What’s the delay about now?

Milie

Wow. 7013 pages of house stuff. It’s really not good out there is it?  It being my 64th birthday, I’ve bought and sold a few times (with it once taking over a year in a very long chain while I was working away)  but have been able to vacate prior to sale or been absent working with stuff in store so to exchange then complete and move the same day is a shock.
My purchase was ready to exchange in December and vendors have vacated. They are hanging on so far. I offered mid October (2019) having accepted an offer early October (2019) on my property from a FTB. It was nearly two months between me accepting the offer and survey and valuation being done here only after which did buyer’s solicitor start asking the questions. But it’s now three weeks since my solicitor told me buyer’s solicitors had said they were ready to report to their client. She thought we would exchange last week. Agent rang Monday of that week to say buyer’s solicitors were waiting response from mine on a completion date. I didn’t know that so I spoke to my solicitor’s gofer who told me the date suggested had been Friday 21st Feb but that was unachievable. I guess it wasn’t when they suggested it so my solicitor must have been slow although could this be some bizarre delaying tactic? If so, why? I checked with removal company and asked for 4th March. Today, a week since she told me she had contacted them, my solicitor says there has been no response from the other party. 4th March is now nearly as close as the previous unachievable date so I’ve asked her (by email) to explain what will happen next. 
My buyer lives close by. Should I put a note through his door asking him to contact me directly? If he is as keen as the agent keeps saying it may be that we can agree a date between us and keep tabs on when solicitors have been given info. 
I know far worse has happened. But I need to vent - disappointed, not in control of my own life etc etc -  and hope for some helpful advice / opinions here. 

warby68

4m is tedious but not unusually long.
I agree its very frustrating when other parties seem to be uncommunicative and causing unnecessary delays. You're in a chain though so could be any of the parties.
Dig deep, find yoour patience and check with the people you can - your solicitor, the agent (who might have a bit of informal insight) and I actually don't think it would do any harm to make some poilte direct contact with the other parties in the chain if you're able  just to establish what they think they're up to and reassure them you're ready when they are. Others on the board disagree with direct contact but it has always smoothed the way for us.
Don't book removals until you have firm dates or at least check what their cancellation/alteration policy is.
Also its been half term and school hols do have a noticeable effect.

hazyjo

7013 pages of mixed questions - why would that mean 'it's really not good out there'? Back to 2004 too, so 16 years ago... quite a while lol.

It's really not been that long. Average is 12 weeks. Add another 2-3 weeks for Christmas and hols, so more likely to take 14-15. That's presuming freehold. If any link is leasehold, add another week or two. You're currently on around 19-ish weeks. Bear in mind that an average is made up of the longest and the shortest, not that everything will take around that time. I've done it from offer to completion in 5 weeks, with another taking 5 months (that was meant to be a quick transaction!).

I wouldn't put a note through their door. The EA will be as keen as you to get this tied up. If they're having doubts, the worst thing you can do is rush them and force their hand.

Hopefully you'll get a date soon

PS Happy birthday!

Milie

Thank you both. EA rousted out the buyer yesterday and he was meant to be sending final papers by 1500 hrs. So I’ve learned that why ever they suggested 21st Feb, it wasn’t feasible because his solicitors still needed the text of his buildings insurance policy! I’m more relaxed now, even if the place is full of boxes. It’s the not knowing and not understanding which is troubling so fora like this and their contributors are much appreciated.

Milie

I finally moved 5th March, We agreed another date, 3rd March, for completion. I heard nothing until 1515 hours on 2nd March when my solicitor rang out of the blue to say my buyers’ conveyancers were asking my vendors and me to exchange contracts at that very moment and complete the next day. I was literally speechless, worried that I wouldn’t be able to transfer the money in time and had no move company booked. We got a 24 hour respite, I managed to sort removals and the money transfer took seconds. So I’ve been locked down in my new home on and off ever since but still very glad to be in it!

teachfast

Solicitors now seem to be so 'overworked' and the professionalism has dropped so much that they only really focus on the last thing someone sat on them for. 

Best advice I had on here was to chase them for every action you know needs doing. 

Ps. Be ready for the new go-to excuse: Covid/pandemic/furlough etc. Occasionally this is true but often is a smokescreen for lack of diligence. It really is incredible how much the pandemic has disproportionally affected lawyers compared to other professions...

badger09

teachfast said:

Solicitors now seem to be so 'overworked' and the professionalism has dropped so much that they only really focus on the last thing someone sat on them for. 

Best advice I had on here was to chase them for every action you know needs doing. 

Ps. Be ready for the new go-to excuse: Covid/pandemic/furlough etc. Occasionally this is true but often is a smokescreen for lack of diligence. It really is incredible how much the pandemic has disproportionally affected lawyers compared to other professions...

You do realise that OP was updating previous posts made in February 2020?
ie, before COVID was really known & definitely before any lockdown/furlough.

teachfast

badger09 said:

teachfast said:

Solicitors now seem to be so 'overworked' and the professionalism has dropped so much that they only really focus on the last thing someone sat on them for. 

Best advice I had on here was to chase them for every action you know needs doing. 

Ps. Be ready for the new go-to excuse: Covid/pandemic/furlough etc. Occasionally this is true but often is a smokescreen for lack of diligence. It really is incredible how much the pandemic has disproportionally affected lawyers compared to other professions...

You do realise that OP was updating previous posts made in February 2020?
ie, before COVID was really known & definitely before any lockdown/furlough.

Changes absolutely nothing in my response.