Conveyancing - how fast can it happen?

Silence101

We're a few weeks ahead, and doubt we'll be exchanging before the end of September. (Hoping for before, but not convinced it'll happen)

HouseMouse

It was a while ago now, but we completed 28 days after having our offer accepted. Both ourselves and our vendors needed to move quickly or the chain could have collapsed.

The solicitor we appointed was rather scathing about our proposed timescale, remarking that usually it was their job to tell us when we could complete, not the other way round.

The vendors had just had a previous sale fall through. If I recall correctly, our solicitor was able to use their searches, including a mining survey. We'd also got the mortgage approved in principle, subject to survey. When we asked if they could expedite things, they were very accommodating, and the survey was done within the week. Perhaps it was just a quiet period & they didn't have much work on - this was late November.

The scariest thing - which I don't think I'd have the nerves for now - was exchanging and completing on the same day. We were sat there with the removal van half-full, waiting for the solicitor to confirm it was all systems go.

hazyjo

HouseMouse wrote: »

It was a while ago now, but we completed 28 days after having our offer accepted. Both ourselves and our vendors needed to move quickly or the chain could have collapsed.

I once sold to an investor who wanted to exchange within 3 weeks. Everyone was happy with that (very short chain) - until it all got underway and the there was a major prob with our purchase in that we needed a deed of rectification/amendment and in the end it all took 5 months.


You just never know...

elliemet23

Morning!

We are using a solicitor who are specialists in completing in 28 days (as we are buying a repo we need it done yesterday!)

They have been great so far and always reply to emails etc within 15 minutes

Good luck! xx

ReadingTim

The piece of string is always longer than you think....

nubbins

Novemberish would be my guess

MrSnuggl3s

Doing research online, the main timeframe I usually see is around 4-8 weeks for conveyancing. It all depends on your property, but from what I can see most firms can complete their work in this period.

fezster

Sometimes you can use a specialist search company which does the LA searches by going in and requesting the files direct. They charge a premium and I'm not sure if every LA allows this, but it can be done.

I was able to exchange within 2 weeks on one occasion, because of a previous sale which had fallen through. The solicitor was able to obtain the search results again (in reality, they had not changed, but legally had to be "refreshed" in the new clients name) within a day. I imagine the search company was happy to do this as they were paid twice for very little extra work.

Car1980

My very easy on paper flat took 14 weeks to buy and 12 weeks to sell.

SuboJvR

ambc wrote: »

Aha - thanks all. I had a feeling I was being ambitious. )

We have factored in the cost of rent/mortgage overlap, but if we can save the grand (or so) that it would cost us, then all the better.

If the process takes longer, it wouldn't be a problem at all to push our plans back - we're just more than a bit excited to jump out of this place we're renting!

You wouldn't necessarily be spending more up front, but granted you would have -£1000 less contributed to your mortgage by one month delay.

There's plenty to do before moving anyway; you can make a start on a lot of other things like having a good clear out (think about what things you actually want to move to the new house), sorting out your plans for getting your stuff into the new house (removals quotes, if you want to use a firm), working through your freezer unless you'll be near enough to transport it all across without defrosting etc

We're awaiting completion on a new build and whilst part of me wishes it were happening sooner, the other part is grateful for the opportunity to sort out a lot of stuff first!