Lolu's Mortgage Free odyssey

misslolu

South_coast said:

No, there's no set date for exchange, it goes ahead when everyone is satisfied that everything is in place - which it sounds like you're not ready for yet anyway. Why are the other side contacting you direct though? They should be doing everything through your solicitor and that should be your only contact

Oh ok, fair enough then. To be honest, the rep gives me more info than my solicitor does, so I don't mind her calling. Usually it's for smaller updates like telling me my solicitor isn't responding and asking me to chase him up. But she also informed me about the potential completion date 2 full days before my solicitor did. In fact my solicitor only called me when we'd agreed on the amended date.

misslolu

Bargainhunter30 said:

We ended up having to go direct to sellers because their solicitor was useless and was holding up the sale. Solicitors seem to need a constant reminder that you are there 😂

Sooo true, I call my solicitor about 2ce a week and every time he has a new thing he wants to tell me or that I need to do. I've often wondered whether I would get the information if I hadn't called him first.

Well, i got another call from the rep and she asked me to chase my solicitor again because the vendors want to get removals booked soon. Then I called my solicitor to ask what's up, he says there's a delay on getting confirmation from the bank on the mortgage funds and he's waiting for the enquiry. So we'll see what's happening soon enough, less than two weeks to go till completion now though.

misslolu

Well what a difference a week makes! The vendor's rep was right on my tail chasing me up for when we could exchange, only for me to call my solicitor and be told that they're actually waiting on some documentation from me. I was so annoyed because I'd already asked for all the documentation I would need to send in and had sent all of them in one package. So I had to rush to the nearest Internet café to print and send the document via next day delivery, another £7 I just don't have.

It's bad enough that the solicitors fees have cost way more than I thought they would, an extra £1.5K, now I'm printing at a premium and sending things by next day delivery. Luckily enough, that was all that I needed to send and they confirmed they received it the next day. I then found out that I was actually in a chain and both properties up the chain were the ones putting pressure on me. Luckily, the exchange still went through just before the weekend though it was a close call at 4:30pm.

At least this means, completion is set in stone and I can start calling up utilities and getting everything sorted. Just a bit more to go, can't wait to complete and be done with all of this.

powerspowers

Oooh you are getting there! When’s the big date? 

And I completely hear you on solicitors! 

misslolu

I've completed @powerspowers it was set for yesterday. Got call from my solicitors and the estate agent gave me a ring at about 12 to go pick up the keys. But what they failed to tell me was that I needed to pick up the keys from one of their offices in another area. Luckily, I asked to confirm and the new office wasn't too far from the flat. 

So that's me, the proud owner of a 2 bed flat worth £215000 with a mortgage of £192375. I guess my mortgage free wanabe diary officially starts now on page 4 haha. I'll get the figures a bit later on with my plan for paying it down.

Cornish_mum

Many congratulations on your new home! CM

Chiglepig

Congratulations!

South_coast

Congratulations. Hope you have a wonderful time in your new home 🏡

penny*pincher_2

Congratulations @misslolu !!! I exchanged this week and I am due to complete next week. Already dreaming of being mortgage free and retiring early haha!!

I hope your move goes well and you soon settle in. I will be subscribing to keep up

riotlady

Congratulations!! Won’t be too long til you’re moving in