The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

zoot_ze

2nd May - Viewing
8th May - Closing date and offer accepted
15th May - DIP application with Skipton submitted and approved
15th May - Written acceptance received - looking at a completion date of 5th July
16th May - Full mortgage application submitted
21st May - Visit solicitor's office and view documents received so far. Requesting sellers fix the oven before move-in and also instructing a damp survey as a damp-proof course has failed in the past and one wall in the home report had elevated levels (not covered by any damp-proof course with a guarantee).
22nd May - Mortgage approved!
29th May - Damp survey instructed (why did it take 8 days for my solicitor to do this? The mind boggles)
4th June - Chase up solicitor about damp survey, turns out they weren't able to reach the vendor. Not happy about the amount of time taken to get it sorted as we have to give notice really soon on our tenancy and are now approaching 3 weeks on this one issue.
11th June - Chase up again, damp survey now booked for that Friday (14th). Says he'll get a verbal report on the day and give me a call. I also ask to delay the completion date as we'd be looking at a 3 week overlap on our tenancy - I give 2 possible weeks where any day would be suitable.
13th June - Vendor has said they cannot do any of our dates as their child is now out of nursery. Suggested the other two weeks I didn't mention (I'm on holiday for one of them and the other would still be 2 weeks overlap). I suggest the 12th July as it's the latest date possible, but they still needed to confirm with their vendor.
14th June - Should get damp survey result, unsurprisingly get radio silence from solicitor.
15th June - Email from solicitor with a budget for works, £1600 + VAT, plus a radiator needs removed. Also get another email saying that the vendor's vendor cannot do the 12th and has suggested two dates, both while I'm on holiday...
26th June - Vendor finally agrees to reduce price by the cost quoted, with us covering all plumber/carpenter/redecoration costs, on the provision that missives are concluded ASAP. Completion date 22nd July!
1st July - We give notice on rental. Not officially exchanged yet but we decided to take the risk, and we have family to move in with if anything goes wrong.


Now just need to close my HTB ISA and pack everything up well in advance since I'll be on holiday when we complete! Went and looked at sofas yesterday as that's the only piece of furniture we don't already own and aren't being gifted.


I just can't wait to finally get in and make it a home. We've been in the rented flat for 3 years and I've wanted to move again for most of that time as the area is horrible, only redeeming factor is that it's a 10 minute walk from my work. New flat is in the dream area of the city, will be about 20 minutes walk with the benefit of several nice parks close by, and good schools nearby if we stay there for long enough!

Caitykinss

Had a few updates since last week, not all of them great.

11/06 - Offer accepted
12/06 - Full mortgage application started
13/06 - Solicitor instructed
24/06 - Formal introductory meeting with solicitor
25/06 - Valuation carried out
26/06 - Valuation report received
29/06 - Mortgage offer received in post
01/07 - Initial report and all documentation received from solicitor and enquiries raised by them sent to sellers solicitor

Unfortunately, with the seller being a 'quick sale' company, it seems they know very little about the documents and have failed to mention that we will have to pay a management service charge for maintenance of the grassy area and footpath across the road. This is written in the title deeds and mentions a specific company, but we/our solicitor haven't been given any other information about it, so we have no idea what the charge will be. The solicitor thinks it may not still stand, and I found an article in the local paper from 2013 where the residents were trying to get the council to take over the patch of land as it's essentially a public footpath leading from the council estate behind to the high street with a grass verge at the side - I can't find any info on the outcome of those meetings. Fingers crossed the lack of information means this is no longer payable, but caused a rather sleepless night last night.

Also listed was the price paid by the current seller when they bought it last month and it's over £40k less than us!! We expected this, as they've paid well below market value for the quick sale, but not nice to see written down!

zoot_ze

Got an email from our solicitors yesterday a few hours after my last post saying we've concluded missives!:j
Time to get everything packed and ready in the next 3 weeks!

chunkytfg

21/10 - AIP
7/11 - Offer accepted on House/ Landlord notified that our plans have changed and asking to be let off the lease(he agreed providing someone can be found)

SNIP


24/06- After 8 months of trying to buy this Probate sale we have finally found a house comparable to itin equally terrible condition with equal potential so today we made an offer on it and we now just wait an see what happens. The other house is still officially off the market with us prepared to buy it if it ever becomes available to actually buy but both myself and my GF think both houses are equally good and in the same area so we will just suck up the extra conveyancing costs, start the ball rolling on the new one(assuming we can agree a price) and then the one who exchanges contracts first is the one we buy.

