The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

Singlespeeder

First post on here.... put an offer in on our dream house on 31/12/20 .... exchanged on Friday, Complete on Weds, 31st March, 3 months to the day. We're moving over a month, running the rental and the dream house together. 
Had a few ups and downs but in general it's been ok. Took 3 months, felt like 3 years. 

Natbag

Great to see some people completing/nearing completion - it gives the rest of us a little glimpse of hope!
We've just returned all the signed documents ready to exchange, so now I'm chasing my solicitor (who just doesn't respond) and both estate agents for updates on the others in the chain. I've emailed my solicitor, dropped off a letter and asked her receptionist in person for a response now. How hard is it for someone to just say "Party 1 are at this point and awaiting this bit which is due by this date, Party 2 are ready to go, Party 3 are at this point, we realistically might be looking at a date between X and X.". Sigh.

Wren14

Final search was returned to my solicitor on Friday, now waiting for it to be reviewed and to see if it raises any queries.
My mortgage offer came through on Thursday but my solicitor hasn't received their copy yet.
I'm happy not to push as I would ideally like to move in May half term! 

Becksina

I’ve emailed our solicitor to ask if it’s worth unpacking. We’ve been at this since October, due to move on 8th March which was cancelled that week, been in boxes since then and over the weekend one of my toddlers had a near miss with one of the piles of packed boxes so I either want a date or at least confirmation that I can unpack and make my house child friendly again ugh 

Drem1992

Was anyone elses home buyers survey a terrifying read? 
I've just got mine through and I'm trying to understand what it all means 🙈
They seem to have concerns about the chimney, the roof mortar, the floors downstairs aren't level and need a timber specialist assessment, theres an internal wall with a high damp reading and the bathroom ceiling may or may not have asbestos in it 😬😬😬
It's a 1930s semi, is this a normal amount of things to find or should I be worrying?
They're basically recommending specialist roof and chimney assessment + repairs, a damp and timber treatment contractor assessment and gas and electrics assessments.
To me this all sounds super serious and I'm incredibly stressed out, I know that people say these things can often read worse than they are but...???

NAC2809

Hello all - FTB here and been perusing the forum for quite a while. Just want to give some context 

04/02/21 - offer put in and accepted 

16/02/21 - homebuyers survey completed and received 48 hours later 

22/02/21 - mortgage approved by Lloyds and received by both myself and solicitor that same week. 

25/02/21 - due to survey results sellers agreed to reduced price 

Then silence. 

I did email my solicitor to ask what the next steps are to receive a very short (frustratingly so) reply that they would be in touch when any milestones have been hit. 

25/03/21 - not heard a sausage so contacted the EA to see if they had an update to be told that my solicitor had not received the  contract pack even though the sellers’ sent it ‘weeks ago’ and they were awaiting response from mine.

So while I’ve been waiting for contact from my solicitor to find out that nothing has happened in four weeks. No communication with me or EA, I decided to call them this afternoon, full of hell, to complain and ask whoever to pull their finger out. 

I didn’t even get a chance to complain and was told they’d email the sellers solicitor immediately to rectify the problem and that I’d be cc’d into it. I asked to be informed when it had arrived, and confirmed no searches had been started (understandable considering they claim not to have received anything) 

I’m incredibly frustrated at the lack of communication/movement over the last four weeks! Is this normal?! 

I don’t know who to believe, what action (if any) to take, and how often I should chase my solicitor now because I feel like I’m going to have to

So any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Natbag

NAC2809 said:

I’m incredibly frustrated at the lack of communication/movement over the last four weeks! Is this normal?! 

I don’t know who to believe, what action (if any) to take, and how often I should chase my solicitor now because I feel like I’m going to have to

So any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Ahhhhh yes, it does seem to be. This entire thread is all of us complaining about lack of progress and lack of communication, so you're in good company! 

hippocrates1

Enquiries sent four weeks ago. None of them resolved. Can’t be bothered anymore.

Caz_Mnaz

Drem1992 said:

Was anyone elses home buyers survey a terrifying read? 
I've just got mine through and I'm trying to understand what it all means 🙈
They seem to have concerns about the chimney, the roof mortar, the floors downstairs aren't level and need a timber specialist assessment, theres an internal wall with a high damp reading and the bathroom ceiling may or may not have asbestos in it 😬😬😬
It's a 1930s semi, is this a normal amount of things to find or should I be worrying?
They're basically recommending specialist roof and chimney assessment + repairs, a damp and timber treatment contractor assessment and gas and electrics assessments.
To me this all sounds super serious and I'm incredibly stressed out, I know that people say these things can often read worse than they are but...???

Ahhhhh the survey joys! When reading its always important to remember the surveyor is just giving you alllll the information so you can make an informed decision, and that they do essentially have to cover their own backs!! They're also not experts hence why they suggest getting a professional opinion. Electrics and gas etc are pretty standard by the sounds of it, ask your solicitors for up to date safety checks. Asbestos also comes up on most as a 'might be' 

Damp and timber I'm not an expert on, but for what it's worth my survey came back saying it might need a new roof and two builders came out and said nothing wrong with it so might not be as bad as it sounds! Mine also got a red for an unsafe banisters but it's because the rails are wide and a child could get stuck... No kids or intentions to have any or even any visiting so no issue there!!!

Remember they'll always be something to do to any house you buy... That's the fun. Older houses may have more! If it's something major then you can get quotes and perhaps renegotiate asking price.... 

Sam2030

Thought I would join in maybe one of you is in my chain ha. Currently waiting to exchange so I feel everybodys pain on here waiting. We were due to complete on the 26th but that date changed as we then found out that We are in a chain of 6 us being house number one, houses 1, 2, 3 and 4 are ready to go have been for a couple of weeks but houses 5 and 6 are not ready 5 waiting for there mortgage offer and 6 unknown as of last week the week before they were waiting for enquiries to be answered. House number 3 was originally going into rented. Really hoping to get some news this week. Sending exchange day wishes