Completion

Emsw

I am 10 weeks into selling my house, and we are ready to agree a completion date. I have suggested several dates, and none have been suitable for the buyers. Today, I suggested another date, and again, the buyers have said it's no good. They have come back with a date that is over 2 weeks away!
My house is packed and ready to go, removals and work are on standby, as are cattery etc.
The excuse given by the first time buyers is, they can't get time off work!
Should I accept a date that is so far in the future?
Bearing in mind, I started the house moving process 12 months ago!

Alfrescodave

2 weeks seems perfectly reasonably to me; I'd agree to that one before they suggest one even later

swingaloo

I presume you have exchanged contracts?

2 weeks is nothing to wait in the great scheme of house buying/selling. Maybe they feel you are pushing too hard, you say you have suggested several dates, have they ever suggested a date to you?

As for should you accept a date that far in the future- what is the alternative?

lincroft1710

It used to be at least 4 weeks between exchange and completion, 2 weeks seems fine.

saajan_12

Emsw said:

I am 10 weeks into selling my house, and we are ready to agree a completion date. I have suggested several dates, and none have been suitable for the buyers. Today, I suggested another date, and again, the buyers have said it's no good. They have come back with a date that is over 2 weeks away!
My house is packed and ready to go, removals and work are on standby, as are cattery etc.
The excuse given by the first time buyers is, they can't get time off work!
Should I accept a date that is so far in the future?
Bearing in mind, I started the house moving process 12 months ago!

If this transaction started 10 weeks ago, then any prior activities for the last 12 months is nothing to do with this buyer. Neither is your choice to pack or arrange removals and catsitting ahead of exchange. 

If 2 weeks is so far in the future and you've suggested multiple dates, presumably those are a few days ahead? Not everyone can upend their lives at the drop of a hat, getting time off and packing up and getting removals in a matter of days. 

Exchanging with completion 2-4 weeks ahead is perfectly normal, so those activites can be done AFTER exchange. 

Tabieth

Have you exchanged? 

2-weeks away seems perfectly reasonable to me. 

Flugelhorn

Tabieth said:

Have you exchanged? 

2-weeks away seems perfectly reasonable to me. 

agree - ideal length of time to get everything sorted, go for it before vendors change their mind

user1977

Or you could spend two weeks arguing about the completion date... 

incus432

Completion date is normally agreed just before exchange of contracts and set in stone then, so I assume you have not exchanged? The normal time between exchange and completion is 2 -4 weeks, although can be shorter.   2 weeks really is not 'so far in the future'!

Bigphil1474

We had a week between exchange and completion and it was okay, although a little bit fraught sorting out removals and some utilities. Fortunately we had a great removal company who were able to fit us in. With hindsight, 2 weeks would probably have been better. Don't move on a Friday.

eddddy

Emsw said:

I am 10 weeks into selling my house, and we are ready to agree a completion date. I have suggested several dates, and none have been suitable for the buyers. 

Just to clarify - who is asking you to suggest possible completion dates on your sale?  Is it your solicitor, or the estate agent, or your buyer?

Are you buying at the same time? 

Has your solicitor said that you are ready to exchange contracts (on your sale and purchase)?

i.e. is it an estate agent who is batting around a few possible dates to pencil in the diary? Or is it your solicitor, because they're ready to write it into the contract(s), and exchange contracts?



How long is your chain? I guess everyone in the chain will be suggesting their preferred completion dates. If it's a long chain, there might need to be a lot of 'negotiation' and/or compromises.