Offer accepted 12 days ago, buyer still hasn't appointed solicitor or booked valuation or survey in

Bossypants

Just wondering whether it's unreasonable for us to be getting anxious at this point? The agent spoke to them Monday morning and they told her they had had a solicitor lined up and were just 'getting a few final details to their mortgage advisor'. They asked her to please reassure us that they were doing everything possible to move things along. They are first time buyers so perhaps it's to be expected that they are taking longer than someone with more experience, but even so we can't help but worry that after almost two weeks they have shown no evidence of investment in the sale beyond their word. On the other hand we don't want to make them feel harassed by chasing too much. 

tacpot12

Why they are communicating, I would be inclined to give them a little more time. 

Herzlos

It's 2 weeks, over the Easter holidays, everything is going to be a bit slower than normal.

Tiglet2

Bossypants said:

Just wondering whether it's unreasonable for us to be getting anxious at this point? The agent spoke to them Monday morning and they told her they had had a solicitor lined up and were just 'getting a few final details to their mortgage advisor'. They asked her to please reassure us that they were doing everything possible to move things along. They are first time buyers so perhaps it's to be expected that they are taking longer than someone with more experience, but even so we can't help but worry that after almost two weeks they have shown no evidence of investment in the sale beyond their word. On the other hand we don't want to make them feel harassed by chasing too much. 

Sounds like they are waiting to get a formal mortgage offer before instructing a solicitor.   Perhaps as FTB, they are not 100% sure that the mortgage will be granted.

m0bov

Each time I sold or brought, the EA has working that unless the mortgage offer is presented within x days, the sale is voided. I would want to know when the survey is booked at least.

Bigphil1474

They won't book a survey until the mortgage is confirmed. Why would they spend money like that? They should get their mortgage confirmed first, then they can book surveys and solicitors and spend all their money. I think you are being a bit impatient. We sold our house to FTB's last year and they took about 3 weeks before surveyor came. They will probably have more hoops to jump through than you will. EA's usually just ask for an agreement in principle on the mortgage which is generally much easier to obtain.

mills705

Do they have an AIP? 

They are probably proving information to their mortgage advisor to get the offer rolling before appointing a solicitor. 

Usually surveys are done by 1 person and you combine the valuation + homebuyers one together to save on fees if they are waiting on an offer then they will be doing that.

youth_leader

I learnt through this forum to wait for the 'chain to complete' before I spent money on a survey.  Have you found somewhere? 

kingstreet

youth_leader said:

I learnt through this forum to wait for the 'chain to complete' before I spent money on a survey.  Have you found somewhere? 

This. Standard advice to our clients. Don't go charging off spending money if your vendors are only starting to look for an onward purchase.

our_des

Bossypants said:

Just wondering whether it's unreasonable for us to be getting anxious at this point? The agent spoke to them Monday morning and they told her they had had a solicitor lined up and were just 'getting a few final details to their mortgage advisor'. They asked her to please reassure us that they were doing everything possible to move things along. They are first time buyers so perhaps it's to be expected that they are taking longer than someone with more experience, but even so we can't help but worry that after almost two weeks they have shown no evidence of investment in the sale beyond their word. On the other hand we don't want to make them feel harassed by chasing too much. 

They may have been waiting for their most recent payslips to send the mortgage advisor, not everyone is paid at the end of the month. 

Our online application somehow ended up sat in Nationwide's telephone application queue, it added weeks to our application process.

DullGreyGuy

Bossypants said:

Just wondering whether it's unreasonable for us to be getting anxious at this point? The agent spoke to them Monday morning and they told her they had had a solicitor lined up and were just 'getting a few final details to their mortgage advisor'. They asked her to please reassure us that they were doing everything possible to move things along. They are first time buyers so perhaps it's to be expected that they are taking longer than someone with more experience, but even so we can't help but worry that after almost two weeks they have shown no evidence of investment in the sale beyond their word. On the other hand we don't want to make them feel harassed by chasing too much. 

Are you a first time seller? 

It'd be unusual for all those things you have listed to have been done with 8 working days at the best of times let alone in half term/run up to easter when lots of people are on holiday. Them not appointing a solicitor yet is the only one I would be disappointed by at this point and in that your estate agent is probably at least in part to blame as they'll have done the hard sale on recommending their preferred firm and a first time buyer may think that their could be some benefit in that rather than dismissing it as a pure commission push.