The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

amandacat

Caz_Mnaz said:

28th is our planned completion date and we're 6 out of 7 which also makes me mega nervous 😂

I really hope this happens for you. This is also the date I have asked to complete by but nothing can be agreed until the final enquiries are sorted. 
When I exchanged on my sale in Jan, we had an agreed date but absolute silence for the few days before and even on the day, I chased to find out if we were still exchanging and then all of a sudden got a call in the afternoon asking for authority to exchange- so it can and does happen all of a sudden sometimes!

Natbag

amyr said:

Natbag said:

Good luck @amyr - hoping for a miracle for you.

Thank you!

I can't quite believe this - but a miracle has happened. The buyer drove two hours from London to hand deliver the paperwork. We have no idea what is in it, if it's complete or what. But it's there. And it has to be a sign of commitment. 

Tiny, tiny glimmer of hope.

That's awesome! I really did think a miracle was somewhat of a push, but glad it happened for you!

Natbag

cherrypancakes said:

Very very very long time lurker here- hello all I find this thread strangely comforting, probably because there's many people in the same boat as me and we all know misery loves company! 
Thought I'd join in and add my timeline. This is now the 4th property I've had an offer accepted on (1st two couldn't get a mortgage, 3rd one I pulled out). I am quietly getting more and more despondent as the days go by and my patience is wearing thin with my current living situation. Been renting for 4 years in house shares and I'm completely over it.

Viewing & offer - 16/12/2020

Offer accepted - 18/12/2020

Solicitors and searches instructed - 11/01/2021

Mortgage application submitted - 15/1/2021

Valuation - 19/1/2021

Mortgage offer received - 4/2/2021

Home Buyer Survey  - 10/2/2021

Home Buyer Survey report returned - 12/2/2021

Asbestos survey  - 15/2/2021

Asbestos survey returned - 17/02/2021

All searches returned - 7/4/2021

Management pack received and enquiries made on pack - 16/4/2021

Electrical survey instructed - 11/05/2021

Electric survey to be carried out - 14/05/2021

The sellers solicitor seems to be taking ages to reply to everything and the freehold title for my flat is not available on land registry which is annoying, they may have to chase the freeholder (who is the local council) for it. I am really really hoping I complete by June, on top of that I can't move in straight away because it needs some work!!! I am hanging on by a mere thread.

Hope someone has received some positive news today!

@Natbag - I hope everything goes smoothly from here on out! Been following your story for a while so fingers are firmly crossed!

I was just about to say, we seem to have a similar issues, circumstances and timeline too. I've only been able to proceed now because the chain where the issue lies has broken away into its own chain. I really hope you get some positive news soon! Keep us posted.

Natbag

Glad to see some people with exchange and completion days - hope all goes smoothly for you now. Sorry about your dad Caz, thinking about you and your family.
No news from me. We have put forward June 3rd for completion, but still waiting to hear from my solicitor if that's ok with our vendor and both sets of buyers. More waiting. More silence. Gah.

FtbEmz

Well done to those who have had good news this week.
I’ve just got off the phone to our solicotor (well her assistant - does anyone ever actually speak to their solicitor?! I spoke to her once at the very beginning!), anyway, our searches came back yesterday so we’re just waiting for our solicitor to send us contract and all other forms etc. 

Natbag

@FtbEmz - rarely! My solicitor tries not to take phone calls, she says that allows her to get through more work in order. But her replies are so vague, I often think it would be quicker to just pick up the phone for 5 minutes.
Like for example, just now, she has emailed me to tell me that our vendor has agreed to our proposed completion date. Ok, great. But what about our two sets of buyers? The top of the chain can't complete without the bottom of the chain. Maybe she means everyone has agreed, but why not just say that? I've replied, but it will take her days to get back to me again now I bet!

trance_abbey

BountyBlink said:

Hi 👋🏻 the best thing to do I call your local authority and ask them directly how long searches are taking. Our LA is taking 1-2 days if solicitors go direct. Most firms go via a 3rd party search company which is why sometimes it drags out. If you call your LA and ask for the “Land Charges Team”’and then ask they their timescales. Sometimes all the information you need is actually on their website so maybe search for land charges Within their website and see if it brings up any info. 

If a matter of days ask your solicitor to go direct to “expedite” them. 

I managed to find an email and the landcharges people say their searches are taking 12 working days.  So I've sent the solicitor an email asking them to find out why they've confused days with weeks (not really, but oh how I wish I could be that blunt)

If they say that they can't expedite, I've found a lovely chap who says he can get them turned around in 15 working days for £100.

slimzoe

Hi all, can I confirm something from what you have all said, we have reserved a new build, no mortgage required and instructed solicitors 3 weeks ago, from what I am reading we don't HAVE to have searches done is that correct? currently trying to get our solicitor to answer me, we need to exchange by 28th May or they cant guarantee the sale price of the house, it should be simple, no chain (new build, we live in rented) no mortgage so in theory this should be quick. Thanks in advance. 

amandacat

slimzoe said:

Hi all, can I confirm something from what you have all said, we have reserved a new build, no mortgage required and instructed solicitors 3 weeks ago, from what I am reading we don't HAVE to have searches done is that correct? currently trying to get our solicitor to answer me, we need to exchange by 28th May or they cant guarantee the sale price of the house, it should be simple, no chain (new build, we live in rented) no mortgage so in theory this should be quick. Thanks in advance. 

If you don't require a mortgage then you can choose not to have searches done. 

amyr

Quiet day today, following a real rollercoaster yesterday. 

Because we still don't know the state of the signed paperwork which was returned (any issues, anything missing, etc) we still feel we're not entirely out of the woods. Planning to chase again tomorrow to ensure everything has been returned and (we hope) to start a dialogue on exchange dates....