Solicitor etiquette

Keira_B

Hi all

As first time buyers, myself and my boyfriend aren't sure how fast the process is supposed to be or how hands on we'll need to be to prevent needless hold-ups in buying our property.

We had an offer accepted on 4th September, and a solicitor took on our case on 13th September. Our mortgage was approved on 20th September. Our memorandum of sale has only just been sent to our solicitor due to a mix up between the estate agent and themselves.

Our solicitor also informs us that they haven't yet received contract paperwork from the vendor's solicitors. I was just wondering whether this is normal, and if not, whether it's the 'done thing' to contact the vendor's solicitor for a progress update?

Any help much appreciated.

Foxy-Stoat_3

Just chase your solicitors as you have instructed them to carry out the legals, the other party's solicitors will probably only speak to them anyway.

These things take time, my first time house buying took 8 weeks in total from making the offer to moving in, no chain.

Well done for getting on the "ladder" !!!

Keira_B

Thanks! Just want it to go through without a hitch now. *Fingers crossed*

Foxy-Stoat_3

Keira_B wrote: »

Thanks! Just want it to go through without a hitch now. *Fingers crossed*

I think everyone shares that hope!!

kingstreet

If the vendor's solicitor is causing a delay, you contact the selling agent and get them to chase up the vendor and their solicitor.

You are confined to chasing up your solicitor, lender etc on the purchase side.

Thrugelmir

Ask the Estate Agent to find out the current position of the vendors. Are they looking to buy a property themselves?

DigForVictory

Just in case you're still in the middle of things paper-work wise over Christmas & the New Year, a tin of chocolates & a bunch of flowers to the practice will improve their holdiay season & need not be that expensive.
Likewise on completion, when you're moving doctors, dentsits, schools etc - these little things (and a card along the lines of "we couldn't have done it without you!") are always appreciated & facilitate data transfer.

kingstreet

DigForVictory wrote: »

a tin of chocolates & a bunch of flowers to the practice will improve their holdiay season & need not be that expensive

Presumably you are talking about the OP's solicitor and not the vendor's?

Keira_B

Still no paperwork - our estate agent told us the contract was 'ready to be sent' by the vendor's solicitor on 17th October and they still haven't received it.

Not sure now what's going on - we were told by the vendors that they were looking to rent so that they could save and upsize.

Not sure whether our expectations have been enhanced and then dropped by this and the fact we're on this 'Track My Case' thing (which hasn't been updated for weeks)...

The most frustrating thing is the lack of information - we feel like we have no power or control over the situation, and it's the biggest decision/ expense of our lives!

Thrugelmir

Keira_B wrote: »

we feel like we have no power or control over the situation, and it's the biggest decision/ expense of our lives!

Your vendors are no doubt having an equally stressful time. Funny thing about house buying/selling is that we all put ourselves through it again at a later fate. Although we vow never to.

ethank

Keira_B wrote: »

Our solicitor also informs us that they haven't yet received contract paperwork from the vendor's solicitors. I was just wondering whether this is normal, and if not, whether it's the 'done thing' to contact the vendor's solicitor for a progress update?

When I sold my property, we were awaiting buyers enquiries for a long time, and I called the buyers solicitor to chase. They told me it was a conflict of interest to talk to me directly, and they could only speak to my solicitor or estate agent!