The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

amyr

birdmadgirl8 said:

Devastated to report that our sellers are taking house we were buying off market. After 6 months. 6 months of effort and anxiety. We loved that house, but I'm trying not to think about it. I just feel sick. 

So sorry to hear this, it's everyone's worst nightmare. I hope that an even better option is around the corner.

AmmDram

I’m new to this thread after lurking since last June/July when we put our house up for sale. We had a buyer last August, had an offer accepted on the house we wanted to buy at the same time and waited 9 weeks for our seller to find a property they wanted to buy. 

We were all aiming for completion before Christmas. Then our buyer (FTB) pulled out and it all fell apart. 

Found a new buyer (FTB) in January and another property we wanted to buy. Been rattling along since then. 

Had a call Tuesday this week saying our buyer wants to complete Friday 14th May. Still waiting to hear from the top of the chain (the person we are buying from is buying another house but the people selling that aren’t buying another house). 

My solicitor said we might not exchange until 2-3 days before completion and all the local removals firms I have contacted have said ‘don’t go for Friday, go for the beginning of the week,’. Solicitor said don’t book removals until we have exchanged, but if we don’t exchange until 2-3 days before, I have no chance of finding a company to move us. 

Most of the removals firms want the full fee up front too, to reserve the date. Non-refundable. I already have the week commencing 17th booked off work (by coincidence, I booked it in January) and it is very hard to get time off agreed from my work. We were so desperate to move on or before 14th May but it now seems like it won’t happen and I am just filled with horrible, all consuming anxiety. I hate not knowing. Currently waiting on a call back from the estate agent to see if they have heard from our vendor about the date. 

Oh, and when I tried to sort buildings insurance, I was told by the insurers that I have to have both an exchange date and completion date. I have neither yet but don’t want to hold up actual exchange by not having insurance in place in time.

My solicitor said they have to get someone else to go over my file and that happens before exchange, so am just waiting on them and our seller to agree to the date, or disagree, or say something! 

Sorry for ranting, I know most of us are in the same boat. It just seems ridiculous to me at the moment! It’s the committing to a completion date without the time to know if we can get removals that is driving me potty! We definitely can’t do it ourselves as we have some complex furniture that needs taking apart and reassembling and we are the least practical/handy people I know. Arrrrrgggghhhh!

Caz_Mnaz

I have that exact same issue re removals..... But I'm so stressed about getting to thar point I keep forgetting to stress about that too 😭😂

amyr

Oh I cannot wait to get to the stress of removals!! 

Honestly, today's been a nightmare.

Yesterday our buyer emailed the EA to say 'paperwork is signed and posted, should be with you imminently, any issues I'll personally drive down to the solicitors to resolve'.
Today, the buyer's solicitor has told our EA that the buyer has emailed asking questions about the paperwork and how to provide proof of funds. Eh? Shouldn't that have been done ages ago - we're signing exchange paperwork? And they said they posted it? And they said they'd drive down if any issues?

I'm utterly confused, it feels like everyone has a different version of events. Our last sale fell through at the point of exchange so every hurdle like this feels completely terrifying. 

AnnexeRegular

birdmadgirl8 said:

Devastated to report that our sellers are taking house we were buying off market. After 6 months. 6 months of effort and anxiety. We loved that house, but I'm trying not to think about it. I just feel sick. 

Oh no. So so so sorry to hear that

trance_abbey

birdmadgirl8 said:

Devastated to report that our sellers are taking house we were buying off market. After 6 months. 6 months of effort and anxiety. We loved that house, but I'm trying not to think about it. I just feel sick. 

Oh no, that's awful

BountyBlink

birdmadgirl8 said:

Devastated to report that our sellers are taking house we were buying off market. After 6 months. 6 months of effort and anxiety. We loved that house, but I'm trying not to think about it. I just feel sick. 

Oh I’m so sorry, this is just heartbreaking for you. So much we plan, envisage and organise for our new homes and for your vendor to remove their house from the market at this stage is just devastating for you. 

BountyBlink

Caz_Mnaz said:

I have that exact same issue re removals..... But I'm so stressed about getting to thar point I keep forgetting to stress about that too 😭😂

You have had such a rough ride! I’m cheering you on every day! 

BountyBlink

AmmDram said:

I’m new to this thread after lurking since last June/July when we put our house up for sale. We had a buyer last August, had an offer accepted on the house we wanted to buy at the same time and waited 9 weeks for our seller to find a property they wanted to buy. 

We were all aiming for completion before Christmas. Then our buyer (FTB) pulled out and it all fell apart. 

Found a new buyer (FTB) in January and another property we wanted to buy. Been rattling along since then. 

Had a call Tuesday this week saying our buyer wants to complete Friday 14th May. Still waiting to hear from the top of the chain (the person we are buying from is buying another house but the people selling that aren’t buying another house). 

My solicitor said we might not exchange until 2-3 days before completion and all the local removals firms I have contacted have said ‘don’t go for Friday, go for the beginning of the week,’. Solicitor said don’t book removals until we have exchanged, but if we don’t exchange until 2-3 days before, I have no chance of finding a company to move us. 

Most of the removals firms want the full fee up front too, to reserve the date. Non-refundable. I already have the week commencing 17th booked off work (by coincidence, I booked it in January) and it is very hard to get time off agreed from my work. We were so desperate to move on or before 14th May but it now seems like it won’t happen and I am just filled with horrible, all consuming anxiety. I hate not knowing. Currently waiting on a call back from the estate agent to see if they have heard from our vendor about the date. 

Oh, and when I tried to sort buildings insurance, I was told by the insurers that I have to have both an exchange date and completion date. I have neither yet but don’t want to hold up actual exchange by not having insurance in place in time.

My solicitor said they have to get someone else to go over my file and that happens before exchange, so am just waiting on them and our seller to agree to the date, or disagree, or say something! 

Sorry for ranting, I know most of us are in the same boat. It just seems ridiculous to me at the moment! It’s the committing to a completion date without the time to know if we can get removals that is driving me potty! We definitely can’t do it ourselves as we have some complex furniture that needs taking apart and reassembling and we are the least practical/handy people I know. Arrrrrgggghhhh!

I have moved house more times than I have had hot dinners 🤣 joking aside my advice is this, get as many quotes as you possibly can from as many removals firms, and I’m talking have 10 or more companies that have been out and quoted. Then don’t worry about the dates for the moment. The day you exchange get on the phone & starting working your way down your list and one will be available I promise you that. I have moved before with exchange and completion on same day and it was a Friday in height of a hot market and I still got moved. So just have your ducks in a row and promise you it will all work out ok. 

BountyBlink

Update from me, top of the chain received draft for tracts but no ordered searches. Don’t you just people that that say “oh we will complete before stamp duty holiday ends” and yet they are not on it like a car bonnet! Hurry up guys, back to pushing and hand holding, and being an estate agents pest, but don’t care I will ring as many times as I can to save £8500 lol