Will I exchange before Xmas??!

Lauren555_2

I know none of you can tell me if I will exchange before Xmas, but hoping for some advice on how to proceed!

I had my offer accepted on a flat at the beginning of October and from our end everything has gone smoothly with mortgage offer, survey, searches, etc. The vendor had some problems with the house they were buying (think the EA messed up a bit and things took a lot longer than they should have with survey etc) and their solicitor has also been really slow at responding to enquiries (I'm not 100% sure what we're still waiting for now). My solicitor has been chasing daily but we don't seem to be any nearer to getting the required answers. I have also been chasing the EA who claims she's been unable to get in contact with the vendor, but I'm not sure if she just can't be bothered (and she's now on holiday till January and her manager is "looking after" us, but I haven't managed to speak to him yet). Last time I spoke to the EA, she said she knew their purchase was going well, so there should be no problems.

When we met the vendor (beginning of November) they were really keen to be in before Xmas, but I'm pretty convinced by now that isn't going to be possible with the timescales we're now working to. Since they don't seem to be replying to enquiries and the EA can't contact them I'm a bit scared they've changed their minds or something. My solicitor thinks they now don't want to complete before Christmas and they're avoiding the issue (as the EA has been REALLY pushy about it). It actually suits me better to complete after Xmas because I don't have time to move before I leave for the holidays, but I want to exchange before to ensure we have something concrete in writing before the break.

I'm just not sure how to proceed from here. Any advice?

pinkteapot

Keep chasing the EA for what's outstanding. They can chase both the vendor and their solicitor.

The EA we're buying through is great. We only had a complete chain in November and they're chasing everyone to try and get us exchanged before Christmas. The other day they asked our solicitor to email them the enquiries that had just gone by post to our seller's solicitor. They emailed them to seller's solicitor, then asked seller to phone his solicitor to answer them! All happened in one day.

Might be because our EA is selling all three houses in the chain!!

You can have as long as you like between exchange and completion. We're not completing till Feb no matter when we exchange.

Your vendor should want to exchange to get everything certain. Just keep finding out what the hold-up is and chasing.

kindofaverage

hi all in the same situation too with wanting to exchange asap. does anyone know if it will state on the paperwork at exchange the actual completion date?

pinkteapot

kindofaverage wrote: »

hi all in the same situation too with wanting to exchange asap. does anyone know if it will state on the paperwork at exchange the actual completion date?

Yes, it will. You can't exchange until everyone in the chain has agreed on a date. At exchange, you're promising legally that on that date you'll buy/sell the house.

N.b. slightly different for new-builds where I believe you can exchange with an open-ended completion date, as the builder has to finish constructing the house.

Lauren555_2

Need to get onto the EA tomorrow then... the lady we were dealing with up until Wednesday last week was great, but she's passed on all her clients to her manager as she's away until January and he doesn't seem to be quite as on it.

I think our vendor is using the solicitor recommended her her estate agent and they also don't seem as bothered... feel a bit like I'm banging my head against a wall, every week they'll respond to another enquiry but ignore the other 5. *Sigh*

weeblesim

Lauren555 I feel your pain, we are in a very similar situation. The original plan was to complete before xmas, now its exchange before xmas, complete after. However the vendor has messed us around and it keeps going quiet on their end. We would just like to have things concrete before xmas! Let us know what happens!

Lauren555_2

Chase chase chase... solicitor thinks "there's no reason why we shouldn't exchange contracts this week" but it just seems there's so much still to get done before we get to that point. She wasn't in the office today and her secretary is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Thrugelmir

Lauren555 wrote: »

feel a bit like I'm banging my head against a wall, every week they'll respond to another enquiry but ignore the other 5. *Sigh*

Vendor obviously wants to delay completion until the New Year.

Little point in getting stressed. Chill and enjoy your Xmas.

Kazza_Monkey

I too feel your pain similar situation here our buyers have thrown barriers in the way the whole time. I think they also don't want to commit before Christmas I don't think they realise the difference between completion and exchange as they are FTBs. I have given them the deadline to exchange by this Friday but still nothing. Got the feeling we are going to end up putting the house back up for sale in January as they are a total nightmare. We are 14 weeks into the process and there is no chain involved. Good luck hope it all works out for you

Lauren555_2

Yes, my solicitor said they will not be ready to complete before Xmas now (their purchase isn't ready yet) which is absolutely fine by me, I would just really like to exchange and be able to forget about it for a couple of weeks.

At least we have had some progress this week.