So frustrated with completion date not confirmed!

KaratePigeon

Hi, didn't know where else to go for advice!
I agreed a sale on my property and to purchase another one, about 6 months ago. A few issues but for the last few weeks I've been given various completion dates and they just never happen. On Monday the seller's estate agent rang to say everyone has agreed to complete this Friday. She rang again this morning saying it's all good, contracts will be exchanged today. It's now 4pm on Wednesday and all I get from my solicitor is that they aren't ready as they haven't had confirmation from the solicitor below. 

I know it goes a bit like this but it's getting ridiculous. My removals company I had lined up have now booked someone else for Friday as I couldn't confirm. I'm so stressed as I'm a single mum to 3 kids who all have school commitments etc, I only have 2 days holidays left of work which I keep moving at my employer's frustration. Surely I cant be expected to arrange removals etc with less than 24 hours notice? Is it reasonable for me to insist on a certain amount of time? I don't want to delay it any longer (can't afford to stay in this house any longer either!) but I just need at least a few days notice! 

housebuyer143

KaratePigeon said:

Hi, didn't know where else to go for advice!
I agreed a sale on my property and to purchase another one, about 6 months ago. A few issues but for the last few weeks I've been given various completion dates and they just never happen. On Monday the seller's estate agent rang to say everyone has agreed to complete this Friday. She rang again this morning saying it's all good, contracts will be exchanged today. It's now 4pm on Wednesday and all I get from my solicitor is that they aren't ready as they haven't had confirmation from the solicitor below. 

I know it goes a bit like this but it's getting ridiculous. My removals company I had lined up have now booked someone else for Friday as I couldn't confirm. I'm so stressed as I'm a single mum to 3 kids who all have school commitments etc, I only have 2 days holidays left of work which I keep moving at my employer's frustration. Surely I cant be expected to arrange removals etc with less than 24 hours notice? Is it reasonable for me to insist on a certain amount of time? I don't want to delay it any longer (can't afford to stay in this house any longer either!) but I just need at least a few days notice! 

You exchange before you complete. Exchange might take a while if the chain is long, but you can specify you need say 2 weeks between exchange and completion. 
I wouldn't do it all the same day as too much can go wrong. 

eddddy

KaratePigeon said:

 Is it reasonable for me to insist on a certain amount of time? I don't want to delay it any longer (can't afford to stay in this house any longer either!) but I just need at least a few days notice! 

Yep - it's completely reasonable for you to insist on a reasonable gap between exchange and completion.  2 weeks is fairly normal. (i.e. you get 2 weeks of notice of your definite moving date. So you can give your employer 2 weeks notice of your day off, and you can give the removal firm 2 weeks notice of your moving day.)

But it's all based on negotiation.  For example, if you want 2 weeks between exchange and completion - but somebody else wants 2 days between exchange and completion - somebody will have to back down, or you'll have to find a compromise.



Also, bear in mind that the Estate Agent might be fibbing to you. It could be that the estate agent wants you all to complete on Friday - because he/she wants to get their fee next week - so that they get paid their bonus in time for their Christmas skiing holiday.

propertyrental

Booking the removals company before Exchanging was premature. That is precisely why many people request/insist on a longer gap between Exchange/Completion, to allow time to make arrangements.
Estate agents don't know what is happening with the conveyancing, and which individual's solicitors are ready or not. Speak to your solicitor and ask
* Are you ready to Exchange?
* is my buyer/seller's solicitor ready to Exchange?
* if not, what is the reason and what is the estimated date to resolve that issue (and hence Exchange?
Also instruct your solicitor that you want a full week (or 2 weeks) between Exchange and Completion to make arrangements (book removals, arrange time off work, get your father in law lined up to help etc)
Finally - keep calm and be patiant!

Scotbot

Perfectly reasonable for you to request a gap between exchange and completion.  2 weeks used to be common as banks  and solicitors needed that time. Now it can be done simultaneously but you can say how long you need. Just make sure you instruct your solicitor that you need a minimum of x days. The other people in the chain may complain but tough!

KaratePigeon

Ok thanks everyone, I've told them that I can't complete tomorrow - I'm sure I'll be unpopular with the rest of the chain (hopefully they haven't lost money by booking removals!) but I couldn't afford to waste money/time off when it might not have happened. I suggested to the solicitor early next week but he said that's not enough time to get a new mortgage redemption status, so he said Friday. I agreed as long as we exchange contracts in the next day or so. 

Flugelhorn

I reckon you need a good few days between exchange and completion if removals are involved etc etc - good luck hope it goes OK

diystarter7

2 weeks about the norm but if you and the place you are buying etc chain free and free of others, a couple of days to be on the safe side.

I've said this many times before, avoid chains at all cost, the less of a chain, even if on one side EG, you are chain free or the property you are buying is chain free it is good - best is you and the property you are buying is chain free. 

Years ago we/ ie my parents were in a chin it took over 9 months of stress and I though this is not for us..

housebuyer143

KaratePigeon said:

Ok thanks everyone, I've told them that I can't complete tomorrow - I'm sure I'll be unpopular with the rest of the chain (hopefully they haven't lost money by booking removals!) but I couldn't afford to waste money/time off when it might not have happened. I suggested to the solicitor early next week but he said that's not enough time to get a new mortgage redemption status, so he said Friday. I agreed as long as we exchange contracts in the next day or so. 

Good for standing your ground. It's very easy to get railroaded into doing it the same day and it doesn't always work well. Imagine packing up your house into boxes into a van to be told it didn't happen.
Same Day is fine for empty houses, with no chain.

KaratePigeon

They are now saying the people at the bottom of the chain are 'definitely' going to pull out if I don't complete tomorrow. It sounds unlikely, apparently they have flown over from Asia especially so it needs to happen tomorrow or not at all. What do I do?

[Deleted User]

KaratePigeon said:

They are now saying the people at the bottom of the chain are 'definitely' going to pull out if I don't complete tomorrow. It sounds unlikely, apparently they have flown over from Asia especially so it needs to happen tomorrow or not at all. What do I do?

Are you physically able to get everything out of the house tomorrow? That's the big question I guess.