The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

Astrac

it'smeok wrote: »

That sounds so annoying. I don't have any experience of this but I'm a solicitor so just thought I could offer some insight from 'the inside' (although this assumes it's a fairly standard firm - I don't know how things are in the online conveyancing firms). In my experience there is massive variation between individual solicitors, so it might not be necessary to write off the whole firm if it's just the individual you're dealing with who is a bit rubbish.


If you can, have a look on the firm's website and find a partner in the team, and either copy them in to an email to your solicitor saying that you're unhappy not to have received a response, or maybe email them directly. That might be enough to shake your sol up and make them get on with it, or if you're really unhappy you could ask to be transferred to someone else in the team.


This (could, depending on the firm) have the benefit that a) you're not changing firm, so don't have to worry about paying your existing firm AND new firm b) they'll be wary about causing any more delays, so might get a shift on and c) if things don't get better, you could use that to negotiate the fees you pay at the end.


If you do want to change firm completely, check the terms of business they gave you at the beginning - it might say that their fees are charged whether or not the matter proceeds to completion, in which case you'd have to pay them for the time they've incurred so far - and the new firm will have to do all that work again, so two lots of fees.


Does this make sense?

Thanks for the advices, I think that they will be pretty useful for me. I can understand that the problem could be individual and indeed I noticed browsing the reviews on trustpilot that at least some of the 1-star ones mention similar problems naming the individual solicitor that is currently assigned to my purchase (i.e. especially the fact that she doesn't answer any enquiry). I'll look up the partner's addresses and I'll make sure to put them in copy to a formal complain next time I ask for an update and I don't get a reply, I don't really like to use this sort of tactics but I can't stand being treated like this either.

FloppyDisk

Our solicitor has now been writing a draft report for 3 weeks. :mad: Don't you just love a laid back character? :eek:

JaneyLouWho

Oh my goodness, we have exchanged!!! I cant quite believe it. Completion tomorrow and moving in slowly between then and Friday. So very very exciting. Best get packing!

Amanda_Cm

Janey :j:j:j horayyy! Congrats!

We received a text from our lender today saying they are realising funds today. Lol! We didn't even transfer our deposit yet.
The vendors solicitor said they want to complete as soon as possible but there is no email, call or anything from them since then.
So I am waiting for another call from our solicitor. She will chase them and call me.
I don't think we will exchange today or tomorrow. I will be really surprised if it happens so quick.

ashe

Update from the EA to say they have spoken to buyer and reason he had not sent paperwork off yet is he was getting copies of building regs signoff for removal of a wall, and will be with solicitors within 48h. He forgot to ask about delisting with the other EA and will give him a call tomorrow for the conversation. Only once I see its no longer listed on RM can I relax as it feels like the final hurdle. I can do waiting, but cant do waiting with the stress of losing money/being outbid.

Fisa002

Hi guys. Its my turn to join this party !
Heres my timeline so far:

Mon 14th jan
Went to view house. Liked it. Didnt love it. EA told us house opposite on sale too. Slightly more than what I was looking at with extra bedroom but its under offer but theres a prob with valuation. Will let us know if anything changes.
Thurs 17
Call from EA house opposite sale has fallen through. Buyer couldnt get mortgage. Asked do I want to view? Booked viewing that same night.
Fri 18
Absolutely loved the house. Put first offer in. Rejected. Put second one in that night.
Mon 21st jan
2nd offer accepted
Tue 22nd jan
solicitor instructed, and went to see broker
Wed 23 jan
DIP Nationwide
Thur 24 jan
full application submitted
Thur 1 feb
Nationwide ask for extra docs. Then informed mortgage apication is referred to HO for random audit. Advised will take ten days (of doing nothing)
Wed 7
NW book valuation for 16 feb. Paid for homebuyers survey same day.
Fri 16
Valuation and homebuyers survey completed
Fri 23
Txt from NW received valuation
Mon 26
Solicitors received draft contracts from vendor. Searches started.
Tue 27
Nationwide mortgage offer by text.
Broker confirms full amount.
Solicitor says will wait on searches to return then advise on results of searches and mortgage offer next week.

So thats it. I!!!8217;m so relieved the first three hurdles have passed. 1- finding a suitable house 2- having an offer accepted and 3- having a mortgage approved.

I hope this forum will enable me to interact and help each other. Especially those who are of a similar timeline to mine.

Good luck to those in the process and congrats to those who have almost or have made it !! Xxxx

Dolly123

OUR TIMELINE!

7th Feb - Reserved Newbuild
8th Feb - Instructed Solicitor
12th Feb - Submitted mortgage Application
15th Feb - Paid searches
19th Feb - Mortgage Valuation
20th Feb - Mortgage Offer
27th Feb - Applied for Help to Buy

Completion date is September!

liquoricet

MrBrindle, i had a flaky buyer who kept changing the exchange date. Personally i would refuse to do both in a day, it was suggested and we said no. Very glad we did or we would have lost money on removals.

I would insist on at least 3/4 days and say it's so you can book removals. That way you can probably provisionally book and cancel if you have to.

rwcwilson

Our timeline:
9/12/17 - started our search
13/12/17 - Agreement in principle
13/12/17-20/2/18 - lots and lots of viewings, four offers rejected (very frustrating)
20/2/18 - offer accepted!!
21/2/18 - solicitors instructed

Updates:
25/2/17 - Some furniture ordered (sale was ending at the end of the weekend and its free cancellation)
Meeting with mortgage broker tonight...exciting!
Survey booked for Thursday
Second viewing booked for Saturday - partly to go through any items we would like to purchase from vendor.

Does anyone have any tips for negotiating buying any white goods/furniture/etc. from the vendors? We are first time buyers, so we are trying to find the balance of buying our own furniture vs not going crazy with expensive items as the whole thing could get very costly quickly. Our offer was £10,000 over the asking price, does this give us some wiggle room??

Thanks!

spendinglikemad

rwcwilson wrote: »

Our timeline:
9/12/17 - started our search
13/12/17 - Agreement in principle
13/12/17-20/2/18 - lots and lots of viewings, four offers rejected (very frustrating)
20/2/18 - offer accepted!!
21/2/18 - solicitors instructed

Updates:
25/2/17 - Some furniture ordered (sale was ending at the end of the weekend and its free cancellation)
Meeting with mortgage broker tonight...exciting!
Survey booked for Thursday
Second viewing booked for Saturday - partly to go through any items we would like to purchase from vendor.

Does anyone have any tips for negotiating buying any white goods/furniture/etc. from the vendors? We are first time buyers, so we are trying to find the balance of buying our own furniture vs not going crazy with expensive items as the whole thing could get very costly quickly. Our offer was £10,000 over the asking price, does this give us some wiggle room??

Thanks!

Welcome and good luck!!! I am not sure you have any wiggle room but it would have made sense to try and include some of the white goods in with your offer but a little late now.
What is fitted in the kitchen/utility right now that you would be expected to leave and what will be removed will be listed in the fixtures and fittings list from the seller so I would wait to see what is listed included in the price first and then you could contact the EA to ask if the sellers are willing to negotiate on any items.

Furniture wise I know it is so tempting to get furniture in the sales but it may make sense to move in and then see what you need, its only by living in a house that you work out what will work etc. When I moved into my first property with hubby we had a picnic table and some deck chairs!

We were very lucky with our next purchase as we met with the seller after agreeing the sale to discuss any items they wanted to leave and we did pay for some of the insurances to progress the sale so it was a bit of give and take - that said it depends how old the white goods are in the property and how well maintained

At least find out where the land lies on the F&F forms first and take it from there - exciting though!!

SLM