My solicitor (I am the buyer) all of a sudden pushes to exchange.

user45789651

My solicitor is pushing to exchange and complete, all of a sudden.

I got an offer accepted in November. 

It took one month to get the draft contract pack from the seller...

So searches stared mid December.

I received the searches last week (January 20) for the first time.

The same day my solicitor started pushing me to do the exchange the following week (and complete by Feb 14).

Why all of a sudden such rush (they certainly did not rush before)?

While I am OK to complete by Feb 14, I don't feel OK to exchange one week after seeing the searches for the first time. 

I read the searches, I don't think there is anything particularly worrying.

Still I don't understand this sudden change of attitude.

Please, anything to worry about? Anything I should be suspicious of?

Thanks!

Voyager2002

Perhaps your solicitor has a major commitment coming up later in the year and wants to clear up other business (such as your purchase) first.

Perhaps other people in the chain are affected by the increase in stamp duty and your solicitor wants to ensure that there is no risk of them having to pay more tax than they need.

m0bov

Have you asked? Is the seller ready? Have you had a survey done? Follow up checks? Removals? Child care? Suspect not, so point this out to the solicitor. I suspect they are a web based high turnover type.

saajan_12

user45789651 said:

So searches stared mid December.

I received the searches last week (January 20) for the first time.

THe solicitor may have received the searches earlier, and spent some time reviewing them. Once satisfied, they sent them to you and raised the point about exchange, which is the logical next step. 

They have a set of checks they'd do, depending on the exact circumstances of your purchase, but after that there's no benefit in extra time to mull over. I wouldn't call that rushing, just getting on with the next step once the checks are complete. 

Is it a solicitor you chose rather than suggested by a developer or agent? If so, why do you think they have anything but your and the lender's best interests at heart? 

ReadingTim

Entirely normal - my previous house purchases have both followed a pattern of weeks of apparent inactivity followed by a mad rush at the end.

I can only assume that the silence was when they were requesting information and sorting things out which didn't need my input, and then a flurry of activity when they did.  Suspect also that they're dealing with many other transactions at the same time, so some prioritisation will be necessary.  Once your file comes to the top of their to-do list, and all the documentation is in place, it's all systems go.  So just get on with it, and respond in a timely manner - you do still want to buy this place and move don't you?!?  

user1977

user45789651 said:

Still I don't understand this sudden change of attitude.

The change is because they're now ready. Aren't you ready? If not, why not?

Hoenir

Normally people complain about solicitors being slow! Not they've any control over events. Other parties in the chain may be pressing now. Decide when you would like to complete and let your solicitor know.