How long is it taking to receive a completion date on a house?

smal_e

Hello, 

I'm just wondering how long it's taking / took people in the current market to complete their house sale?

We're 4 and a half months in and still no where near a completion date apparently! 

Bit of background:

We're selling our house (can move asap, we're not in a chain for buying)
The buyers are selling their house to a first time buyer (chain ends there) 

The buyers accepted an offer on their house the same time as putting an offer in on our house... (this was over 4 months ago now)

I've been requesting updates from our solicitors with the same response each time "we're waiting on the buyers solicitors". We sent over responses to the enquiries the buyers solicitors had well over 1 month ago. 

I know there's a chain behind us, but it's not a long one...

I just feel like it's taking a lot longer and the process is so much slower than the first time round! 

When we first bought our house a few years back, from putting an offer in to completion date it took about 9 weeks total! I understand it's different this time around and there's a chain behind us, but I honestly didn't think it would be this slow. 

I just wanted to know if I'm being a bit too eager or if I'm right in thinking the process is taking a while... I've asked for a completion date and even a rough estimate but apparently our solicitors can't give one as they're still waiting on the buyers solicitors to ensure they're happy with everything! 

Has / Is anyone in a similar position and when did you finally receive a completion date? 

Thank you! 

AskAsk

it does sound a long time.  generally 4 to 4.5 months i find, even on very straightforward transactions where there is no chain and the buyer is putting down most of the purchase monies in cash and only taking out a small mortgage.  you will find that the EA is the person who should be keeping an eye on what is going on as he will have access to everyone in the process so you should ask the EA on an update on what is happening on the buyer side as you haven't heard anything for a month from sending back the replies to their solicitor enquiries.

smal_e

Thank you for your reply AskAsk.

Yes, it seems to be taking quite a while and as you say even the most straightforward transactions are taking longer. Hopefully, things will start to move along - it just seems like a waiting game as we've done everything we possibly can from our side. 

I have emailed our EA today after seeing your response, thank you. I received a very prompt response saying they're in the process of changing things around in the office (people's positions etc) and therefore I should be contacting my solicitors instead until this is sorted. Not very helpful and no idea how long that process will take! Especially when the EA only realised to contact us last week (4 months later) as they had missed us on file! 

I just feel like we are not getting anywhere with this sale, no-one seems to be interested, just as long as they get their money out of it in the end.

I'll be keeping a close eye on things and try to push for the buyers solicitors response asap to get the ball rolling quicker. 
 
Thank you 

Bolt1234

So the EA sounds useless - moving people's postions around is a terrible excuse for not getting back to you.

Every few weeks email the EA and her solicitors for a progess report.  The report might be 2-3 lines but it gives you an idea if there is a blockage.  It might even be something you can do to help out.  Maybe they havent received something from you because its 'been lost in the post' and havent got round to chasing you.

A good EA will be able to speak to a solicitor and see what is going on.  I am going through a purchase at present for a relative.  The solicitor was recommened by the EA and the EA will speak to them if there are any issues.  Its working well although every few weeks I still do drop a quick email.  What you dont want is that 'someone' has lost your file, left the company or are working on other sales where the buyer is screaming the loudest!

housebuyer143

Is your solicitor sending chase emails? Has the agent called the buyer to tell them that their solicitor is not responding? Could be they don't even know and the solicitor is telling them they are waiting on you. 
The EA should be doing this. I would be considering a complaint to reduce their commission if they are not delivering.

kingstreet

housebuyer143 said:

Is your solicitor sending chase emails? Has the agent called the buyer to tell them that their solicitor is not responding? Could be they don't even know and the solicitor is telling them they are waiting on you. 
The EA should be doing this. I would be considering a complaint to reduce their commission if they are not delivering.

Does sales progression actually feature in an EA contract these days? It's twenty years since I was an EA advisor and when I was, anything done after sale agreed was simply to get the fee paid faster.

AskAsk

smal_e said:

Thank you for your reply AskAsk.

Yes, it seems to be taking quite a while and as you say even the most straightforward transactions are taking longer. Hopefully, things will start to move along - it just seems like a waiting game as we've done everything we possibly can from our side. 

I have emailed our EA today after seeing your response, thank you. I received a very prompt response saying they're in the process of changing things around in the office (people's positions etc) and therefore I should be contacting my solicitors instead until this is sorted. Not very helpful and no idea how long that process will take! Especially when the EA only realised to contact us last week (4 months later) as they had missed us on file! 

I just feel like we are not getting anywhere with this sale, no-one seems to be interested, just as long as they get their money out of it in the end.

I'll be keeping a close eye on things and try to push for the buyers solicitors response asap to get the ball rolling quicker. 
 
Thank you 

the EA is totally responsible for progressing things.  this is where a good EA and a bad one is noticed.  you should complain to the EA that you would like the person dealing with your sale to speak to the other side to find out what is going on as you are getting a bit fed up with waiting and you need to plan what you should do next with the sale.

this is where using purple bricks and the like do not work, as they don't offer after sales progress services and it is very important to get an agent that does bother to find out where things are after the sale offer has been accepted.

EndlessStruggle

I am 2 months into the process.

We are ready to exchange and complete now on a small chain with them moving out of area.

However, due to their employment we are waiting until end of March/Easter time.

Titus_Wadd

If your own EA is not great it's worth asking the agent selling the house you are purchasing.  They will be highly motivated to keep you sweet and all the plates in the chain spinning, even though you're not paying his bill and it only takes one agent to ring around and report back if there are outstanding queries from any party.

smal_e

Thank you everyone for your replies, it's very much appreciated! 

I have been in contact with both the EA and Solicitors again today. I have also informed our EA that I'm not happy with the service they have currently provided. The fact that they've only just picked up our file and now it's being handed to someone else in the department is quite frankly just infuriating! Especially as we've been at this nearly coming up to 5 month! 

I received a reply saying along the lines of 'We understand it can be frustrating selling a house with the conveyancing taking ages at this moment in time but I can assure things will progress. From looking at your file, everything is done and completed from your end but I will try to chase up again next week to see if there's a further update from the buyers side. This will then be passed onto (said name)' 

I have responded asking them to chase all involved and to get an update to find out if we're missing something that could help in anyway. I don't want to be sat here after all this to find out they're missing something from us or we've not answered something correctly. 

It's just frustrating that no matter who I contact, it just seems to be the same answers. 'We're waiting on blah blah...' 

I have contacted our Solicitors this morning asking if they have chased the buyers solicitors up again to get some answers as surely it can't be taking this long to get back to us. (I'm still waiting to hear from the solicitors) 

Hopefully, I'll receive some answers this week otherwise they'll be receiving further emails and calls until I finally get a good enough answer. 

I honestly did not think it would be harder / more time consuming to sell a house than to buy one! 

MEM62

smal_e said:

Hello, 

I'm just wondering how long it's taking / took people in the current market to complete their house sale?

Accepted an offer on my flat the second week of December.  No chain - just a straight sale.  Still a little way off completion, which I am keen to achieve before the CGT rules change in April.