How to reduce time to completion?

EssexHebridean

Hermann said:

I've completed in under a month before, and know of others who have managed two weeks.
We've also sold and completed in under a month previously.
Remember if you bought at an auction you often have to complete within a month so it certainly is possible.

It all depends on many variables, what the property is, what risks are associated with the property & what your own risk acceptance level is.

Things that can be a delay are responses from outside agencies & any necessary surveys. The sooner they contacted/booked in the less delay.

Simply ask the conveyancer if your contract can be dealt within your desired timescales, they should be able to advise and be aware of current response times from the outside agencies. If they can't offer a sensible sounding response then move on and find a competent conveyancer.

The last paragraph is I'm afraid more than a bit simplistic. Indeed, conversely, I'd suggest categorically avoiding any solicitor who is happy to say they "will complete in X weeks" - as they can't possibly know that, because too much of the transaction is out of their control. They are simply trying to get your business if they make that sort of black and white statement about a standard sale or purchase - and the chances of things actually happening in that timescale would be tiny! 

We usually suggest that best case scenarios for a freehold purchase = roughly 12 weeks, leasehold = roughly 16 weeks.  Better than that is possible if all the stars align, but when as is more likely they don't, longer than that is also very possible! 

Possible delay areas:
- Mortgage offers frequently don't come back as fast as buyers would like
- issues with the title or survey meaning revised offers, in turn meaning new offer being needed
- management Co or freeholder being slow to issue a sales pack or respond to enquiries
- LA searches being slower than ideal to come back
- Survey throwing up issues that mean the buyers need to take time to investigate further

Auctions are an entirely different matter - not least as auction buyers are generally cash buyers, and some review of the title etc takes place before the auction date. 

incus432

Some delays are out of your hands but selecting your solicitor is not. Unfortunately it is very hard to know how they will be until you've instructed them and in the thick of it.  

We chose a local soliictor with very good online reviews then discovered they don't acknowledge emails, dont update you unless you phone in, phone messages don't always get passed on, need everything sending twice, and (crucially) they deal with all emails and queries "in strict time order' - which means if your buyer sends queries in (however urgent) they sit in a pile for 2 weeks until the solicitor has time to review them and then pass them on to you. Absolutely hopeless.   And they refuse to send the queries to you before they review them (this would at least allow you to dig out the answers in advance.)

MEM62

Connoisseurus_Rex said:

I'm wondering what advice you all might have for speeding the process along? 

You cannot.  You are in the hands of too many other individuals and agencies.  It takes as long as it takes.