The NEW waiting to exchange thread...

FloProActiv wrote: »

EA emailed to say that our solicitors have told her that they are sending out the contracts today, so hopefully things will start progressing (although I wish our solicitors would actually tell me things rather than hearing about any progress from the EAs...)

The whole line of communication thing seems very variable, but generally dysfunctional. Ideally, it should be solicitors talking directly with each other, and updating their relevant client whenever an important milestone is reached. However, I feel like I am wrapped up in some Faustian labyrinth when it comes to finding anything out.

Most strangely, if my solicitor (as buyer) gets no response from the seller's solicitor, she tells me, then I tell the seller's EA, who contacts the seller, who tells his solicitor to get a move on!

So after insisting that all information needs to be sent out in one pack, our solicitors don't even have the descency to sent it out first class - pack was sent yesterday, but nothing has arrived.

Trying to decide whether to send a stroppy email or whether that would make things worse.

Would not recommend Blacks Direct

WE HAVE COMPLETED! What a relief!
The final timeline:
31st Jan: partner went to see flat at lunchtime. We!!!8217;d seen one almost identical around the corner at the weekend, but asking for £25k more and with a chain. This one had been rented but now vacant and vendors want to sell quickly due to divorce. Partner happy with flat, so I tell him to make an offer (madness!)
31st Jan: Initial offer rejected but estate agent told us to add £5k and it would be ours due to our favourable position and ability to proceed fairly quickly.
1st Feb: one vendor accepts new offer. Second vendor being slow - squeaky bum time and wanted it off the market before a number of viewings on the Sat - estate agent suspected this would lead to bidding war.
2nd Feb: second vendor agrees to offer, phew!
3rd Feb: I finally go and see the property with partner. Thankfully, I agree with his opinions. It needs some tidying up and eventually a new boiler, bathroom and kitchen but nothing we can!!!8217;t live with for time being, plus it!!!8217;s a bargain so we!!!8217;ll be able to afford these things!
5th Feb: instruct solicitors
10th Feb: seek further mortgage advice due to deck access on property above ours - decide to apply via broker rather than direct to Nationwide.
12th Feb: submit mortgage application.
13th Feb: documents requested and sent. Frantic running around to get parents to sign gift letters.
14th Feb: valuation booked for 16th. Docs taken to solicitors.
15th Feb: mortgage approved subject to valuation.
16th Feb: mortgage offer received.
21st Feb: survey conducted. Surveyor called us in the evening to say generally all fine, a few things to double check but otherwise lots of covering their bums. Solicitor received this the following week and started searches.
... and then we wait for the vendors to provide our solicitor with the Leasehold Information pack and to complete the info form, which took AGES!

10th March: parents came to visit. Took them round to have a look at flat, as wanted Dad to look at electrics and some other things. Had a massive panic that we!!!8217;d taken on a bit more of a project than we anticipated but it!!!8217;s definitely habitable - needs a good clean when we move in though and lots of niggly things that we can sort eventually.
12th March: solicitor finally receives the docs above. You!!!8217;d think the vendors would speed it up seeing as they want a quick sale. But nope the leasehold pack didn!!!8217;t come for another week.
23rd March: solicitor raises enquiries, all kinds of unnerving things I!!!8217;m hoping will be fine.
6th April: We receive the pack of all of the info, searches and responses to enquiries.
21st April: We go to the flat for a third viewing to check the appliances coming with the property are working, and to measure up for bathroom, windows etc.
23rd April: Confirm to Solicitor that we're happy to proceed with exchange on 27th April. Rush to Nationwide at lunchtime to set up CHAPS payment for deposit and scrabble around to get Help to Buy ISA closing statements from Nationwide, who managed to give us the wrong thing three separate times!
27th April: EXCHANGE
2nd May: receive final financial statement from Solicitor and transfer remaining funds. This time I did it via online banking and was paranoid I'd get it wrong!
4th May: COMPLETION! Picking up the keys later, then it's DIY mania for 5 weeks before we move in!

We finally exchanged... And completing on the 9th! But not moving till the 15th... Boooooo!

Finally. Got to a point where i thought it would never happen. After a lot of faffing for weeks they send to have solved the issue within a week. Why didn't they just do that before? Heck knows what was really going on.

Moving forward a bit better now (updates in bold);

27/03 - offer accepted on current house
28/03 - solicitor given the go ahead for sale (purchase not considered at this stage as plan was to move into rental for a few months)
30/03 - Offer accepted on new build purchase
01/04 - Mortgage application started
10/04 - Solictor letter arrives with TA6 forms etc (unfortunately I was out of the country so couldn't fully complete until 12/04)
13/04 - Solictor forms/TA6/property information all submitted to solicitor
13/04 - Buyers survey completed. Nice chap, see's no reason to worry about not moving out - lets hope he's right!
17/04 - Buyers receive valuation survey OK
18/04 - Buyers get mortgage offer
20/04 - Our solicitor confirms that he has received enquiries

bit of a pause now as our solicitor sits on the enquiries thinking we need to exchange of our purchase at the same time, but we don't. Cue quick kick up the 'arris!

27/04 - MA confirms Nationwide AIP for us and submits full app saying "just a paperwork exercise now"
02/05 - Solicitor finally acknowleges mistake and starts to respond to buyer enquiries
03/05 - SOlicitor passes us remaining enquiries to respond to. Immediately returned by email
03/05 - Valuation carried out on onward purchase
04/05 - Contract and title deed document received, signed and returned by hand, buyer negotiates additional items

Hoping now for an exchange early next week ready for completion at the end of the week....