i fill alot better i have looked /work hard for my holiday and WILL go and enjoy it and will deal with the house move when i get back. I have been feeling really bad that we are going on holiday but booked it last year.

Please , please go and enjoy your wedding and honeymoon

alipops1986

Thanks everyone. We are literally awaiting search results, my solicitor was slow on this but has chased it and is expecting it early next week.

Since I posted, we are all signing contracts this Friday in preparation for exchange the following week. Still awaiting confirmation of the 9th August.

I find it so frustrating because my OH and I are both teachers, so to have 6 weeks off and then move house in the last 5 days of the holidays is annoying!

But, I too, am trying to take a deep breath *sighs*