Buyer still not appointed a solicitor

Doozergirl

If they were 'motivated', they would have a solicitor within a couple of days.

As an experienced seller, I would not be happy. I would be telling the estate agent that the house goes back on the market on Monday until firm progression is made. A solicitor is basic.

You don't preclude them from from buying if they do come back with a solicitor but I would not be precluding the possibility of other buyers due to what I would argue is a distinct lack of motivation on the part of your buyer.

xPollyx

Thanks all there is some really good advice here.

firebird082

Suspicious. We bought last year, and had a solicitor lined up before we even made the offer on the house!

smallblueplanet

xPollyx wrote: »

Thanks all there is some really good advice here.

I'd also be wondering why the EA isn't 'hurrying' your buyer - they will want their money asap, so is the buyer getting any other 'deal' - mortgage? - via your EA?

Rambosmum

When I was a FTB we didn't appoint a solicitor until the survey had been done, to minimise costs, this took around 2 weeks. We also didn't notify the estate agent of our solicitor, we let the solicitor do that themselves, which they did a few days later.

marksoton

Rambosmum wrote: »

When I was a FTB we didn't appoint a solicitor until the survey had been done, to minimise costs, this took around 2 weeks. We also didn't notify the estate agent of our solicitor, we let the solicitor do that themselves, which they did a few days later.

I don't understand what these perceived costs are?

A solicitor / conveyancer shouldn't do anything till instructed. But that doesn't stop you engaging them regarding their charges etc and knowing who you are going to use. Doing this early won't cost you any more.

OP,2 weeks is ridiculous IMO,I wouldn't be happy at all.

Kynthia

You don't have to pay a solicitor for any work until the survey is done and mortgage offer is approved (which is often only a couple of days after a valuation 'survey'). However waiting until then to select a solicitor is wasting time as you need to get them to quote, receive their contract, read it, sign it and return it, plus send them funds for searches so that they are ready to go as soon as the mortgage offer is received.

ThemeOne

Rambosmum wrote: »

When I was a FTB we didn't appoint a solicitor until the survey had been done, to minimise costs, this took around 2 weeks. We also didn't notify the estate agent of our solicitor, we let the solicitor do that themselves, which they did a few days later.

I would say that's an unusual way to go about things, as no costs are incurred until the solicitor actually does anything.