The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

laura_lau

I'm really deflated now. After 3 emails to the solicitor plus 2 emails to her from the EA too, plus a call, she replied (once again, just to me and removing EA) to say she hasn't heard from the seller's solicitor. I forwarded it to the agent asking if he could chase them and that with this back and forth I'm really starting to lose my patience. He replied, saying that my solicitor sent an enquiry about the building insurance (as my lender, when she requested funds on Monday, have sent me a form to compile, which I did, but just to say the building insurance is done by the leaseholder - my lender had plenty of time to ask me this question by the way, and I'm pretty sure I had already provided it months ago), and that is the info she is waiting for. The agent said it should arrive on Monday, and then we should be able to exchange and complete. 
This was totally out of the blue! I asked repeatedly to my solicitor if the form was fine and if we could exchange now, and she NEVER answered my question, so I just assumed it was ok. Instead of just saying every time "I'm awaiting the seller's solicitor's reply", tell me for what! Inform me! Update me on the status!!! I've been basically begging her for info all this time and she never ever gave me a straight answer, so much so as sometimes I'm wondering if she's working for me or against me!
I'm furious as this is all very much needless stress, as if she informed me properly I would have stressed much less, as I would have had a better expectation of what was still needed, whereas she made me believe we were definitely in a position to exchange early this week.

Hope the other people in the thread had better news at the end of this week! And I am really sorry for those who received bad news today: my heart is with you, and I hope things will sort themselves quickly!

NotHydra

NotHydra said:

NotHydra said:

BountyBlink said:

NotHydra said:

BountyBlink said:

TheTruemans said:

Hey folks,
So a small update from us but I'm super confused about our timeline now as we still have a lot of tentative items still to go;
We spoke to our solicitors for the first time since appointing them back on the 13/5 - They have received our mortgage offer and will be sending out mortgage report shortly, They are just waiting on local searches to come back and for enquiries to be replied to, They have said completion would be about a week after this (no chain)

However we're yet to receive any paperwork from our solicitors, no word about fixtures & fittings, or when we can expect our contracts to be sent. Or any communication about completion date with the EA.
Things seem to be moving fast but a couple of week to complete seems unlikely?
Anyone got any advise on this - or am i just shocked how quickly things are now moving? 

If you like at my timeline, the last part, our vendors vendor only offered on the vacant top property on 27/5 and we are already at exchange. 

I know a lot of people say it takes a few months from offer to completion or more, but if everyone in the chain is motivated, you have a good solicitor, searches are quick (1-2 days in our area) then there is no reason why it has to take months. 

Once your searches are back your solicitor “reports” to you, basically a letter attaching search results, details on enquiries raised, details of your mortgage, and it’s your job to read the pack and if you have any more questions off the back of it to go back and ask your solicitor - then they can pose more enquires etc, but I never bother, unless there was something like a right of way I did need further clarification on 

they normally include contracts, FF/PIF EPC certificate etc and any guarantees planning notices/sign offs. Mortage deed and plan for you to sign. 

Then you send that back, then your solicitor will
ask for deposit and completion date 
then you are ready to exchange 

you can push this along...

look at your local councils website and find the email address for “land charges dept” fire off and email to them asking them when the searches for the property you were buying were done. 

Based on that you can then go back to your solicitor and ask when will they send the contact pack to you and report to you... 

hope that helps 

We got our search results 10 May reported to us Haven't seen any of the contract pack documents you have mentioned. I am starting to get beyond angry with our solicitor and think she has 100% dropped the ball on this. I am worried about completing 

Just send an email saying

dear 

We are not in receipt of PIF/FF, Contract pack for signature. 

Please can you send without delay, so we can move to an imminent exchange. 

Many thanks 

if they are still get to report to you on other items at least the above email will smoke out the reason for any undue delay. 

Copy in your vendors agent so they know you are chasing and can help chase on your behalf. 

She is supposed to be "reviewing" our case this week. How late tomorrow should I be chasing up for an answer.
I know now most completions happen on a Friday. 
So now I'm feeling my chances are slim. If by some miracle we get the contract pack the weekend. Can I still expect a completion of the 25th or am I dreaming? 

So I just received the following from head of conveyancing:

Good evening,

 

My apologies for any delay you may have experienced with us getting back to you.

The ability of a lot of solicitors up and down the country to work as quickly as we would normally be able to has been affected by Covid-19, the SDLT Stamp Duty holiday, and the current exceptional market conditions.

Thank you for your understanding and your appreciation that expectations of turnaround times of what may have been possible over 12 months ago are no longer achievable due to factors outside of our control.   

I note from the file that <solicitor> wrote to your yesterday.

I will speak to <solicitor> tomorrow in order to ascertain the current position reached and see what can be done to move it forward for you.  

Kind regards,

My response:

Dear <head of conyeyancing>.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Please note we are not yet in receipt of PIF/FF, Contract pack for signature.
Please can you send without delay, so we can move to an imminent exchange.

I look forward to hearing from you and appreciate the ongoing efforts to get my transaction to a satisfactory conclusion.  