27/06- after trying for 7 months to buy the last house our offer has been accepted on the other house yesterday and Mortgage application is already submitted along with solicitor informed that we are starting the process of buying this house also and to not do any more chargeable work on the other house purchase until we have decided what to do

And so it begins again!:rotfl::eek::beer::j

28/06 - Got my Mortgage applied for yesterday and 10 mins later confirmation that a valuation survey has been booked for today. No hanging like last time. This time i'll be pushing all the way. the Vendor has just had the sale fallen through at the last hour so shouldn't be any reason why we can't get to exchange stage asap.

2/07 - Mortgage valuation done last week and today Mortgage company confirmed all paperwork received and Valuation report acceptable for the house price.

Also phonemail from first house EA saying probate still not granted but now they are just waiting for Oaths to be signed from all the beneficiaries some of whom live in spain and then probate should be granted! Not quite sure whats going on as i'd been told the only person involved in the sale was the brother of the guy who died and now we find out there is multiple people! Thinking the new house is the better choice now though regardless.

lumpyspaceprincess

We were supposed to exchange yesterday, but in reviewing the last item the solicitors sellers had sent the wrong form. This was reported back to them at midday, and as yet they've not replied with the correct one (sent a TF1 instead of a TF4, for anyone interested)

If we don't get exchanged today, that completion date goes out the window, and we'll need to change everything we've planned. Stressed, frustrated... You name it!

firsttimeworrywart

Hey lumpspaceprincess

Seems you're in the same position as we are.. we were due to exchange on Friday last week and there was a hold up, then again on Monday and again yesterday and it still hasn't happened we're due to complete on Friday and wondering if it is going to happen or not is sooo stressfull.

Hope you get there today! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you too

michaelsft

Still a shame to see so many having trouble - the stress and struggle is very real.

For my part, a week ago the whole thing was off due to a missing document but amazingly the next day my solicitors were able to secure an indemnity policy to cover it (which they didn't think they could get). As it stands now, all parties (three in total) have signed their docs and I believe all solicitors are satisfied with everything so it's time to exchange and set a completion date. I'm hoping that contracts can be exchanged today (or perhaps tomorrow) and we can meet our target of completion on the 11th July.

Not counting my chickens by any means but it does feel like everything is done and ready to go so fingers crossed for a swift exchange and no more hold ups. It's been a real nightmare and I'm frankly exhausted by it all and I can't even begin to imagine what moving day will be like. I won't be able to relax until everything is moved in.

abedegno

13/4 - AIP
15/4 - Offer accepted - advised by estate agent the vendor wanted to move quickly and complete in 28 days.
16/4 - Instructed my solicitors
18/4 - Survey booked
24/4 - Mortgage agreed

-- Lots of chasing --

19/6 - Vendor finally completes the conveyancing protocol forms (vendor information form and fixtures and fittings form)
2/7 - I receive a copy of the fixtures and fitting form, and it's full of errors and the vendor has written 'sold as seen' all over it

Arghhhhh!

firsttimeworrywart

Hey michaelsft,

That's good news that they were able to sort out an indemnity policy for you. We've also had notification that we might be able to exchange today/tomorrow now too, so all systems go everywhere!

I have to say, I completely agree with you on this point: 'It's been a real nightmare and I'm frankly exhausted by it all and I can't even begin to imagine what moving day will be like. I won't be able to relax until everything is moved in.'

I feel absolutely done in, shattered and anxiety has got to me from the constant worry that everything will go wrong.

I hope you get to exchange and set a completion date for the 11th - good luck!

lumpyspaceprincess

Thanks for the support firsttimeworrywart, it feels like there's so many of us stuck in this pre-exchange purgatory!

We didn't exchange today either, the item outstanding was returned but they need one more last thing now. Its been a very very stressful day with my solicitors telling different things to me and the estate agent

The only saving grace is that they've preemptively requested funds from the lender to try to make it so we can still complete 11th. Fingers crossed if the sellers sols can do their bit maybe we'll exchange tomorrow. I certainly hope so, I've had to put the insurance on the property from tomorrow so they could request the funds.

I definitely will need a large drink when we've finally exchanged.