Nearly at completion date agreed, no exchange of contracts!

GavChap

We've got about 8 days until the completion date everyone has agreed (actually 5 working days), we still haven't exchanged yet! What would you do in this situation?

It seems our seller's solicitor is waiting on some enquiries from their seller's solicitor still. I'm getting anxious that we won't exchange in time and the date will slip, meaning I have to rearrange everything with the removals, our landlandy, schools, utilities, etc.

Next week is half term. We've already arranged a new school in the area for our son, and we're pencilled in with removals companies already.

Am I getting unduly worried? Especially with a bank holiday this weekend? Advice please!

pinkteapot

The completion date isn't formally agreed until exchange of contracts, when the date is on the contract. At the moment, you've just got everyone's word that they'll do their best to meet that date.

Phone the EA and get them to do some chain chasing. Our EA was on the phone to every solicitor in the chain, and even getting them to email enquiry responses to them, for them to pass on to buyers as necessary. They coordinated the whole thing to save solicitors spending ages writing letters back and forth to each other. We were lucky and had a good EA though (aka one who was selling four houses in one chain and in for almost £20k commission!).

Ideally you shouldn't make the final booking with your removal company until exchange, as most do charge admin fees if you then change the date.

m_13

My sister exchanged and completed on the same day but I wouldn't recommended it for your mental wellbeing. Do you know what is outstanding? Can you get the estate agent to push things along?

misssaver12

Contact your solicitor and ask...they will be the best to advise you of when exchange will happen....

kingstreet

As my conveyancer often reminds me, do not call me asking about dates until all the paperwork in the chain is received and accepted.

ognum

GavChap wrote: »

We've got about 8 days until the completion date everyone has agreed (actually 5 working days), we still haven't exchanged yet! What would you do in this situation?

It seems our seller's solicitor is waiting on some enquiries from their seller's solicitor still. I'm getting anxious that we won't exchange in time and the date will slip, meaning I have to rearrange everything with the removals, our landlandy, schools, utilities, etc.

Next week is half term. We've already arranged a new school in the area for our son, and we're pencilled in with removals companies already.

Am I getting unduly worried? Especially with a bank holiday this weekend? Advice please!

My guess is that you won't be moving on the day you planned!

If you want to move that day start pushing, phoning, emailing and generally getting in people's hair.

Like every other job it's the people who keep on top of the solicitor, Ea and vendors that move quickly, those who sit back wait at the end of the queue.

Be proactive, it won't happen just because you have chosen a date, get people moving.

GavChap

pinkteapot wrote: »

The completion date isn't formally agreed until exchange of contracts, when the date is on the contract. At the moment, you've just got everyone's word that they'll do their best to meet that date.

Phone the EA and get them to do some chain chasing. Our EA was on the phone to every solicitor in the chain, and even getting them to email enquiry responses to them, for them to pass on to buyers as necessary. They coordinated the whole thing to save solicitors spending ages writing letters back and forth to each other. We were lucky and had a good EA though (aka one who was selling four houses in one chain and in for almost £20k commission!).

The EA is fantastic and has been pushing people along with great help, it's just the solicitors seem to be hard to get hold of. The EA has also been helping coordinate the completion date as well, as they're dealing with both of the houses in the chain we're only in a small chain of 2 houses, us (renting), our seller, their seller (moving to rental). Everyone agrees on the date as we need to move within the half term holidays as two of them are teachers!

I'm just getting mighty concerned that it'll be the day before, then we'll have to pay through the nose for short notice removals. We are pencilled in, but nothing formal.

zzzLazyDaisy

Just a note re the removals. Removal companies are used to completion dates (and therefore moving dates) being a "movable feast". Keep in contact with them and let them know what is happening. By coincidence my cousin moved today, but didn't know until two days' ago that it was definitely all going ahead. The removal company were great (although personally I would have had a fit if a house went to the wire like that!) You can't exchange until all parties in the chain have their paperwork in place, so all you can do is keep calling. One tip - ask to speak to the solicitor's secretary and be nice to her when you speak to her - she will have access to the file and will probably have made most of the phone calls so she will probably be able to give you an update without 'bothering' the solicitor.

kingstreet

The point here is the OP can't contact either solicitor as they are his vendor's and their vendor's.

G_M

GavChap wrote: »

It seems our seller's solicitor is waiting on some enquiries from their seller's solicitor still. .... etc.

There is nothing you can do except perhaps pursuade your vendors to chase their solicitors. But if they are waiting for documents.... you all just have to wait!

We've got about 8 days until the completion date everyone has agreed

Since you have not yet Exchanged, no one has 'agreed' a Completion date. All you have all done is tell your respective conveyencors when you would like to Complete.

ruggedtoast

Completion dates are meaningless until you have exchanged. They are targets at best.