FTB Chain Free but still Seller's solicitors very slow

eagerftb

Almost 3 Weeks after offer acceptance and my solicitor has still not received any documents/draft contract while I have lined up everything. Survey done, Mortgage Approved. So I have already incurred a cost.

My solicitor tried to contact seller's solicitor but she was not in
office today. Over to next week now.

Why do house purchases have to be this painful?

Not sure what's going on and what should I do?

pinkteapot

Three weeks really isn't very long. You've been very quick and organised at getting everything done.

I once sold a flat in five weeks (from offer acceptance to completion), but that was with a cash buyer (no mortgage), who did his own conveyancing (no solicitor) and didn't bother having a survey done.

'Normal' time, even for something chain free, is often a couple of months.

What should you do? Be patient and let things go through. Chase but try not to worry too much.

Don't give notice on your current rented place until AFTER you have exchanged contracts (don't be tempted to do it before). You're on a month's notice so delays don't really hurt, do they?

You're not thinking about pulling out, are you? I think it would be barmy to consider this after just a few weeks.

Have you had any paperwork yet? Long before you get the contract, you should receive a fixtures and fittings form, property information form, leasehold pack (if it's leasehold), searches, etc etc.... You need to review all of these before you get to the contract stage.

eagerftb

Thanks for the advice. No not thinking of pulling out at all but want it to start moving and want this transaction to happen.

No Paperwork at all so far. My solicitor has only got confirmation from
the seller's solicitor that they have been instructed by the sellers. She has spoken a couple of times to the other party solicitors and expressed that we want to complete quickly. The reply has been that Sellers's solicitors
are awaiting documentation from the seller.

I spoke to the EA again that it's now 3 weeks please make sure things start moving. I asked him are you sure they have firm plans to sell. He says they are really keen and the tenant is moving
out first week december so I dont know if they want to delay completion
and pay mortgage on empty flat..He said the Sellers have v busy professions but if you dont get anything next week then I should
get my solicitor to write a formal letter to the sellers' solicitor.

As advised will not give notice or anything but keep nudging every few days or so.

eagerftb

Latest update from my solicitor. I am clueless and wondering if there
is any will to proceed or have a I put all the survey fee etc down the drain : -


I have telephoned the seller’s solicitor only to be informed:

“she is still waiting for all paperwork required from her client, she has not told anyone she has received everything and she has been chasing her client and its now over a week since she spoke and he told her he would get everything to her and still nothing has been received. She cannot send the contract documentation out until she has everything required from her client”.

She will chase him again but down to seller now as he is the one causing the delay.

Road_Hog

eagerftb wrote: »

Latest update from my solicitor. I am clueless and wondering if there
is any will to proceed or have a I put all the survey fee etc down the drain : -


I have telephoned the seller’s solicitor only to be informed:

“she is still waiting for all paperwork required from her client, she has not told anyone she has received everything and she has been chasing her client and its now over a week since she spoke and he told her he would get everything to her and still nothing has been received. She cannot send the contract documentation out until she has everything required from her client”.

She will chase him again but down to seller now as he is the one causing the delay.

Seller is either having cold feet, or can't get the mrotgage on their new property.

eagerftb

The seller does not have any property to buy. This is just a property he bought with a friend and has been rented out and now the tenants were supposed to move out in beginning of December and hence we were keen to complete by mid December. I have now left it to the EA to chase and lets see what happens.

Ivana_Tinkle

Possibly grasping at straws, but get the agent to speak to the seller as there's always a possiblity that the required paperwork has been sent but is lost in the post or mis-filed by the solicitor's office. IME solicitors don't seem to chase people up, so this kind of thing doesn't come to light until someone else chases.

eagerftb

Thanks Ivana Tinkle. I have asked the Agent to chase up. He called but could not get through so will come back to me tomorrow.

RoxieW

The timescales you are working to are very quick and not everyone will be as on the ball or as eager. We are now 4 months down the line on a simple 3 house chain - the survey alone took 2 mths due to a backlog with the lender!!
I do have sympathy with you as I'm really feeling the strain now - but even if your purchase takes another few weeks it will still be very quick!

ethank

When you see the level of charge that we pay for conveyancing, it is no surprise that solicitors will not chase or make (in their own opinion) unnecessary phone calls. They will wait until they receive everything.

I spent a lot of time on the phone with the solicitors and the estate agents, ensuring that they were all doing what was necessary.

People are correct in saying that you should not quit your tenancy until such time as you have exchanged, but please note that you should not exchange with your seller until such time as they have confirmed the property is vacant. Otherwise you risk inheriting a tenant.