Advice please from experienced buyers. What would you do if you were me?

TWIGLET1234

Went to exchange last Friday on my no forward chain purchase to be told that they weren't ready. Was told the seller now has a related purchase. After several emails to EA, I was then led to believe that there was a miscommunication and that the seller is still honouring the agreement to move into a friends house and put her furniture into storage until her next purchase is ready. Therefore, exchange can happen straight away with all parties agreed on 31 July completion.
My solicitor has spent all of this week, every day, trying to exchange to be told "not ready" When I pushed him to find out why, he was told that the solicitor did not have signed documents.(!?) These were allegedly then posted off by the seller on Tuesday in recorded post. Yesterday, we try again to exchange to be told "not ready, clients documents are in the post to me"  I got onto the EA again, as if we are to complete on 31 July (the date he has continuously assured me will be the completion date) we need exchange to happen today, He said he will ask the seller to push her solicitor and tell her it must be done today and that she wants to move asap as has already sent a lot of her furniture to storage.
I got an update this morning from my solicitor saying that as of 9.30am, the documents were still not received by seller solicitor. He said he couldn't understand the problem because everyone is using scanned copies at the moment anyway.
I smell BS here somewhere. Especially since I just received my post, and something I had ordered Wednesday has been received today via 2nd class post!!
I am beyond fed up with this. The seller solicitor is so ridiculously slow and awkward too (in my opinion) Why does she only notice at exchange that she doesn't have signed documents?? 
What can I do? Can I ask them to scan across another set of documents?
I have asked the EA to get the seller to check the tracking number on her postal receipt, but he doesn't seem to get back to me on that.
I can't help but feel they dragging this out for some reason, but surely a bit of transparency would be better for all parties?
We are not experienced buyers. What would anyone experienced here advise to do? 
I guess you would say I will have to wait, and I know that is probably the case, but it infuriates me that I am constantly being fobbed off, and this should be a very simple thing to do. Everything is ready!!

pinkshoes

You have a couple of options.

1. Wait

2. Give them a deadline by when to exchange and threaten to pull out. Are there other properties you are interested in?

RelievedSheff

It is more common place to exchange and complete on the same day at the moment so try not to worry your July 31st completion could still happen.

Try not to worry.

"Everything" isn't ready as your seller is not ready to exchange. You just need to be patient.

TWIGLET1234

@RelievedSheff Thanks for your kind response.  Seller says she is ready to exchange but it's her solicitor who is in no hurry...
My solicitor has suggested simultaneous exchange and complete is not an option as lender needs 5 working days notice.

@pinkshoes Yes only option 1 applies in our case. I wouldn't want to start over. I just want to push it along somehow (whilst waiting)

oystercatcher

Sounds normal, these are strange times, the postal system is still unpredictable things can still take ages and some don't you can't compare with a random delivery. Bear in mind that these solicitors are also working simultaneously on many other projects while you are only thinking about your own one. 
This will pass, you will move eventually. Just be patient , but yes it is frustrating, there isn't anything you can do other than try and distract yourself . This time next year these few days will be nothing.

RelievedSheff

TWIGLET1234 said:

@RelievedSheff Thanks for your kind response.  Seller says she is ready to exchange but it's her solicitor who is in no hurry...
My solicitor has suggested simultaneous exchange and complete is not an option as lender needs 5 working days notice.

@pinkshoes Yes only option 1 applies in our case. I wouldn't want to start over. I just want to push it along somehow (whilst waiting)

They can give the notice to the lender prior to exchange taking place. If completion doesn't happen they just send the funds back to the lender.

TWIGLET1234

@RelievedSheff My solicitor hasn't suggested that as a possibility. I'll mention that. Thanks

davidmcn

TWIGLET1234 said:

@RelievedSheff My solicitor hasn't suggested that as a possibility. I'll mention that. Thanks

We have explained that in a couple of your previous threads. Your solicitor's stance seems rather odd and unhelpful. 

RelievedSheff

TWIGLET1234 said:

@RelievedSheff My solicitor hasn't suggested that as a possibility. I'll mention that. Thanks

Both of our property purchases to date have exchanged and completed on the same day. It isn't uncommon.

Soot2006

even in normal times these things happen ...  Last august we ended up exchanging 4 days before completion date (the days included Sat, Sun and a bank holiday Mon) ... mad scramble to get removals, etc, but somehow it all worked out in the end. It usually does. I remember how stressed I was at the time, and you really have my sympathy x

MovingForwards

My purchase exchanged just before the solicitor finished for the day, completion took place the following morning. I then arranged with a local company to move my furniture a few days later.