The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

laura_lau

@asbear I totally agree, and I feel I have been too "gentle" too, until a couple of weeks ago. I was assuming the same as you, that being patient and understanding of the workload of these busy times wouldn't damage me, but now I really think it did. Which is why I want to turn into their worst nightmare now! I also regret not choosing a conveyancer close to my current address, as I have no way of just showing up at the office to chase. If I ever go through this process again, I will get the closest best solicitor I can afford, and will go there regularly for updates, so they can't keep ignoring me!

Tiamatriax

Tiamatriax said:

Hello!

I've been following this thread for a while as a first time buyer! We are far in the buying process now and wanted to share our timeline and experience:
20/03/21 - offer submitted
22/03/21 - offer accepted
23/03/21 - solicitors instructed
26/03/21 - mortgage offer recieved
09/04/21 - survey completed on our property
22/04/21 - all contract papers recieved and other relevant documents
29/04/21 - enquires sent
05/05/21 - searches recieved
12/05/21 - all contracts and relevant paperwork signed and recieved by our solicitors
28/05/21 - we discover we need to sign and pay for a pet license to keep our budgies (we need this as its a leasehold apartment)
03/06/21 - pet license signed and recieved by our solicitors
04/06/21 - Only 1 more enquiry outstanding!! An updated NHBC certificate
04/06/21 - Request for our deposit, all legal fees and additional evidence requested
05/06/21 - Additional evidence sent and recieved by our solicitors
07/06/21 - Our deposit and legal fees paid

We are first time buyers and the sellers are buying a property with no chain. Hoping we can exchange and complete before July!
Just hoping this outstanding enquiry doesn't take too much longer 🙏

Our last enquiry has been answered today!!
Now agreeing a completion date - hopefully for the end of June!

mat1964

So after a bit of a saga, I finally exchanged today.  Currently I am buying our new build with my sale proceeds and a mortgage after my GF's sale fell through.  However, we don't complete until early September so if she can re-sell her house, we won't need to use the mortgage and the developer has agreed we can add her back into the contract - for a fee (had to take it out as the mortgage is only in my name).  If she doesn't sell in time, we will be left with an £8k early repayment charge, but it really was the only solution.

naomibm

@laura_lau Very true! We have had a hideous time with first awful buyers pulling out and terrible solictors on a few sides, and estate agents. We finally exchanged last Tuesday-only due to us constantly chasing every solictor, buyer and seller in the chain!! 😆 We move tomorrow and I'm finally getting a bit excited! 
@bountyblink Rooting for you!

climbthatwallseegar

I learned the hard way that being ‘nice’ and polite with my solicitor did not pay and in the last few weeks have had to chase relentlessly and bluntly ask her to explain what is causing all the delays. It turned out there were open enquiries with my freeholder that I didn’t know about that had remained unanswered for 6 weeks. Once I knew, I stalked the Freeholder daily and we are now down to the final enquiry. I managed to get almost all answers in 7 days just by calling and being a pain (I truly think the Freeholder hates me at this point!) I am annoyed with my solicitor tbh and the complete lack of urgency. 

ODEN33

Good News, finally exchanged today on our onward purchase-Thank God. it has been a journey.

Lorann_86

We spoke to our solicitor last week and they said he thinks it's possible that we could be done at the end of this month! Our buyer raised a few enquiries today, we are waiting for enquiries and searches (due back next week). Homebuyers survey due next week too (our buyer doesn't seem to have arranged one?) So not expecting a June completion in all honesty but it would be nice. I suppose if everything comes back on time and no further follow ups there is a chance! We shall see!

CLJ2986

Does anyone know what happens if an enquiry can't be answered? There is one that's been asked about a right of way, and the estate agent has said today the vendors solicitor have sent it back saying that can't provide any documents or anything about it as there isn't any right of way. I'm going to call my solicitor tomorrow to see what they say but now I'm worried its going to cause delays 😳

naomibm

@CLJ2986
From what I know...you can pay for indemnity insurance which usually costs about £250...but ask your solicitor if it would work in that case. I dont see why not. My folks didn't find out who owned the private road their house is on for years til after moving in and I dont know who owns the lane at the back of our house we're buying! 😆

baileykxo

naomibm said:

@CLJ2986
From what I know...you can pay for indemnity insurance which usually costs about £250...but ask your solicitor if it would work in that case. I dont see why not. My folks didn't find out who owned the private road their house is on for years til after moving in and I dont know who owns the lane at the back of our house we're buying! 😆

I agree, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work! I’ve been told exactly this because of the delay in searches right now. So this seems like the best option.