Struggling with my solicitors

Poppyka

Hi all 

I was wondering if I could get some advice from those who have had more experience of buying / selling and therefore more interactions with solicitors. 

Tiglet2

Your solicitor raised enquiries (May?) and the seller's solicitor sent responses in early June, is that correct?  Then 2 or 3 weeks ago your solicitor said they were working through the responses.  When you checked with the solicitor recently, they said they were still waiting for responses, is that correct?  It sounds to me like the first set of responses were not all satisfactory, so your solicitor has gone back to the seller's solicitor asking for more information.  It is now a case of going backwards and forwards until your solicitor is satisfied with the responses to enquiries.

With only 3 working days to go before the stamp duty deadline, I would assume that your solicitor has been concentrating on those transactions hoping to complete in time.  Your transaction is still at enquiry stage, so is not a priority at the moment.  I am sure you would like a proper update, but at the moment the industry is on its knees with work.

An EAs job is to chivvy the chain along, but how can they know what stage everyone is at and what parts are outstanding if they don't get included in the legal work?  They rely on each party giving them verbal updates, but they cannot know whether what they are being told is the truth or whether it is chinese whispers.

The only advice I can give you is to remain patient and not get stressed over he said, she said scenarios.  Suffice it say, your file is being worked on, but enquiries can take quite some time, particularly when the initial responses are not satisfactory.

Falafels

Sometimes working through the initial replies to enquiries will give rise to further ones, so it sounds as though this is the case here. I know as a vendor that I've given all the information I have to my solicitor when I first put my house on the market, but that doesn't stop enquiries on top of enquiries further down the line. When you say "There's also a couple of outstanding responses I wasn't totally satisfied with as they didn't match up", what do you mean, exactly?

The job of the estate agent IS to be the go-between, as your solicitor is not permitted by law to be in direct contact with the vendor; similarly their solicitor is not allowed to be in direct contact with you.

Of course you're not sure what they're waiting on, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're being untruthful - so I'd be very wary of implying that they are! If they're doing a thorough job on your behalf then it takes time, especially when the housing market is as frantically busy as it is at the moment.

If you haven't been in touch with your solicitor for the last couple of weeks, there's no harm in contacting them to say you're being pushed by your vendors, and is there anything to report.

Otherwise, just let them get on with the job.

Poppyka

Thank you @Falafels and @Tiglet2

I appreciate the kindness in the tone of your replies. I think it’s helped me see things more rationally when you’re caught up it you just want things to move along as quick as they can without seeing things can get delayed for whatever reason. 

I’ll do my best to switch off for this weekend and just give it a couple more weeks before chasing for another update. 

Falafels

Poppyka said:

Thank you @Falafels and @Tiglet2

I appreciate the kindness in the tone of your replies. I think it’s helped me see things more rationally when you’re caught up it you just want things to move along as quick as they can without seeing things can get delayed for whatever reason. 

I’ll do my best to switch off for this weekend and just give it a couple more weeks before chasing for another update. 

OF COURSE you want things to move along quickly, and feeling pushed by your vendors isn't going to help, either! Remember, though, that the way your vendors are managing their affairs is their problem, and don't let yourself feel pressured by it. Buying and selling's a fraught business even when you're an old hand at this sort of thing and, as with most things, the first time's the worst.

Switch off as much as you can, do something kind for yourself - as long as it's not illegal - and chill for the time being. 

Tiglet2

@Poppyka agree with Falafels that you mustn't feel pressurised by your vendor.  In a sale/purchase scenario (in any area, i.e. selling cars!), the seller wants to sell (whether or not they have disclosed everything or whether there is anything wrong with it).  The buyer (and therefore your solicitor) must be completely happy with the purchase before committing.  Therefore, regardless of whether the vendor is ready on their purchase, they do have to wait until your purchase catches up.

Enjoy switching off for a while!

NameUnavailable

All solicitors will be under pressure to get completions that are ready done by the end of the month for the SDLT holiday. I think most other sales i.e. those that aren't going to complete by then are at the bottom of the pile.

kazwookie

Just remember your solicitor works for YOU, you are the person paying their bill at the end of completion, if you are not happy with the responses from them, get on the phone / email / senior partner at the solicitors and push them along.

Irishpearce26

kazwookie said:

Just remember your solicitor works for YOU, you are the person paying their bill at the end of completion, if you are not happy with the responses from them, get on the phone / email / senior partner at the solicitors and push them along.

As long as its within managed expectations. Pestering your solicitor when they are actively actioning things on your case wont help. A lot of threads and posts lately have been about how bad solicitors are at the minute, all by people trying to meet the SDLT deadline with unrealistic expectations. You are paying for a solicitor to carry out proper conveyancing on your purchase who will want to carry out the appropriate due diligence. Don't let your buyers strongarm you. 

Thrugelmir

kazwookie said:

Just remember your solicitor works for YOU, you are the person paying their bill at the end of completion, if you are not happy with the responses from them, get on the phone / email / senior partner at the solicitors and push them along.

Also works for the mortgage lender. Though the borrower is footing the bill. Solicitors wear 2 hats.  Complaining on a whim is a complete waste of peoples time. A culture that seems to prevail these days. Makes you wonder what some people do during their own working day.