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

TWIGLET1234

Thanks all for your very kind words of advice!
I pressed my solicitor about ordering funds ahead of exchange and he said he can do it but if the seller changes her mind about the date, the money needs to go back and it can cause further delays. So it’s a risk for me to decide whether to take or not!
What do you guys think? I tend to think we order funds but as I said, I’m not experienced!! 

Tiglet2

Thing is, if one solicitor is stating that they are not ready, no-one knows whether they are intending to keep to the "agreed" completion date by offering a simultaneous exchange/completion or whether the "agreed" completion date is unrealistic.  A buyer's solicitors' client can't really force the seller's solicitor to complete to suit their own timetable if the solicitor is truly not ready.  Without signed papers, no solicitor would complete.  Some seem to accept scanned copies, while others do not, at this time.  While your solicitor can act on your instructions, it might be better for you to defer to their advice and their experience, as they will have dealt with issues like this all the time.

TWIGLET1234

@Tiglet2 Thing is that I’m constantly being reassured by the estate agent that the seller IS ready and has sent back the documents and it’s only their solicitor who is faffing about. This same solicitor had to be chased after 6 weeks from offer being agreed to send out the contract pack.
im just so fed up with conflicting advice ! 

Tiglet2

If you don't wanting conflicting advice, then stop listening to the Agent!  Agents are sales people - they push and push because they want the sale.  They do not see and are not a party to any legal aspects of the transaction so they know diddly squat about whether anyone is ready!  The only person working in your best interests is your solicitor and the only person you should be listening to.

Thrugelmir

TWIGLET1234 said:

im just so fed up with conflicting advice ! 

Whatever the real reason for the delay you'll never know. It's a matter between the vendor and their solicitor.  Everybody has their own agenda and perhaps a personal motive to stall matters. 
Our main sorting/delivery office has been closed for a deep clean due to an abreak of Covid onsite. No postal deliveries since Monday. 

TWIGLET1234

@Thrugelmir Interesting you should say that. I've been thinking on this myself and I think that perhaps the seller is having second thoughts and isn't actually ready to go ahead. Her solicitor is being quite defensive and abrupt with both my solicitor and the agent. The vendor has lived in the house for 33 years and I would imagine is finding it hard to leave despite having cleared the majority of her belongings. The agent did tell me that she was crying last night and being very emotional about leaving.  Maybe they are stalling while she decides for sure. I think I am best to mentally prepare for the whole transaction to tumble.