When to set a target date for exhange/completion

Peppermint90

Hi everyone, 
I thought my solicitor will suggest a target completion date himself, but he has not. 
I want to complete as soon as possible. Mortgage offer is in, searches are back, responses to  enquiries are back, but as solicitor was not satisfied with some of them he has sent a few more enquires, so we are waiting for those responses. Vendors are also going through the process of removing matrimonial rights notice from title deeds. How long is that supposed to take? 

I can't tell how close or far I am to complete. i'm a FTB and vendors supposedly are chain-free as they are divorced and "moving in with family". 
Based on where I am at right now, what would you say is the earliest possible, but reasonable, completion date I could ask for? I am going to see my solicitor tomorrow to sign some paperwork, so i am planning on asking him to set a target completion date with vendors solicitor tomorrow? 

Thank you

eddddy

It might make sense to get the vendor's feedback first. Estate agents will often deal with this sort of thing.

There may have a deadline that that they want to move before or after, or they may have work commitments that would stop them moving in a particular week, etc.

It may be that you have to negotiate and/or compromise. For example, you want to move asap, but maybe their family don't want them moving in for 6 weeks - so one or both of you have to comprise.

And - of course - the solicitors have to be ready as well.

badger09

I suggest you ask yourself - do I have a hard deadline? - eg mortgage offer expiring
If not, ask yourself - what is ideal moving date? - eg tenancy notice expires, new job starts, removals can be booked etc
If none of the above applies, you're likely to say ASAP. To be honest, that doesn't give your conveyancer much to go on, as most people want to move ASAP.

I suggest you ask the EA selling the property you are buying to check up the chain for any hard deadlines, then work down from that.
Good luck

greatcrested

Peppermint90 said:

Hi everyone, 
I thought my solicitor will suggest a target completion date himself, but he has not 

He can oly do this when he has a clear idea himself.
I want to complete as soon as possible.

so do most people

Mortgage offer is in, searches are back, responses to  enquiries are back, but as solicitor was not satisfied with some of them he has sent a few more enquires, so we are waiting for those responses.

Ah! then your solicitor can only wait. He may get the responses tomorrow.Or next week. Or in 3 weeks.

Vendors are also going through the process of removing matrimonial rights notice from title deeds. How long is that supposed to take? 
it could arrive tomorrow. Next wek. Or in a month or two.
I can't tell how close or far I am to complete.

No can tell you how close you are as there are outstanding issues.

i'm a FTB and vendors supposedly are chain-free as they are divorced and "moving in with family".

Which may be the whole truth, part-truth, or not at all true.

Based on where I am at right now, what would you say is the earliest possible, but reasonable, completion date I could ask for?

You cannot do more than say you wish to complete asap.

Make sure you tell him whether you want to Exchange/Complete same day, or have a gap.

Peppermint90

Thank you for the advice @eddddy @badger09 @greatcrested