When should I ask solicitor to start searches?

Rosea19 · 29 April 2021 at 3:35PM

We’ve had an offer accepted on a house we love and we’ve also accepted an offer on our house. Our mortgage for the new house is approved and we have all the solitons forms but haven’t completed them to send back yet. The reason we haven’t sent them back is because our vendors haven’t found a property yet.

So should we complete the solicitor forms and send them back now, so the solicitor can start searches? Or should we wait until the vendor finds a property? I’m not sure what the norm is but we’re concerned about having to pay solicitor’s fees if the chain then collapses/sellers doesn’t find a property further down the line.

moneysavinghero · 29 April 2021 at 3:38PM

Wait until the vendor finds a house.

Thrugelmir · 29 April 2021 at 3:40PM

Solicitor won't start chargeable work until you instruct them to. Searches can take a long time.

TBG01 · 29 April 2021 at 5:35PM

You do realise you're delaying things for your buyer? Are you happy for them to pay for searches etc on a sale that might not happen. Have you at least let your solicitor know why you haven't returned the document so they can inform the other side.

teachfast · 29 April 2021 at 5:40PM

In answer to the OP: about 8 weeks before you want them actioned.

Tiglet2 · 29 April 2021 at 7:09PM

Many solicitors only order searches once they have the draft contract paperwork to hand from the seller's solicitor, though you would have had to pay funds over in readiness. Has your seller instructed a solicitor yet and has the EA sent out the sales memorandum? You can send back the forms to your solicitor and instruct them not to start any work until you want them to.