Purchase contract (and other important documents)

Kop1906

Hello
We are receiving our purchase contract along with other important documents this week. Is a signature required by me when the post person arrives or can they just post it like a normal letter? I am hoping this is a generic question to do with a legal document but i accept this may depend on how the solicitors have sent the contract.
Additionally, if anyone knows how long things normally take to exchange of contract from this point that would be helpful.
Thanks in advance!

princeofpounds

Normally it is just sent like a normal letter.

Timescale to exchange is totally unknowable. It's possible for a draft contract to be received from the vendor's solicitor, via yours, within a week. It has no bearing on all the other things that need to be done in parallel (e.g. mortgage valuation survey, various searches etc.). Some of which may throw up further enquiries that need to go back to the vendor or third parties.

So you could be anywhere from a week to six months away from exchange.

badger09

We received similar from our solicitor week before last, normal post, no signature required.
As for exchange timeframe - how long is your piece of string? When did you start, how many in chain, where are you up to etc etc