The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

esubbs

Hello all, I've been lurking for a while and finally think I might be ready to join. 
We're selling our house in Surrey and moving 200 miles to be nearer to family in Shropshire. We're top of the chain for our sale as we're moving in with my parents while we try to find a suitable property (which seem to be like gold dust).
So, after our first sale fell through at the point of exchange, this is our new "story so far"... 

July 20th remarketed for sale
July 27th accepted an offer and completed a chain - apparently all others in the chain were ready to exchange
July 28th memo of sale issued and resubmitted TA6 and TA10 forms
July 29th our solicitor issues draft contract pack to their solicitor
August 3rd first enquiries answered
August 13th told homebuyers survey arranged for September 2nd
August 14th ask buyers if they've decided on optional fixtures and fittings so we can arrange removal quotes -  their solicitor hadn't passed it to them yet
August 17th finally meet our lovely buyers when they come for a viewing - they mention their buyer is awaiting info to extend their lease, news to us
August 18th chase what's happening in the chain as we thought everyone was waiting on us for exchange
August 24th finally find out that the bottom of the chain dropped out but it was kept quiet until another purchaser found. Now set back several weeks so decide to go on holiday and contact kids new school to let them know they won't be starting in September after all! 

So now we're home from holiday, and awaiting updates on everyone's position. There seems to be very little you can do but wait when buying and selling properties. 

House_owner

WorriedKirkels said:

House_owner said:

I proposed a completion date of 28th September to my solicitor today and she has agreed to pass it on to others in the chain, also requested exchange at least 2 weeks before that so removals can be booked. Feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel at last...!

Good luck and a little bit jealous of the leisurely exchange / completion dates. We are supposed to complete Friday but haven’t even exchanged yet…..I don’t think I will have any nails left if it goes on much longer 😜 Nice to hear that for some it goes to plan 😃 

Not as lesiurely as some friends of mine who had 6 weeks notice of exchange date and 4 weeks notice of completion date! Hope it works out for you - know what you mean about the nails!

sacvwgolf

EA has updated us that the seller has finally given replies to their solicitor who has stated they will pass onto ours by end of play today...might be able to start thinking about exchange now! 

JCarmello

sacvwgolf said:

EA has updated us that the seller has finally given replies to their solicitor who has stated they will pass onto ours by end of play today...might be able to start thinking about exchange now! 

Also just got replies to our solicitor's queries this afternoon. That's all we have left to sort. 
Fingers crossed we can get everything signed in the next week or two!

HopeAndDriftWood

WorriedKirkels said:

SaucySecrets said:

Good luck @House_owner and @nekr0mantik! 

We've had an update from our solicitors... we've now got another new solicitor. He feels that our lender should be made aware of the partial loft conversion, so has sent that to them for urgent response. He's also not totally satisfied with one of our enquiry responses... 

But he's not aware of any outstanding information for our buyer's solicitor and says the hold up is that they are having "mortgage issues", which our estate agent is denying but saying they can't contact him. 

I'm starting to feel like this is destined to go wrong...

Gosh that sounds like a nightmare 🤯 can you push your EA to be more proactive? I know we were worried as 5 weeks in we had heard nothing about our buyers mortgage and no valuation but it came together in the end. Hope it’s something similar 🤞

They have just come to life! Chased the buyer and BCC'd us into a chasing email to them & their solicitor. No reply yet, but hopefully we'll get something...

5 weeks sounds like such a long time too! Glad you got it sorted - any news on your exchange? 

WorriedKirkels

SaucySecrets said:

WorriedKirkels said:

SaucySecrets said:

Good luck @House_owner and @nekr0mantik! 

We've had an update from our solicitors... we've now got another new solicitor. He feels that our lender should be made aware of the partial loft conversion, so has sent that to them for urgent response. He's also not totally satisfied with one of our enquiry responses... 

But he's not aware of any outstanding information for our buyer's solicitor and says the hold up is that they are having "mortgage issues", which our estate agent is denying but saying they can't contact him. 

I'm starting to feel like this is destined to go wrong...

Gosh that sounds like a nightmare 🤯 can you push your EA to be more proactive? I know we were worried as 5 weeks in we had heard nothing about our buyers mortgage and no valuation but it came together in the end. Hope it’s something similar 🤞

They have just come to life! Chased the buyer and BCC'd us into a chasing email to them & their solicitor. No reply yet, but hopefully we'll get something...

5 weeks sounds like such a long time too! Glad you got it sorted - any news on your exchange? 

That’s positive, I know my EA did similar and just helped alleviate my stress as I knew they were on it 😁 

Nope, no news so I guess it’s waiting for tomorrow to come around now it’s so late in the day 😢 

mortgage_noob

Monsternextdoor said:

mortgage_noob said:

Monsternextdoor said:

mortgage_noob said:

Me ? 

I paid mine 3 weeks ago.

My buying has been a bit different as its a repo and its dealing with banks rather than home owners.

Ah I see, we've not transferred ours yet because our solicitor hasn't said anything about it despite us asking. Seems a bit odd considering the time frames but this is my first purchase so I don't know.......

This is my first purchase too, We got a email breaking down the payment details and then a letter delivered that had the sort codes etc on them.

Id speak to them as they cant do much unless it's all paid up ! 

Yeh, I don't want things to be held up any longer. Our solicitor is incompetent to be honest. We hadn't heard from her so sent her a break down of the deposit, HTB ISA, etc etc  asking her to confirm and  she hasn't responded to anything. 

She had a call with us last week claiming a first time buyer was holding everything up in the chain. WE are the first time buyer and sent her everything months ago. Told her we didn't understand but she was adamant that there is another one in the chain
 (there isn't).

Basically, the solicitor likes to pass the blame at every chance  but she's solicitor at the top and bottom of the 2 property chain and is holding everyone up. She claimed she hadn't had responses to enquiries, when in reality she's had them a whole month and only conceded that when we told her she knew she had them.  

The only reason we know where we are at all with the sale is because the EA gives good updates when asked and we are also in direct contact with the seller. I'll be glad to see the back of her.

Nah, Phone them daily for updates. 

Ours has been pretty good if I am honest, her assistant was overwhelmed when she left him in charge when she was away.

Hah - just got through on the phone and our solicitor is on holiday but back tomorrow. I'm not feeling confident about the 10th at all.

tanpopo

Hope everyone has good news this week! We are not holdng out much hope for completion on the 16th as another week has gone by and no news from the buyer on the proposed date, nor on exchange. Our vendor is ready and raring to go though.

Replies to what I hope were the last round of enquiries were sent early last week. I will leave it a couple of days for it all to filter through before chasing.

These last few weeks when you are *so* close but not quite there are truly nailbiting..

arrows123

Had all the conveyancing report paperwork through today, all looks fine, next up to start talking dates. Hang in there everyone. Feeling a bit more confident about completing before the end of September 🤞

WorriedKirkels

tanpopo said:

Hope everyone has good news this week! We are not holdng out much hope for completion on the 16th as another week has gone by and no news from the buyer on the proposed date, nor on exchange. Our vendor is ready and raring to go though.

Replies to what I hope were the last round of enquiries were sent early last week. I will leave it a couple of days for it all to filter through before chasing.

These last few weeks when you are *so* close but not quite there are truly nailbiting..

You never know in the house buying process you might just be days away, try and stay positive 🤞

Completely agree with the last sentence…I don’t think I have any nails left 😥