'We still await replies to enquiries'

KatieMossman

I have emailed our solicitor to ask when we can sign our contract and set an exchange date (which we have read through and have confirmed we are happy with) and the searches have come back but he has replied with 'We still await replies to enquiries' and said he will let us know as soon as these are received... what happens next? What are these enquiries?

Everyone speaks to us like we should know what all this means!

MyOnlyPost

There may be questions raised by the searches that the solicitor needs to clarify. This can be a range of things from access rights to restrictive covenants or if a leasehold property ground rents and service charges, amunts dates and any planned increases. A conveyancer has to do his due dilligence so as to not open himself up for future liability, e.g. if you are not able to run a business from home and your conveyancer fails to tell you this before purchase

KatieMossman

OK thank you. That makes sense. There is a covenant on extension into a certain part of the garden but we accept that, there was also a question raised regarding the right hand boundary maintenance so I suppose that is what it is

G_M

KatieMossman wrote: »

....

Everyone speaks to us like we should know what all this means!

To be honest - you should!

You are spnding a HUGE amount of money. Making a decision, and a commitment, that is probobly the biggest of your life (mariage?).

Your library will have books on house buying that explain exactly what is involved, what each step means, what problems might arise, what things you should consider.

It amazes me that people go into this process without doing even the basics of research, as if they were buying an outfit for Friday night.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Experts-Guide-How-Buy-House-ebook/dp/B01JWP7ALK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485262927&sr=8-2&keywords=how+buy+house

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Your-First-Home-Sell-x/dp/0091935377/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1485262927&sr=8-4&keywords=how+buy+house

TBagpuss

As kthe solicitor. But before you do, check the post and e-mail you have already had from them to see whether they have already sent you copies of the enquiries they have raised, and the answers they have had so far.

KatieMossman

Thanks! I have just emailed him. You are right we should try to get a bit more information. Its just a bit difficult when everyone constantly tells you its all in hand and you just have to wait.

KatieMossman

Agreed. And up until now I think we've been pretty ok but as we were told the searches came back last week and all ok I guess I was just surprised that extra queries had been raised so wanted to see if it was anything else- but it is just enquiries on the searches which had not been communicated to us.

Also to be honest as much as the book and internet can help it is good to speak to people on a forum like this to ask about their experience.

I have the Phil Spencer book and thought it was a bit basic to be honest.

G_M

There are a set of standard enquiries (which can be supplemented if required) that get sent to the seller to answer.

These are entirely seperate to searches which are sent to 3rd parties (local authority, water company etc)

alumende27

KatieMossman wrote: »

Its just a bit difficult when everyone constantly tells you its all in hand and you just have to wait.

It's all part of the house buying process. Everything takes far longer than any reasonable person would expect.

BrassicWoman

my solicitor was enquiring about stuff I didn't care about; cup of tea sorted wheat from chaff

kingstreet

When enqs are back and all the paperwork is in place, your solicitor will ask you for your preferred completion dates.

These will be put to other parties in the chain by their solicitors and a date agreed between you all.

When that happens, the solicitors can then exchange contracts if they have the deposit funds in hand. Then the agreed completion date becomes legally binding.

So, to be able to recognise where you are, if you haven't been asked for dates, or haven't handed over your deposit you are not going to exchange contracts any time soon...