Are my vendors dragging their heels?

Swash

Hi everyone. I am in the middle of selling my first home and buying my next. I'd like some input on if you think the timeline we have had so far is normal, or if our vendors are taking longer than should be expected.

12 Sep - We made the offer
25 Sep - Offer accepted
6 Oct - Valuation carried out
9 Oct- After chasing, we received the memorandum of sale. ( We were told that they were waiting for the vendor to instruct their solicitor)
23 Oct - Update from my solicitor - they still haven't received the draft contract from vendor's solicitor. After they sent a chaser email, the EA called to ask when we are booking a survey.

I feel like due to the time it has taken for every stage so far, there has been red flags from the beginning. Is it normal for us to get the survey done, before the vendor's solicitor have sent the draft contract? For all we know, the vendor may not have even filled out the paperwork. We have done everything as efficiently as possible, to avoid delays later on. What do you think? Am I expecting too much for them to complete their side of things in good time?
Thanks in advance,
Swash
P.S the chain is not complete, but they said they will go into rented if they don't find a house in time (for completion before end of March).

macman

The conveyancer may be waiting on local searches, which can take 5 weeks in some areas. But the fact that they took 2 weeks just to accept your offer does not indicate that speed is of the essence to them. But 6 weeks in is still relatively early to be expecting draft contracts.
There really is no 'normal' timeline for conveyancing.

Swash

My conveyancer said they don't send off for searches until they have received the draft contract from the vendor's conveyancer. So it is holding up the searches before they have even been applied for. Basically nothing has happened for the purchase because we are waiting for the vendor/vendor's conveyancer to do what they have to do their end. I just don't understand why anyone would take so long to do anything when they want to sell their house. 

Tiglet2

Maybe the vendor doesn't really want to go into rented, so they are dragging their heels with filling in the forms until they have found a house they want to buy and can tie it in with their sale.

perbinder

How far below asking price were you? They took a long time to accept your offer and now look like they are dragging their feet. It could of course be that they are using very Slow conveyancers. I have had a couple who were dreadful. 

Thrugelmir

Has the mortgage offer been made? 

Swash

We offered over asking, and our mortgage broker has told us our offer has been made, we're just waiting for the paperwork in the post. It's making me feel so uneasy when at every hurdle they have been this slow. We also have cash buyers for our sale so we really don't want to lose them. Do you think we should wait before we book the survey? Or just keep going our side and hope they pull their finger out?

Thanks for the replies so far.

emmajane1983

We are in a similar situation. Offer put in on a house marketed as having no chain, accepted 15th July. Took 6 weeks for contract pack. Searches completed about a month ago and basic enquiries raised but only partially answered. Vendor assuring us that her solicitor is ready to exchange. Our solicitor contacts theirs to be told that there was a chain and he is instructed not to progress our purchase. Seller still maintaining solicitor has it wrong but solicitor adamant about his instructions. We are so annoyed that on verge of withdrawing 

Swash

emmajane1983 said:

We are in a similar situation. Offer put in on a house marketed as having no chain, accepted 15th July. Took 6 weeks for contract pack. Searches completed about a month ago and basic enquiries raised but only partially answered. Vendor assuring us that her solicitor is ready to exchange. Our solicitor contacts theirs to be told that there was a chain and he is instructed not to progress our purchase. Seller still maintaining solicitor has it wrong but solicitor adamant about his instructions. We are so annoyed that on verge of withdrawing 

Oh wow July?! Do you know why they instructed not to progress? You must be so frustrated. I just wish people would be upfront from the beginning and say that they want to take their time. I hope you get some progress soon.

Thrugelmir

emmajane1983 said:

We are in a similar situation. Offer put in on a house marketed as having no chain, accepted 15th July. Took 6 weeks for contract pack. Searches completed about a month ago and basic enquiries raised but only partially answered. Vendor assuring us that her solicitor is ready to exchange. Our solicitor contacts theirs to be told that there was a chain and he is instructed not to progress our purchase. Seller still maintaining solicitor has it wrong but solicitor adamant about his instructions. We are so annoyed that on verge of withdrawing 

Have you contacted the EA? They should have a handle of what's happening across the entire chain.  Your vendor has no more control over the situation than you do. 

loubel

Sounds like they are waiting to complete the chain before instructing their solicitors. They might have said they will move into rental but few sellers are actually willing to do so in reality.