Stuck between my solicitor and estate agent

jatinmistry_uk

My wife and I are FTB. In brief, offer accepted in early Feb-15. Mortgage sorted and offer received by Mar-15. Also received land reg details, fixtures and fittings form from solicitors 1st week of Apr-15. But since then.....nothing.........

Aparantely there was some kind of hold up somewhere. My solicitor was saying they didn't have title plan. My wife and I were getting nervous and the biggest thing was solicitor was blaming estate agent/vendor solicitor for not providing the details. On the other hand estate agent was blaming my solicitor for not replying and co operating. I finally sent e-mail to my solicitor this morning with my concerns. They replied they have now received the missing documents yesterday (all of sudden!) and have put the searches through.

However in the afternoon had a call from estate agent telling me that my solicitor being awkward and telling them the completion won't happen for a month and they and vendor were not happy as they were under impression of all was sorted. They had provided all details but my solicitor refusing to accept. Just don't know who to believe and who to trust.

We are at a stage now that this is all getting onto us and having affect. Feels like we are trapped and cannot do anything try to resolve. Who to believe and who not to. Not sure how long this searches takes and if we can push solicitor or tell estate agent. Above all we just don't want to loose the house as it has taken us over 5 years to find the perfect house in perfect location!

Any advise?

King_Slayer

jatinmistry_uk wrote: »

We are at a stage now that this is all getting onto us and having affect. Feels like we are trapped and cannot do anything try to resolve. Who to believe and who not to. Not sure how long this searches takes and if we can push solicitor or tell estate agent. Above all we just don't want to loose the house as it has taken us over 5 years to find the perfect house in perfect location!

Any advise?

Sounds to me like your SOL might be the problem, but you can never be certain without all the facts. My SOL advised us that searches would take 7-10 days, not sure if this differs per area. As your SOL has already submitted searches, you should speak to your SOL to get an idea of what date you're looking at to exchange (worst case scenario) at this point I would be hesitant to change my SOL. Although it is an option. Good luck (I had posted this response for you in the exchange thread)

HouseBuyer77

One thing to realise is the EA doesn't really take any part in the conveyancy process. They may be a contact point to talk to the vendor when you need to get hold of certain documentation but it's mostly solicitor to solicitor.

The vendor's solicitor is unlikely to talk to you however. So this leaves you with talking to the EA or the vendor themselves. If things are getting a little strained talking to the vendor may be a bad move, but on the other hand if your respective solicitors are being useless the personal touch could help greatly (they'll realise you're a person, just as stressed as them, just as keen to move as them and they'll view as both of you vs the solictors rather than them vs you).

Perhaps the next step should be phoning the EA and asking for a list of things that have been done and a list of things that have yet to be done, as said above the EA doesn't actually take part in conveyancy so these lists may be wrong or inaccurate. Then phone your solicitor and ask for the same lists. Go find one of the many house buying guides online that explains the conveyancy process and compare. This will let you know where you are and what you can do to help. It may be you can do nothing you're just waiting on a document or something but then this isn't something the vendor/EA can blame on you so you can direct their elsewhere

It is all very stressful and can feel like the deal can collapse any second but I think this is just stress. Your vendor is unlikely to pull out just because things are taking a little longer than they'd like (they always take longer than you'd like). If they're in a hurry do they really want to start all over again?

dragonsoup

Are you using a proper solicitor form or one of those cheap online conveyancers? There is a considerable difference in the service standards.

Having bought and sold many properties I've always taken the view that the solicitor is working for you and is accountable to you and should explain themselves when necessary.. Don't be afraid to contact them, press them for information and don't allow them to brush you off either.

Ask them for updates once a week or so ( depending on how far through the process you are) unless they contact you - sadly with them it's the squeaky wheels that get the attention. Patient undemanding clients seem to go to the bottom of the pile.

jatinmistry_uk

King_Slayer wrote: »

Sounds to me like your SOL might be the problem, but you can never be certain without all the facts. My SOL advised us that searches would take 7-10 days, not sure if this differs per area. As your SOL has already submitted searches, you should speak to your SOL to get an idea of what date you're looking at to exchange (worst case scenario) at this point I would be hesitant to change my SOL. Although it is an option. Good luck (I had posted this response for you in the exchange thread)

I don't think I will be able to change the solicitor as I had to pay the deposit fees for them to start the work. Not only I will loose that but they might ask for me as they always can claim that they have spent more hours on our case!

Can I ask force them to put the plan with dates together? I am just thinking becuase if when I ask and if they say will let me know, can I force them to set action plan and stick to it?

Pixie5740

You solicitor works for you and the estate agent is working for the vendor so I'd be inclined to go with what your solicitor is telling you.

Your solicitor is qualified and should know what information they need. The vendor's estate agent cannot say for sure what information and documentation has been exchanged between the two solicitors.

jatinmistry_uk

dragonsoup wrote: »

Are you using a proper solicitor form or one of those cheap online conveyancers? There is a considerable difference in the service standards.

Having bought and sold many properties I've always taken the view that the solicitor is working for you and is accountable to you and should explain themselves when necessary.. Don't be afraid to contact them, press them for information and don't allow them to brush you off either.

Ask them for updates once a week or so ( depending on how far through the process you are) unless they contact you - sadly with them it's the squeaky wheels that get the attention. Patient undemanding clients seem to go to the bottom of the pile.

The solicitor is not the online one. I hope I am not breaking any forum rules by saying it's EHL in Leicester where I live and buying property (so local). I have only gone with them despite little expensive because someone at work mentioned that they had good experience with them.

It's just they keep blaming not heard anything from vendors solicitor or estate agent. On the other side estate agent keep saying my solicitor not responding or answering their calls. Not sure who to believe.

I will try to be more pro-active but being FTB, my wife and I already nervous and feel that if we try to push anyone (sol or ea) then that might not help with sale.

Thrugelmir

Vendor is the one who pulls the EA's strings. Yesterday morning your solicitor receives the documents. In the afternoon you are getting harassed. Too much of a coincidence I would say. Everybody in the chain has their own agenda. Eventually though everyone has to compromise.

House buying and selling is a stressful experience. But you'll get there in the end.

SuzieSue

Can you speak directly to the vendor and find out from them what they think the issues are. If it is your solicitor who is the problem then all you can do is ring him every day or so and get an update and hope that you chasing him chivvies him along.

giddypenguin

If it's a local solicitor could you pop in and see them face to face? Much harder to fob you off that way, and they will be forced to pull your case out. Explain what you are being told, explain your concerns and ask if there is anything you can do personally to speed things up (be polite!) once they put a face to the case it might help things move along. Sounds like your solicitors are very busy to me.

jatinmistry_uk

SuzieSue wrote: »

Can you speak directly to the vendor and find out from them what they think the issues are. If it is your solicitor who is the problem then all you can do is ring him every day or so and get an update and hope that you chasing him chivvies him along.

No I cannot speak to the vendor as estate agent has said they recently have gone through personl medical issues and are very sensitive at the moment.