So.... my offer to buy a house is accepted but the seller's solicitor is not responsive.

Misthios

Hello everyone, I am a first time house buyer and it happens that my offer is accepted.

Since I received the sales of memorandum on the 13th of Sept, within a week I have completed my ID screening checks, My solicitor is instructed from the 13th and contacted the seller's solicitor straight after on the 14th of Sep to ask for the pre contract pack/draft.

My surveying is done, the mortgage is issued but we haven't heard a single word from the seller's solicitor. I have contacted my solicitor and asked for an update yesterday the 23rd and she said that they have email the seller's s solicitor twice since the 13th but they haven't heard anything back.

I have contacted the estate agent who's overseeing the sale and asked them to contact the seller and their solicitor, and I asked re assurances that they are committed to go ahead for a quick sale as we initially agreed, the estate agent said that we will contact them, 2 days now, no updates. 

I really don't know what to do here. Should I press my solicitor to give the seller's solicitor a call ? Should I press the estate agent to provide updates or withdraw my offer? Should I ask them to enter into a lock agreement?

Any good advice would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks in advance.

housebuyer143

Misthios said:

Hello everyone, I am a first time house buyer and it happens that my offer is accepted.

Since I received the sales of memorandum on the 13th of Sept, within a week I have completed my ID screening checks, My solicitor is instructed from the 13th and contacted the buyers solicitor straight after on the 14th of Sep to ask for the pre contract pack, surveying done, the mortgage is issued and since then we haven't heard a single word from the buyer's solicitor. I have contacted my solicitor and asked for an update yesterday the 23rd and she said that they have email the buyer's solicitor twice since the 13th but they haven't heard anything back.

I have contacted the estate agent who's overseeing the sale and asked them to contact the buyer and the solicitor, and I asked re assurances that they are committed to go ahead for a quick sale as we initially agreed, the estate agent said that we will contact them, 2 days now, no updates. 

I really don't know what to do here. Should I press my solicitor to give the buyer's solicitor a call ? Should I press the estate agent to provide updates or wtihdraw my offer? Should I ask them to enter into a lock agreement?

Any good advice would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks in advance.

It's been less then two weeks. 
The sellers solicitor needs to be assigned to the case, carry out ID and AML checks, get the property information forms, fixtures and fittings forms completed etc. 

If the solicitor is a little slow then it might take sometime to get this all back and review all the information. Maybe the sellers have not completed it yet. 

Do not panic, give everyone time to get started. Most solicitors are grossly overworked and will not do all the above in 6 working days. 

user1977

You are the buyer. I think you mean the seller. 

p00hsticks

You;re being far too impatient - the 13th to 23rd is only 7 working days, given that there was an unexpected bank holiday. The seller will need to undergo their own ID checks with their solicitor, and complete the TA6 and TA10 forms and return them to the solicitor which could take some time, possibly give the solictor a deposit and the solicitor will lneed to assemble the Land Registry docs etc.  THey'll probably wait until they have a full set of docs before they pass them to your solicitor.

Misthios

I hear you all and thank you. But what worries me is that there's no communication neither confirmation that the buyer and solicitor have started the process ? 

housebuyer143

Misthios said:

I hear you all and thank you. But what worries me is that there's no communication neither confirmation that the buyer and solicitor have started the process ? 

Give it another week and then ask the agent to ask the solicitor or the buyer to email yours to confirm to yours that they have been instructed. 

My buyers solicitor took 2-5 weeks to reply to every email... It was very frustrating, but it's just how some work, wanting all the information before replying.

Someone made the point to me that any chase emails are likely picked up by their assistant and deleted and probably never make it to the solicitor at all. A good assistant would ensure the lawyer isn't bogged down with endless chase emails.

Misthios

Many Thanks everyone, to be honest I just came off the phone from the estate agent who said to me ''these things take time''.......

Ehmmmm just to receive a confirmation that they are on the ball? A single answer? I only asked form the ventor and it's solicitor for a confirmation that they are working on preparing the draft contract which according to many it doesn't take more than 1-2 weeks? Am not talking about exchanging contracts, am talking about preparing and send the draft contract.

To be honest, I was not amused by the agent's attitude and I might withdraw the offer if I don't have any re assurances next week. 

Wail

I am in the process at the moment. Is your seller at the top of the chain or are they still needing to find somewhere?

My conveyancer took time to get going on the sale until I had a purchase lined up. 

Misthios

Wail said:

I am in the process at the moment. Is your seller at the top of the chain or are they still needing to find somewhere?

My conveyancer took time to get going on the sale until I had a purchase lined up. 

The property is freehold and vacant. They informed me that they want a quick sale and the house will remain vacant until I get the keys. So in my case I am not sure who's delaying the process. Is it the seller or his solicitor? 

Misthios

user1977 said:

You are the buyer. I think you mean the seller. 

Yes, thanks for pointing out. I am the buyer, I have now edited my post

Ksw3

It took 6 weeks for us to get draft contracts. If you have the memorandum of sale I think it states if the sellers have appointed a solicitor. 

Our solicitor wouldn't commit but a large number of services will have at least a 10 working day turnaround for looking at cases. Our solicitor will look at the case then dictate for a secretary to type up. It's a bit archaic, takes forever but there we are.