Messed around?

sam121285

Hi all. I’ll try to keep this short. 

Agreed a price on my house and put offer in on house 5 weeks ago for full asking price and was accepted the same day. Within a week I instructed a solicitor and completed all the paperwork for my house  (contract with them, fixtures and fittings docs etc) and got my mortgage offer from Halifax. I even drove all the paperwork to office as post around here is so slow! 

Last week I still haven’t heard anything so emailed my solictor asking if it was normal for things to take this long - I expected to have at least received similar paperwork from my seller. With 24 hours I get a phone call from sellers estate agent to “update me on the chain” and she stated that my solictior hadn’t told them that they where representing me and that’s why there was a delay. I then ring my solicitor who denied this and said she had infact been on the phone to the sellers solicitor that morning to chase things up. Roll on a week later and I STILL haven’t heard anything. Have emailed to see what is going on but can’t help felling like it’s going very slow for what should be a simple process. (In house buying terms!)

I will add that I dislike the sellers estate agent who have been outright rude at times and am inclined to believe my solicitor as they have acted promptly on everting so far. 

Not sure what the chain in command is here? I normally would just go through my solicitor but as the estate agent rang me last week is this something I can discuss with them. To be honest the house market where we live is booming and I feel that at this moment if I was to find another house tomorrow I wouldn’t be too disadvantaged time wise starting again! 

firstimebuyer1993

Maybe the sellers may be causing the delay with their forms? To my understanding, there is not much the estate agents have to do after the offer on the house has been agreed and all parties have instructed their solicitors so even if they were rude and not helpful, that should not delay things too much. Maybe the sellers have not got their new mortgage/remortgage agreed for their new home, which is why they are stalling your transaction.

Majoggy

Nothing to add to this situation specifically, aside that I am inclined to believe your solicitor.

At the end stage of buying a flat and the amount of times the estate agents have mislead us about simple information is beyond belief. 

[Deleted User]

We are on quite similar timescales to you with a three property chain + FTB's. So far we have had draft contracts exchanged on all properties, first enquiries done, searches started so we are mainly waiting on mortgages and nitty gritty parts. I think the first weeks are vital in the speed of everything. We have all been in direct communication between everyone in the chain which is so lucky and I think it's what's keeping everything moving. When you rely on solicitors and estate agents it's almost impossible! I would be inclined to believe your solicitor though. Personally if it was me and I really wanted the property I'd be pushing a lot more, sounds like you've been very patient. I suspect there might be something with the top of the chain you aren't aware of because I believe anyone who really wants to move acts quickly and there might be a reason there for delay and worth digging.