The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

taylor86

We have been told ‘any day now’ for the last few weeks and ‘definitely tomorrow’ since last Wednesday. Completion isn’t until April so it’s not holding anything up majorly. Would just be nice to throw myself into packing. 

RHemmings

Today is my primary moving house day. I have an overlap and new property is 500m away so easy. 

Also, a roofer should arrive today to have a look at my (new house) roof and quote on a few things I want done. 

The British Heart Foundation should also arrive to take away some outsized furniture that won't really fit in my new house. 

Yes, I've already exchanged (and completed), so I shouldn't be posting in this thread

gelato_cat

I like hearing about people's moving house stories how much of your stuff are you going to walk to the new place?

RHemmings

Suzey said:

I like hearing about people's moving house stories how much of your stuff are you going to walk to the new place?

I am the worst house mover in the world. We had the van today to take the big heavy stuff, but every time I go up there (e.g. in a few minutes) I take a large backpack full of stuff on my bicycle.

Packing the lot into boxes, having gotten rid of all the junk, and then the whole lot in a truck would have been much more sensible. But, I'm not sensible. I don't have the time to really work through stuff, so I just dump it in the bag and go. 

gelato_cat

I think most people would do that if the new house was 500 metres away!

As for getting rid of junk, everyone would love to, but most of us don't get around to it.  One of my friends hired a skip for his new house, and threw stuff out while he was unpacking it.  That's one way of doing it, and at least it meant it got done, even if it probably would have been better to dispose of the stuff while packing, so as not to pay to transport it.

RHemmings

Last time I moved I got a skip for my old house and filled it up to the brim. As well as recycling loads. This time I haven't managed to do that as well. Or, nearly, at all. 

Most of the junk is small and travelling by bicycle. So, it's not adding to the cost. Only the effort. 

JW2709

Summary of times for process steps so far:
Mortgage application to offer - 24 hours (Halifax via a broker desktop survey completed same day)
Searches - 21 days
L3 survey turnaround - 5 days

Timeline to date:

13th Nov - offer accepted

15th Nov - instructed solicitors, 

17th Nov - mortgage secured via broker

17th Nov - instructed searches

4th Dec - searches back, enquiries by solicitors
7th Dec - L3 survey appointment
12th Dec - L3 survey report, more enquiries through solicitors

16th Dec - Advised contact handing case is leaving the firm new person assigned

13th Feb - final report, replies to enquiries,

 20th Feb - documents to sign from solicitors
21st Feb - returned signed paperwork to solicitors

Now waiting on an exchange and completion date.

Given our purcahse has fallen over the christmas period, i did expect some delays.  However there have been some other issues which we were not aware of at the beginning of the process which continues to cause some issues.  

Seller did not advise they needed an onward purcahse before selling.  We were told they were ready to move out and purcahse will be realtively quick as no chain.  Advised midway through around Jan via sellers solictors an onward purcahse will need to be completed on the same day as ours however seller is buying a vacant property.  Have also been advised seller is buying a leasehold.

I have complained to the EA about the lack of info at the start of the process about there being a chain and if we do not complete by end of March we will look to pull our offer.  Seller has had their mortgage, searches all completed.  Management pack has also been sent through so now hoping they are not far off being in a position to confirm an exchange date.  

Be great to hear anyones experience on buying a leasehold to understand if the sellers position is close to exchange or think it’s not realistic in terms of completing by end of March.

RHemmings

Good luck @JW2709.

GoogleMeNow

JW2709 said:

Summary of times for process steps so far:
Mortgage application to offer - 24 hours (Halifax via a broker desktop survey completed same day)
Searches - 21 days
L3 survey turnaround - 5 days

Timeline to date:

13th Nov - offer accepted

15th Nov - instructed solicitors, 

17th Nov - mortgage secured via broker

17th Nov - instructed searches

4th Dec - searches back, enquiries by solicitors
7th Dec - L3 survey appointment
12th Dec - L3 survey report, more enquiries through solicitors

16th Dec - Advised contact handing case is leaving the firm new person assigned

13th Feb - final report, replies to enquiries,

 20th Feb - documents to sign from solicitors
21st Feb - returned signed paperwork to solicitors

Now waiting on an exchange and completion date.

Given our purcahse has fallen over the christmas period, i did expect some delays.  However there have been some other issues which we were not aware of at the beginning of the process which continues to cause some issues.  

Seller did not advise they needed an onward purcahse before selling.  We were told they were ready to move out and purcahse will be realtively quick as no chain.  Advised midway through around Jan via sellers solictors an onward purcahse will need to be completed on the same day as ours however seller is buying a vacant property.  Have also been advised seller is buying a leasehold.

I have complained to the EA about the lack of info at the start of the process about there being a chain and if we do not complete by end of March we will look to pull our offer.  Seller has had their mortgage, searches all completed.  Management pack has also been sent through so now hoping they are not far off being in a position to confirm an exchange date.  

Be great to hear anyones experience on buying a leasehold to understand if the sellers position is close to exchange or think it’s not realistic in terms of completing by end of March.

Leasehold takes longer than a freehold.  There are other parties added to the transaction, such as the freeholder and a managing agent (possibly their solicitor).  Glad to hear that the Seller of the leasehold property has the management pack, however, further enquiries will be asked in addition to the usual enquiries, so expect your transaction to be some time yet.

CarbonImage

Currently (hopefully) reaching the end of what has been a not particularly long but nevertheless slightly frustrating process, and needing to find a way to direct my frustrated/nervous energies so thought I would put my journey down here while we wait to exchange... 

13th March - Offer Accepted

15th March - Solicitors instructed and ID docs sent

25th March - Chased solicitors as heard nothing, was told they had not received the Memorandum of Sale yet. Chased vendor's solicitors who said they sent it out on 15th March, got them to send me a copy, forwarded to my solicitor. 

26th March - Solicitors send over engagement forms & pre-purchase questionnaire

27th March - Returned completed forms and requested bank details to pay deposit fees

2nd April - chased solicitor for bank details as still not sent

9th April - deposit paid and confirmation of title plans for purchase and sale

10th April - Mortgage offer approved. Level 2 Survey conducted.  

2nd May - Enquiries for our sale raised and responded to. Buyer requests an EICR for recent electrical work on the garage as it was done by a friend and not certificated. 

8th May - Searches returned.

21st May - EICR inspection completed and forwarded to buyer. 

21st May - Told we are still waiting on responses to enquiries from vendor, chase estate agent, told these have been sent a week ago. My solicitor changes their tune, confirms they have the responses, and are now drawing up our file 'in readiness for exchange and completion within a week'.

29th May - Chased by both buyers and vendor as we now appear to be holding up the chain. Chase solicitors, told 'definitely ready this week'.

4th June - Chased again. No response.

6th June - Request clarification of hold up. Told AML checks took longer than expected. Contracts sent over. 

10th June - Contracts returned. 

Now awaiting exchange and completion dates! It seems my solicitors have been a bit slow/poor to communicate but we are getting there. Luckily our chain is only three parties with us in the middle, but it's still been frustrating at times!