Race to be in before Summer

angel_eyes_3

Hi, is anyone else looking to complete before schools break up for summer holidays?

I know there have been previous easter and xmas threads but can't find one that's current (mods - please feel free to merge if I've missed it).

Be kind, first time I've started a thread!

brock-cruse

Hi
I am! My history is...went on market Easter 2006 sold and bought Oct 2006 (4 in chain)...fell through March 2007 (ouch!!)...sold and bought May 2007 (bought repo house and sold to FTB) and its supposed to be quick. Buyer and myself have all searches, survey results and mortage offers and waiting for "answer to queries"!!??? Want at least 2 weeks between exchange and completion so that we can gut and clean repo house before moving in. Need to change schools for daughter in Sept so hopefully she is staying at current school til they break up (20 July) so trying to time this right. Plus hubby is teacher so need to be in for big six week hols so there is no excuse for him not to help decorate!!!!!
So whats your situation?
Deb

angel_eyes_3

Sounds similar.

Went on market Jan 07, sold to first people who viewed, found house Feb 07 offer accepted, all surveys and searches done when found out bottom of chain had fallen out. After hanging on (to give buyers chance) we finally went back on market and resold to FTB. They've had everything done, then our house fell though (May 07).

We've now found another house (the first one we viewed back in December before we were on the market!) which had just had it's sale fall though. Put in offer for same amount as we're offered on other one.

Offer was accepted last Monday, searches have been paid for, survey being done tomorrow. Mortgage obviously still in place as for same amount as last time (checked with BS- they just need to check valuation and re-issue offer, they didn't think it would be a problem).

The house has been empty since old chap died 3 years ago, so will also need work done before we can move into it. I didn't know that you could go in between exchange and completion to clean and gut it. I'll check if we can do that!

I'm too scared to tell anyone about the new house in case I jinx it! I'm standing in the playground saying "no, still looking". I can see myself telling pople we've found a house on the day we move! (Obviously our buyers know we've found somewhere and are proceeding, they've been really good).

I'm not sure how realistic 6 weeks is, we've also got FTBs and are moving to an empty house. I now just want to move, fed up of the whole business!

I'll look forward to your updates Deb, as you sound a step ahead of us!

samminich

Our situation is that we put offer in end of April (07). Offer accepted and process started day after May bank holiday. Mortgage sorted and offer through week after, draft contract from sellers solicitor through and searches done. Now all is quiet, been two weeks since they asked the seller the queries (and we are still waiting for answers). Don't know about the chain either, we know our seller is buying and had his offer accepted but didn't have a mortgage in place in the middle of May. We don't know anymore and the EA is a bit slow to respond. Its the not knowing that makes it all worse we too need to sort schools and give notice on the property we are renting and we have no idea. Have provisionally got the school lined up, they have places and the school know that we are just waiting for a date. Main problem is once the schools break up, we can't communicate with them. Heres hoping that in the next few weeks something becomes more definate.

kingkano

I'll join in. We listed end of march, sold in 2 weeks, found a place a week later and wrangled out a deal. Then our buyer disappeared for about a week before casually saying no Im not interested anymore.... sigh.

Found another buyer for quite a bit less after about a week and a half (our sellers gave us 2 weeks to get it back in place) - BTL grrr. That was about 3wks ago I think. On our side we have had draft contract through, waiting for local searches and reply to 'standard queries' (why dont solicitors just send answers to standard queries with the draft contract lol if they are so standard!!). Mortgage offer is all sorted, survey complete and is all a-ok.

On the sale side buyer has had valuation done and got offer thru. Has had our draft contract for about a week. Its a leasehold flat though so probably some delay We have done some of the groundwork 2 mths ago (standard enquiries to mgmt company and freeholder done). SO hopefully that will help.

Solicitor has told us we should be moving in a month to 5 wks. Nice short chain so fingers crossed. We'll see how right he is!! (oh the house we are buying is vacant possession as the people have already moved out to a house 10 doors down the road!! lol)

Nicki

samminich wrote: »

Main problem is once the schools break up, we can't communicate with them.

