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Estate agent - pressure to start searches
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Thanks, pyueck. The seller has now done what he was supposed to, so the works on the house are completed. We insisted that they were done in their entirety (and signed off by a structural engineer) before proceeding with anything. It's literally *just over a week* since it was completed though - hence why I was a bit aghast at the suggestion we were dragging our feet!
We did choose our own solicitor - it's just the vendor wouldn't accept us using the conveyancing service provided by Nationwide because he'd had 'bad experiences' with them before. He seemed to believe a locally-based firm would be faster, which seems odd. We opted to use a solicitor recommended by our friends, which he seemed happy with.0 -
We did choose our own solicitor - it's just the vendor wouldn't accept us using the conveyancing service provided by Nationwide because he'd had 'bad experiences' with them before. He seemed to believe a locally-based firm would be faster, which seems odd. We opted to use a solicitor recommended by our friends, which he seemed happy with.0
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Whilst it's really not down to him what solicitor you use, he's absolutely right that a small local independent will be a MUCH better option than a national paperwork-by-numbers chain.
Couldn't agree more. Also, although it is not down to him, your using a conveyancing farm rather than a real solicitor potentially costs him more, as often the farms don;t know what they are doing, which results in extra work for the professional involved on the other side. They also tend to be slower, while at the same time giving misleading information to agents and to their client (example; I was selling my house, buyer used one of the bog cheapo farms. They would wait 3-4 weeks to reply to correspondence but then the second they had done so, they would tell the agents "we're waiting for a response from the seller". Which was, of course, technically true, but would have been more accurate if they had said "We've ignored the seller fro the past three weeks, but we sent their solicitor an e-mail (with no reference or other identifying features) 5 minutes ago and have not yet had a response to it"All posts are my personal opinion, not formal advice Always get proper, professional advice (particularly about anything legal!)0 -
I didn't pay for and order searches until our mortgage application and valuation survey had come back. IMO booking the survey shows more than enough commitment for the property to be taken off the market.
Once we had our mortgage application, we ordered our searches - we could have waited until our separate homebuyer survey was complete but opted to press ahead (we were trying to move as quickly as possible).
One thing to consider...what are the waiting times like for local searches in your area? Environmental/drainage searches normally only take a day or two but local searches can take anywhere from a week to more than a month depending on the LA. Ours took about 3 weeks - maybe the EA is concerned because your LA is very slow?0 -
Don't spend a penny until your survey has been completed. I would also ask for the details of the previous issues that are "being fixed" and how these are being put right. I would want to see the contract the seller has in place with the builders. (assuming that the work is being done at all!)
Could be the lender pulled out due to subsidence maybe!0 -
Hi all,
More thanks in order, I see! The estate agent did send us a long list of all the survey findings (apparently) and what's been done to correct them.
Any idea how I'd find out about how long searches take in my area, TheCyclingProgrammer? I hadn't factored in local variation in timelines as an issue, to be honest.0 -
Might take a month or so. Make sure you see a copy of the builders invoice and any buildings control paperwork goes to your Sol. Make sure you view the work once it finished again BEFORE you spend any pennies.0
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Top line is do nothing until you have a mortgage offer.0
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I agree with everyone else. I would add though, that you said the work was to be done over Christmas, and it's now February! So feel free to point this out next time they accuse you of proceeding at a slower rate than expected. If the work had been finished a month ago presumably you would be a month further down the line, possibly even moved in by now! You have acted in good faith, by getting your mortgage, surveyor etc moving as soon as they notified you the work was done. They can't ask for more than that!0
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Any idea how I'd find out about how long searches take in my area, TheCyclingProgrammer? I hadn't factored in local variation in timelines as an issue, to be honest.
No idea, but if you're using a local solicitor they should have an idea. Failing that, the EA or LA should be able to give you an idea.0
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