How long until exchange!

Dotty_Doo

Hi all,

This is my first time on the forum so please forgive me!

We returned our signed contract and transferred money for deposit to our solicitor on Monday, the paperwork was personally hand delivered to them in order to speed things up. (Have had a lot of issues, our offer was accepted on this property which is chain free in November!)
I emailed solicitor the following day for confirmation that they had received it, and suggested a completion date of 8th May to which I was told would be achievable and she would contact vendors solicitor and suggest date. Had heard nothing back so contacted again yesterday to be told she is still awaiting confirmation from vendors solicitor and has not heard anything back from them herself. Grrr, how long should this take? I'm not sure if I am being impatient and should just sit tight or if I should be on the phone to estate agent Monday morning stamping my feet and demanding they chase vendors solicitor?

So as not to drip feed, we have had so much trouble with vendors solicitor the whole thing has been a huge headache. They caused a two month delay over some right of way document which they refused to send because thought it was not their job to, constantly tell estate agent when they chase them that it is my solicitor who is causing delay although our searches were done in February, and don't seem capable to respond to any calls/emails that our solicitor makes to them. Our solicitor said himself that they are useless! Is there any way that I can make a complaint about the vendors solicitors, or any point?

Sorry it's so long, feel a bit better to get some of that off my chest!

Thankyou

eddddy

Dotty_Doo wrote: »

...
I'm not sure if I am being impatient and should just sit tight or if I should be on the phone to estate agent Monday morning stamping my feet and demanding they chase vendors solicitor?
...

The EA cannot chase the vendor's solicitor. The EA can only chase the vendor, and tell the vendor to chase their solicitor.

Remember that the EA will be on your side. They want the sale to happen as well, so they get their commission. (Unless they are a budget 'up-front fee' EA.)

It's also worth noting that vendors (and buyers) often blame solicitors, when the real delay is because the solicitor is waiting on a reply or instructions from their client.


If your solicitor says he/she is waiting on something from the vendor's solicitor, the best way to keep things moving is to phone the EA and say "My solicitor needs x from the vendor's solicitor. Please phone the vendor and tell them to instruct their solicitor to send it."

G_M

You have suggested the 8th May.

Your seller's solicitor will
a) ask his client (the seller) if they are happy with that date and
b) ask the solicitor acting for your seller's seller if HE is happy.

The seller's seller's solicitor will then
a) ask his client (your seller's seller) if they are happy with that date and
b) ask the solicitor acting for your seller's seller's seller's if HE is happy.

How long is the chain? If there are 10 people in the chain, they all have to agree the date.

And if an issue arises in just one deal in the chain, then there will be a delay.

So you can see that this could take time, and even once agreed, the date is not guaranteed until Exchange.

2nd_mortgage

(Have had a lot of issues, our offer was accepted on this property which is chain free in November!)

It seems it's chain free

ethank

You can't complain other than to the vendor. Ask the EA to call the vendor and let them know what is happening.