When should our patience run out?

pinkteapot

FinallyStoppedLurking said:

I think that's what we will do. It's just working out how long before we decide we need to lowed our expectations and accept a house we don't like as much. Whether it's this one or another, we need to be in the house before next April. 

Don't put that kind of pressure on yourself. Sure, touch wood, you'll be well and truly settled in your new (owned) home before then. BUT, if not, it's really not the end of the world. I understand your relatives may not want a newborn baby in the house! But you could probably rent for 6-12 months?

The only issue you would face is that if you apply for a mortgage after the baby's born you'll have a dependant, and the amount they'll lend will be quite different. Whether that's an issue depends on whether you're borrowing near the maximum you can. 

FinallyStoppedLurking

I get what you are saying and rented would be an option. Just feels like a step in the wrong direction. 

Anyway, hoping for some positive news soon. Thanks for your input. 

FinallyStoppedLurking

Had another update...

Apparently the vendors solicitor hadn't commissioned the searches yet and they are the ones causing the hold up. So the buyer has been pestering the estate agent when actually it was the solicitor causing the delays. Shocking really. If they don;t have the time to start the searches they shouldn't be taking on the work. It's not as if it's a difficult thing to organise.

Anyway, hopefully things will start to move forward.

FinallyStoppedLurking

Okay, bit of an update to the situation...
Long story short... the buyer for the final property in the chain still isn't ready to complete and whilst they are suggesting a date in November (everyone else is ready to exchange) they may not even make this.

It's still not clear whether the solicitor has been slow to act or whether the buyer has failed to instruct them to act in time. Obviously it is out of our control but I'm still really annoyed. Clearly the buyer has to take responsibility to some extent for not chasing up their solicitor even if they instructed in a timely manner. 

Am I wrong to feel like the estate agent dealing with the property at the top of the chain hasn't done their bit? I feel like they should have been making sure solicitors had been instructed and the chain was progressing. 

Titus_Wadd

It certainly helps if an Estate Agent is on the ball, but along the chain their efficiency can vary.  Even so we were lucky: our EA and the one selling our house to us were both pushy (in a good way).  They'd telephone all other agents and solicitors in the chain on a regular basis, particularly useful for negotiating the completion date.  If we were to sell again in the near future I'd choose one of them to sell it.

It's glib for me to say that it's the stress of house-buying.  I hope you get moved soon and can focus on enjoying planning for your growing family.

FinallyStoppedLurking

Titus_Wadd said:

It certainly helps if an Estate Agent is on the ball, but along the chain their efficiency can vary.  Even so we were lucky: our EA and the one selling our house to us were both pushy (in a good way).  They'd telephone all other agents and solicitors in the chain on a regular basis, particularly useful for negotiating the completion date.  If we were to sell again in the near future I'd choose one of them to sell it.

It's glib for me to say that it's the stress of house-buying.  I hope you get moved soon and can focus on enjoying planning for your growing family.

Thanks for your comment and the well wishes.
It is very frustrating. We were pushing from the start but had not control of the situation further up the chain.