Why not? The teachers aren't there during the school holidays but the admin staff are, and the headteacher will be there for some of the time (except when off on his or her own break).

brock-cruse

Hi all
Angeleyes you need to get your solicitor to do what is called a key undertaking. He will have to arrange it with your vendors sol. It basically means you have to sign the house keys in and out with the agent every day. But at least you may get the chance to get in and clean etc! My house move, having now taken over a year and we still havent done it, has become like a soap opera at both work and in the school playground. Everyone keeps asking me what has happened next!

Samminich we have to inform our new school prior to the six week hols that it is a possiblity that our daughter will start in sept and then we fill in the relevant forms and send to the local education council that we are currently living in and they sort it out. Will it not be the same for you?

Things here come to a halt...my sol has not done anything for a week. His queries to my venbdors sol are still on dictation and he has only just got round to sorting out my buyers queries while i was on the phone to him yesterday...so im not a happy bunny! My agent will be cjhasing him again tomorrow and i know the agent we are buying off will be doing it Fri. Here's hoping he will pull his finger out.

Meanwhile im sat here not daring to pack a box until contracts have been exchanged (did that a week before exchange last time and it all fell thro so had to unpack)...knowing that my life will be hell when it happens..packing cleaning here and trying to clean and gut there, all in the space of 2 weeks.....aarrgghhh...just want to get on with it now.

kingkano

Our EA has just told us the buyer wants to exchange 25th june complete 2nd July!! Lol. I said if his solicitors can move that fast go for it! I expect them to have queries that cant be answered that fast though. Time will tell! (we dont mind going that fast IF it can be done)

samminich

Brock-Cruse - we have filled in all the forms and they are provisionally starting on the 4th Sept. Fingers crossed it all gets sorted. Its weeks away, I keep telling myself so its possible. I'm also not starting to pack or plan, until those contracts are exchanged.

Kingkano - Fingers crossed.

Its the lack of information I find annoying, our solicitor said that as soon as they get the replies contracts should be ready to sign, could be a few days or weeks (need to get my crystal ball out)

brock-cruse

OOOOHHHHH kingkano.......good luck!
Thing that gets me is because we are buying a repo house we were initally given a -28 -day- you- have -to -exchange -contracts time thing. That expired 2 weeks ago!!!! Intially the bank said not to worry that so long as things were progressing then it would be ok.Of course i didnt tell my sol this as i wanted him to think it was to be done in 28 days...not had anything from him to say sorry we are not going to reach the deadline etc etc! Hope they dont find out about my sol is sitting on his bum about these queries...mind you the closer it gets to 20 July for me the better......dont want to do it much before then as it means lots of daily commuting of about 20 mins to school:rolleyes:

angel_eyes_3

brock-cruse wrote: »

you need to get your solicitor to do what is called a key undertaking.

Thanks Deb, once we get a bit nearer will arrange that with our solicitiors. Sometimes you just have to know something is possible in order to ask for it! Hopefully it shouldn't be a problem as we have same solicitors firm (although different solicitors).

Happened to be driving past house we're buying when realised surveyor was there (knew he was coming today but didn't know time so was genuinely by chance), so feeling brave popped in to say hello. I know I'm going to get wrists slapped by someone for this! He'd only just arrived but said I could pop back later. So I did. Overall he was seemed positive about house, however he's referring us to a structural engineer.

The house we're buying, we're the 3rd people to attempt to purchase it, previous 2 pulled out for various reasons (according to estate agent, 1/ job transfer up north and 2/ their sale fell through and couldn't resell).

The first time there was a problem with the drains which we were told has been sorted, however there is a patch in the corner of the sitting room where there has been settlement (?) and he needs to make sure it's been done properly. (I may have completely misunderstood- will check when get proper report). Also there is a crack above one of the windows which he felt may be due to a new roof or to the previous drain work, but he wasn't worried about it. 2nd people had structual survey and it was all clear (according to estate agent).

He won't sign us off for our mortgage until he's seen the appropiate paperwork to confirm everything's done, so looks like we're going to be instructing a structural engineer next. I think he said that if the vendors had the paperwork from previous surveys/ work done, then that would be ok. Will wait until the report is back offically before seeing what's best to do.

Apart from those there weren't any other things he'd highlighted. He did comment on the street (very good, which we knew) and the size of plot (huge garden which sold it to us).

Having been back in the house still feeling very positive about it but worried something will happen to make it all fall through. I really love this house, it has such a nice feel to it. We drive past regularly and DD1 says it's abit scruffy but we will love it better!