The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

bland

This has been an eye opener this thread. Didn't realise things took this long. Been a while since I went through all this but seems things are taking much longer nowadays.

Jay_p

Hi FTB here and I need some help with the exchange process (let me know if I am posting this in the wrong place!)

Offer accepted 7th December, solicitors instructed about a week later, mortgage offer 14th January. Searches ordered late January and these took about 6 weeks to come back. This is a chain free transaction so I was hoping it would be straightforward (wishful I guess.)

I was sent the report and all the paperwork from the solicitor on Monday (evening) this week with the contract to sign for exchange - we are aiming for a completion date of the 23rd April. I queried two of the documents sent as they referred to a property in another city so I didn't understand the relevance, one crucial document was missing and also the solicitor has the recommended she order the Crossrail/HS2 search I instructed her to order this.

Since Monday I've heard nothing back, I've emailed and called the office several times and she won't get back to me. I've now had a message from the seller (we are in direct contact) saying that exchange was meant to take place on Wednesday but their solicitor cannot get in contact with my solicitor. I was not made aware of this deadline when I was sent the documents on Monday night - also it appears that the Crossrail search will take 5 days so I don't know why she committed Wednesday to the seller's solicitor when she only told me about this search on Monday. Her communication through this process has been extremely poor.

What are my next steps here? I obviously do not want to sign a contract or hand over a deposit until the final search is back and the missing document is supplied.
Is it normal for a solicitor to not respond to you at all especially at crucial times? Is it normal to be given such little time to review documents? I literally received 30+ documents to review on Monday night, I cannot believe she was expecting me to review these and be in a position to exchange 24 hours later.

Can I order the search myself for peace of mind that it is actually happening?

Is there any chance in hell I'm going to complete on the 23rd April?

I've tried to stay calm through this whole process but that message from the seller has just tipped me over the edge so I need any advice I can get!

septemberbaby

Deleted_User wrote: »

Before the end of a year, but I wouldn't like to guess which one.

fab :rotfl:

pattypan4

jay-p sounds as though a very inexperienced junior is dealing with you. I would have spoken to the senior by now. It all sounds very slipshod. My experience is completely different, I get information as soon as my solicitor receives it, plus I get good advice on what to do. I don`t bother my solicitor too much by annoying `chasing`, don`t need to. My selling process is going well, will be 12 weeks to exchange. Buying process, involving bits of missing documentation, 8 months so far and no exchange yet. Have you actually been to the solicitors office to speak face to face?

pattypan4

chunky have you exchanged yet? I see you are waiting for probate results. We once had to wait for probate and one month morphed into another, took 6 months in the end


I have been packed for 2 months, anyone else? Waiting and hoping. No intention of pulling out or defaulting on my buyers but we all need patience. Has been beyond stressful

letitbe90

pattypan4 wrote: »

chunky have you exchanged yet? I see you are waiting for probate results. We once had to wait for probate and one month morphed into another, took 6 months in the end


I have been packed for 2 months, anyone else? Waiting and hoping. No intention of pulling out or defaulting on my buyers but we all need patience. Has been beyond stressful

Was that waiting 6 months after the probate was applied for? Do you happen to know how long the wait was after it was applied for

Slinky

We bought a probate property as a cash buyer, which took 6 months to go through even though probate had been granted. It took the vendor that long to get around to clearing stuff out of the house.

babyblade41

letitbe90 wrote: »

Was that waiting 6 months after the probate was applied for? Do you happen to know how long the wait was after it was applied for

If it's any help for my late mother probate took from February to July depending on how the estate is done and how complex ..that was just to get to application , then after that I think it was 2-3 months from applying to getting probate granted

All IHT has to be paid and settled first

letitbe90

babyblade41 wrote: »

If it's any help for my late mother probate took from February to July depending on how the estate is done and how complex ..that was just to get to application , then after that I think it was 2-3 months from applying to getting probate granted

All IHT has to be paid and settled first

My sellers (widow) husbands probate was submitted a week or two ago and the agent advised me that the solicitor handling it said it will be granted within a week or two. Hoping it isn’t them telling me porkies and it is just a simple estate.

pattypan4

yes always best to live in hope. I am on the cusp of exchange on buying first as I am moving in chunks, dealing with a low arch hence a lwb low van, several trips spread over 3 days in a week. Best for me as I am only me to supervise everything. Very stressful times tbh, I feel as though I have lost months out of my life. One document after another. 36 weeks and counting

Selling was quicker but the stress was much greater, 40+ enquiries and several were complicated. My buyer is keen and ready to complete 2 days after my last lwb trip. 12 weeks for her. I kid you not, I am never moving again


letitbe, That probate was a buyer and she had already started the ball rolling. In the end we waited 6 months and then she wanted in 3 days before christmas and we had to find rented