How long after searches completed...

[lostowl]

... did you have a move in date?

[GU24Mum]

Searches are just part of it. Your sol might need to check other points - it's often the searches which flag other questions such as if the seller has the right building regs sign-offs etc. If you're trying to fix a completion timescale, you are better off speaking to the other people direct or at least via the agents. As long as the timescale is realistic (everyone has mortgage offers if they need them etc), just let the solicitor know when you are planning to complete and then work back to when you want to exchange. The most common time between exchange and completion is 4 weeks but there's no magic in that at all and you can work to whatever time you all want but need to sort a date out before you exchange. Try not to move on a Friday at the end of a month as that's when the banking system is at its busiest.

Hope that helps!

[lostowl]

That's great. I think we'll try and get a moving/exchange date as that'll put the pressure on and we want to be in before Christmas. We sold on September 15th to a cash buyer and we are buying an empty house as the owner lives abroad. All straight forward really (in theory!)

[Spickle]

Not necessarily straight forward unfortunately!

Just because a house is empty, it doesn't mean it's an easy purchase. The only thing which is good is that you don't have one extra (at least) person in the chain. An empty house has all the same potential issues as a lived in house. You still want a good survey, good legal title and any work done on the property to have the correct paperwork in place etc etc.

As GU24Mum said, searches are just another part of the process. They may identify things which will need further enquiries and paperwork provided. Should there be any environmental issues flagged up (ground stability/flooding etc), you may be advised to seek further surveys/inspections.

The average time it takes to completion is around 8-10 weeks (freehold) and 10-12 weeks (leasehold) but this will vary greatly depending on what issues are uncovered and how quickly third parties respond to enquiries. So, you could be in before Christmas, but remember that the conveyancing didn't start when you received an offer for your house, but when the contracts were received by your buyer's solicitors and when the contracts were received by your solicitors from the vendor's solicitors.

[Optimist3]

Took 8 weeks on exactly same position as yourself

[Optimist3]

From agreeing price to moving in

[lostowl]

Nice one optimist and thanks to everyone for the info. It's been flagged up on the chancel search that we are in an area where the church might ask for financial help. I think from what I've read that we just need to pay a one off insurance payment and we'll be covered.

We've got our mortgage, done our survey and as I said our seller lives abroad so there are no loose ends with him. Our buyer is cash and hopefully had his searches done.

I've sent an email to our agent to see if everyone wants to agree on an exchange date. Fingers crossed!

[Runningupthathill82]

About eight weeks from searches being done to moving. Maybe 14 weeks in total?

Our buyer, a FTB cash buyer, was a fucking nightmare. She delayed the process and then nearly made the whole thing collapse on completion day. So don't presume a cash buyer will make the thing easier!