What now?

Blotto17

Hi,

I’m in the process of buying (FTB) - Offer accepted end of May. Then solicitor recruited. Mortgage applied for straight away. Mortgage accepted last week. Survey booked for next week. Will done, and life and building insurance lined up.

Just wondering what’s my next step? Do I just sit pretty for now? 

I have to give two months notice in the flat I’m renting. I’ve asked my solicitor about this (just to get some kind of idea when things might be finished) And I’ve asked them some other questions too but no response. With broker and Estate agent there are good lines of communication but with the solicitor it feels like being ghosted. It just makes me feel a bit anxious as I assume the ball is in their court now. It’s my first time doing this so I’d like to have a bit of guidance/ reassurance from them as I’m not really sure what I’m doing tbh. Or am I being unreasonable and should just be patient and let them do it as and when they’re ready?

Brie

Is there anyone living in the place you are buying??  Do they need to find a place?  If so this could be a very long and elastic piece of string.

And, yes, solicitors can be hard to contact at times.  Hopefully you have chosen one that works in a team rather than a single practitioner.  Hopefully a team can hand work to each other in case one is too busy or on holiday.  I found it much easier to get things done if I rang them rather than emailed.  Calls are harder to ignore (but not impossible of course).

Meanwhile - declutter everything you can.  Go through all the stuff you have where you currently live and think "do I really need, want, love this?"  The more you get rid of now the easier the move will be and quicker and possibly cheaper the move as well.  Start packing at some point - get those banana boxes from the supermarkets and pack the stuff you need to take but aren't currently using and stack the boxes in the corner out of the way.  Packing takes much more time and effort than you think it will.  

And speaking of moving - do you know how you will move?  Do a bit of research into who you might hire, the costs, amount of notice they might need.  

Hopefully you'll be in your new home soon and then you can think about unpacking alllll those boxes!!!

mebu60

Check out some local removal people. Even if you are not moving far they are worth every penny if you are not used to heaving furniture through doorways and up and down steps. 

Exchange happens before completion when all parties legally commit to complete on the agreed date. Push for exchange to happen as soon as possible so that you have certainty on the completion date for the longest possible time. House insurance is required to be in place from exchange.

Have a chat with landlord / agent about how flexible they can be on notice. They may be keen to get new tenants in asap at a higher rent. If funds permit, aim to end your current tenancy about 4 - 7 days after completion. It will take a lot of stress out of your move and also give you more flexibility on removals, certain days of the week can be less expensive whereas Fridays are in high demand. 

Hassle the estate agent to work the chain. They are paid a lot more than conveyancers! 

ReadySteadyPop

Blotto17 said:

Hi,

I’m in the process of buying (FTB) - Offer accepted end of May. Then solicitor recruited. Mortgage applied for straight away. Mortgage accepted last week. Survey booked for next week. Will done, and life and building insurance lined up.

Just wondering what’s my next step? Do I just sit pretty for now? 

I have to give two months notice in the flat I’m renting. I’ve asked my solicitor about this (just to get some kind of idea when things might be finished) And I’ve asked them some other questions too but no response. With broker and Estate agent there are good lines of communication but with the solicitor it feels like being ghosted. It just makes me feel a bit anxious as I assume the ball is in their court now. It’s my first time doing this so I’d like to have a bit of guidance/ reassurance from them as I’m not really sure what I’m doing tbh. Or am I being unreasonable and should just be patient and let them do it as and when they’re ready?

Wait and see if the valuation matches your offer.

Hoenir

Searches requested will take a number of weeks to come back. Until then your solicitor will do nothing further. 

Who is above you in the chain? Have your vendors found somewhere to live themselves? Being at the bottom means you 'll be waiting for everyone else. 

Herzlos

I wouldn't put notice in on your rental until you've got a moving date, and if you can afford it then a small overlap will be helpful in case there are any issues. 

The whole house buying process takes forever though, so don't panic about it. 

Albermarle

You probably need to accept that you might well be paying a mortgage on the new house, and rent on the old one for a few weeks.
Just see it as part of the moving cost.