What is my solicitor on about?

[AndOutComeTheBoobs]

Google hasn't helped in the slightest and the solicitor has now gone on holiday.

I asked roughly how long it would take to complete our house sale.

He said it's difficult to say without direct enquiries.

What are direct enquiries? Google's given me nada!

It's strange wording but I imagine he means he can't update you without contacting other parties (which he won't be doing right now as he's off on holiday)

No I think ‘direct enquiries’ are an actual part of the process. Can’t recall what though...

Hmm... bump in case anyone else knows.

Does he mean the searches they have to do?

Local authority searches etc?

I think he's either saying it's difficult to say without making enquiries with the other side...

...or, the other side hasn't made their enquiries yet (so he's "without direct enquiries") and he doesn't know what those questions will entail and how long it will take for you to provide satisfactory answers.

...enquiries simply being the questions the buyer asks that aren't available through searches etc.

How far into the process are you?
The estate agent should he able to speak to your buyer and their solicitors to get an idea of the time frame, but its only ever a guess. I used to reckon roughly 3 months if there were no major problems.

Enquiries of your purchase or your purchaser's enquiries about your property, presumably. These sometimes throw up complications (no buildings regs sign off or whatever). So I'd guess he's saying he just can't tell at this point. Bank in 3-4 months.

The seller of each property fills in the standard forms about the property and these and the deeds, leases, searches etc are all looked at by the buyers solicitors and they then make direct enquiries on matters they have issues with or clarification on. There could 1 or 2 or pages. If he has not received them yet he can't say how long those issues will take to resolve. Once they are through he will have a better idea of how long it will take to answer them.

The process generally takes about 3 months but it can take longer if the chain is longer as you have to wait for everyone to get their ducks in a row. How many people do you have in the chain? Those needing mortgages to buy will need a little longer than those without and if older properties are involved this can take longer as surveys will show up possible problems which need to be looked in to

There's no chains or mortgages.

They started the searches about a week ago. I thought he would have a rough idea now, we have both signed the contracts but not exchanged yet. I feel like we are pretty far down the line.

Have you had the replies to enquiries from the seller yet setting out things like boiler maintenance and planning permissions etc?

If you haven't, it's quite likely that there will be something there to follow up.

I'm not totally sure what you mean.

A few weeks back they asked yes questions about a tree, the tenant (who's since moved out) and something else. All of which we answered there and then.

Is that what you mean?

Hate to burst the bubble but you can still be a long way off yet! our searches took nearly 6 weeks to come back, then it depends if they throw up any issues. Are you having surveys done, that can take time to . From my experience you have to chase everyone all the time.

I haven't had to chase anyone, the solicitor and estate agent have been amazing.

The house we are buying on the other hand... the estate agents need a rocket up their butts. They are terrible. Seriously bad.

Have you had a letter from your solicitor with questions? Were those about the tenants etc done verbally?

It's questions in a letter/email that he'll be referring to.

We answered the questions via email on the same day.