Many thanks

So unsurprisingly, no response today. What do i do now? I see no hope for completing this month let alone by the 25th. Even with the September clause we will still pay the tax after the 30th

trance_abbey

Phew! I had a busy week and then it's taken me literally HOURS to get through this thread...

@BountyBlink please tell us that you exchanged today?

I've had a rollercoaster of a week with my solicitor telling me that the vendor STILL hasn't sent through the property information form or the fittings and fixtures and that they're waiting on the leasehold information and management pack... and the vendor saying that they've not only sent it all to their solicitor but they've spoken to them and said to hurry up.

The structural wall that was bulging turn out not to have been structural after all. I've got half a mind to ask the homebuyers surveyors for a refund for their shoddy work which cost me structural engineering fees.

I'm going for a second viewing on Sunday with a friend. Hopefully I don't suddenly decide that I've fallen totally out of love with it

BountyBlink

Chain was ready could have exchanged this afternoon, but even though funds were ordered last night, our solicitor couldn’t exchange as didn’t have confirmation from
lender that they would be through in time. 

Im hoping for better news on Monday. Been holding for our lender for past hour. 

Shouldn’t have just googled it, looks like lots of drawdown delays at the moment 😩😩🤦🏻‍♀️

BountyBlink

Lender just confirmed that certificate of title not received from
solicitor. Now on hold as she has asked an manager to look at the file / notes. 

Agent said earlier don’t worry you will exchange Monday. 

But... this is why I’m a control freak and have to check everything and now so pleased I have because if there is an issue and lender not received that drawdown request Monday would have been and gone too. 

I’m pretty furious right now. 

Will update soon, lovely people in my phone!!! 

Wes121708

We were thinking we might exchange today but solicitor only emailed us the contract at 5 and then called to say she's off on Monday!... luckily they're only up the road so will drop it off Monday so it'll be there for her Tuesday when we can exchange.. fingers crossed! It'll be great if we do as we can give notice for our rental and save on stamp duty! 

ang87

BountyBlink said:

Lender just confirmed that certificate of title not received from
solicitor. Now on hold as she has asked an manager to look at the file / notes. 

Agent said earlier don’t worry you will exchange Monday. 

But... this is why I’m a control freak and have to check everything and now so pleased I have because if there is an issue and lender not received that drawdown request Monday would have been and gone too. 

I’m pretty furious right now. 

Will update soon, lovely people in my phone!!! 

So sorry you haven't been able to exchange today after so many ups and downs, I think we are all wishing it over the line for you.

I hope you get everything sorted with the lender so Monday is a go! 

BountyBlink

Thanks guys. 

Ok. So lender just confirmed for some unknown reason they received a second certificate of title request from our solicitor office (conveyancing assistant)  today and that’s confused things. 

They said no reason not to exchange Monday. We have emailed our solicitor with the info we have just been told and asked them to sort it out with lender and proceed to exchange Monday. 

flyingv

Hello @Say211 welcome to the thread.  This is the place to vent (mostly) about the buying and selling process.  The lovely people in here keep each other going and give great advice.

@BountyBlink - can't believe you still haven't exchanged.  It's madness!  Crossing everything for you for Monday x

@Rincewindcl & @laura_lau - so sorry to hear your news today.  Try and enjoy the weekend, deep breath and go again next week

BountyBlink

laura_lau said:

I'm really deflated now. After 3 emails to the solicitor plus 2 emails to her from the EA too, plus a call, she replied (once again, just to me and removing EA) to say she hasn't heard from the seller's solicitor. I forwarded it to the agent asking if he could chase them and that with this back and forth I'm really starting to lose my patience. He replied, saying that my solicitor sent an enquiry about the building insurance (as my lender, when she requested funds on Monday, have sent me a form to compile, which I did, but just to say the building insurance is done by the leaseholder - my lender had plenty of time to ask me this question by the way, and I'm pretty sure I had already provided it months ago), and that is the info she is waiting for. The agent said it should arrive on Monday, and then we should be able to exchange and complete. 
This was totally out of the blue! I asked repeatedly to my solicitor if the form was fine and if we could exchange now, and she NEVER answered my question, so I just assumed it was ok. Instead of just saying every time "I'm awaiting the seller's solicitor's reply", tell me for what! Inform me! Update me on the status!!! I've been basically begging her for info all this time and she never ever gave me a straight answer, so much so as sometimes I'm wondering if she's working for me or against me!
I'm furious as this is all very much needless stress, as if she informed me properly I would have stressed much less, as I would have had a better expectation of what was still needed, whereas she made me believe we were definitely in a position to exchange early this week.

Hope the other people in the thread had better news at the end of this week! And I am really sorry for those who received bad news today: my heart is with you, and I hope things will sort themselves quickly!

I feel for you so much as you have been given such a horrible run around. The stress and anxiety makes us ill. I hope with everything you get some good news on Monday. 

It’s just so horrible all of this. You and me won’t have a good weekend, we both need to exchange so we can really switch off. 

Sending lots of support your way. Monday WILL be our day!