buying/selling 30yrs on. Confused

sukavi2011

I am selling my home of 30yrs, first time seller and now on my own and to be honest Im totally confused. I have accepted an offer about 2/3 wk ago, although I have not found anywhere to buy yet. Solicitor conveyancing co sent me a text which i accepted and was sent email with lots attachments from a solicitor. I have tried making sense of it all but so confused and they aren't local that I can just make appt to see. I havent paid them any money or sent any signed paperwork yet so can I still change my mind and go to another more local so I can get help to go through these? Things have changed so much in 30yrs, all seems email, text,etc. I intend to call estate agent and solic tomorrow to hopefully get some answers/help on these. I am getting myself so stressed out over things that maybe absolutely nothing.
I am also unsure of timespan I have to find another property. I have viewed those avail in the area and not had much joy, its just a waiting game for more to come on market. thanks in advance

cassieclaire

I would suggest getting a local solicitor. I was in a similar position selling after 20 years and they were invaluable, talking me through the process. Your estate agent will be able to fill you in on details of your buyer, and indicate how quickly they want things to move along. Try not to feel rushed though and keep your estate agent regularly posted on how many properties you are viewing. You do not want anyone thinking you are just sitting doing nothing. Congratulations on accepting an offer and hope you find just the house for you soon.

getmore4less

how did you pick this solicitor?

sukavi2011

Thank you Cassie, it helps knowing its not me just being stupid not understanding these things. Since reading these forms, Ive realised its not as plain sailing as I thought and I am going to need to speak to someone that can explain so I understand clearer. As far as I know the buyer is buying mine as a 2nd property for investment purposes so hopefully can/will wait , but I will keep them updated. It has only been just over a month Ive been looking so as you say dont want to be rushed into buying anything. Thanks again.

knightstyle

Yes, good local solicitor is the way to go. Remember your estate agent will recommend the solicitor who pays them the most and not the best!

getmore4less

Have you done your research on value and got more than one valuation.

Investor can hint cheaper than should be unless only marketable to investors.


Do you have any family or friends you can talk to?

paddy's_mum

There are several well written books on buying a house available for a few pounds and widely available.

The chance to read through a worry, quietly and at your own pace, might be very useful to you right now.

sukavi2011

I got an email and text from a conveyancer (via the estate agents). I replied to proceed, then recieved an email from solicitor (who the conveyancer had instructed for my case) now beginning to think I have done wrong. No payments have been made and none of these attachments completed and returned and I have had them 2 weeks already.trying to read and make sense of them.
Seems they want info/certs etc of things done 30 yrs ago,etc. Can go back nearly 10yrs but 25 - 30 yrs, getting so stressed things are going to go wrong.

AnotherJoe

First of all, yes get a local solicitor you can talk to not a cheap conveyancing business that deals with this enmasse.
Second thing, and your solicitor will help you with this, is that most of these requirements for forms amd certificates are blanket questions, and may not even be relevant for most of what they ask you, but the bottom line is, if you don't have them, you don't have them and the buyer will just have to accept that.

There will be talk of indemnity insurance for these, should the buyer insist on that, then let them pay for those, not you.

To put it in context, what use is (for example) - building certificate for works done 30 years ago when regulations were different so you won't be compliant to current building regulations (no one will be whose house is more than a handful of years old as they change all the time), or a Guarantee for the windows you had put in say 15 years ago when it's out of data of the guarantee p,us the company probably no longer exists any more anyway.

So, have an cursory look but in general your answer will and should be, "haven't got em, take it or leave it." And to indemnity insurance "feel free to purchase some yourself"

Sus59

I think you need to take a step back and as others have suggested:

1. Did you get valuations from more than one estate agent? It is important to have at least 3 different agents value your house to make sure you get a fair price. Being snapped up fast by an investor does indicate that maybe you might be selling too cheaply. You can pull out at any time before exchange of contracts so don't feel obliged to go through with the sale even if you say you have accepted the offer. You are allowed to change your mind.

2. You do not need to use the solicitor recommended by estate agent. As you have not signed any paperwork, have a look round for a local conveyancer/solicitor with whom you can speak in person. With regards to certificates for work done, if you don't have them, then you don't have them and nothing you can do about that. Just tell them you are unable to provide and it is up to the buyer to decide if they still want to go ahead without them.

3. Moving house after so many years is a big step and don't be bullied into anything you don't feel comfortable with. Take your time to find the next perfect home for you. Do you have any family members that you could turn to for help and advice?

Good luck.

sukavi2011

Getmore, Its not the cost I am worried about, and if I start getting more quotes and value for money etc I am just gonna confuse myself even more, its just not what i expected, thought I would have to visit a solic that would go through forms and tell me what I had to supply, etc, not email me the forms to get on with it myself. Hence I am going to hopefully speak to someone tomorrow.
Paddysmum, I had read through again this morning, I printed 2 copies of each and have circled every question/statement that i need to query/clarify with solicitor which is about half of them. The book is a good idea if no joy, thank you all.