To hope that a house sale might go through faster than 8-12 weeks?

[RaaRaaTheAnnoyingLittleLion]

We are selling our flat and our previous buyers dropped out the day before exchange while we were packing our things (that was a great day!), by which point we had already committed to moving to a rented house. For lots of reasons it made sense to stick to moving to the rental, but it means we're now paying rent while also paying the mortgage so very very keen to complete ASAP.

We have a new buyer who says she's also keen to move quickly - what's the quickest I could reasonably expect to complete, if it's straightforward-ish and I make a massive pain of myself in nagging the lawyers every other day? Buyer doesn't have anything to sell, is mortgage approved in principle, got about a 25% deposit, seems keen...(I mean I thought the last ones were keen, but grrrr)

Estate agent is just saying it's standard to take 12 weeks, but just wondering if anyone's done it quicker? Go on, give me hope...

Our mortgage advisor made us aware of a 28 day completion. Done and dusted in a month. Quick, easy, done and fkin dusted.
But everyone has to be on the ball

Depends on who’s doing the Legals. Some are quicker than others.

Really does depend on searches and things. Not to dampen your hopes...but I was buying a property that was a previous rental, so no chain, and I was moving out of a rental, also no chain, and it still took 4.5 months to go through

Yes, it can be quicker, we completed a house sale in 2 weeks! We sold in Scotland and had to be out of our house by a specific date. The house we were buying in Wales was empty. I phoned our Solicitor every day, sometimes twice and very politely asked where he was up to. This was 8 years ago, so yes it can be done much more quickly

I wonder if it might be worth your buyer asking the estate agent who did the legals for the buyers who dropped out. If it was that close to exchange then all the searches would have been done by them already and they might be able to proceed quicker.

We completed today to first time buyers who, according to solicitors had everything in place. We accepted the offer mid October.

Completed on a flat sale in a very similar situation to yours in approx 8 weeks. It was tough, we had to push for updates constantly and we had a cash buyer who’s legal team were exceptional.

SheChoseDown Amazing, this is what I was hoping for...28 days would be a dream.
So making a massive pain of myself with the lawyers it is, then. Better brush up on my aggressive assertive email technique.

Yeah, who's doing the legals is so important isn't it, but hard to get really good recommendations. All the word of mouth recommendations we got aren't accepted by our mortgage lender, so we've gone with someone we don't know. Fingers crossed...

Ours was done in a month

Make it a condition of sale that they use a decent solicitor not one of those awful low cost conveyancing firms, I speak from bitter experience.

We competed within a month but we had a bloody good solicitor who was really on the ball. It's totally doable!

JagerPlease Oh. Oh no...that'll teach me to get overexcited by the first response...anything in particular hold it up or just drift?

As first time buyers we completed within Six weeks.

Our house went from offer accepted second week in July and moved in 2nd September. We had an offer on our house and the sellers were temporarily moving in with relatives.

Make sure it is a high street firm rather than factory conveyancing firm like enact.

@RoomR0613
This happened to a friend. As you said, they purchased all the searches and legals from the previous purchaser. Saved time and £

QforCucumber Congratulations! Hope the new place is feeling like home

RoomRo613 That's a really good idea, thank you

Try to get the conveyancing done by someone who is recommended, some have online as well so you can see where you are with everything which is helpful. We were ready for a quick sale as well (moving to empty property, we had cash buyer) it took 3 months though! (Sorry!)

I’ve purchased a flat from acceptance of offer to completion of 4 weeks (twice). In both cases I was a cash buyer and chased solicitor every day.

The standard with no complications is 12 weeks.

I think 8 weeks (with a mortgage in principle agreed) is doable.

Ok. So it is doable. But by no means guaranteed. Get good lawyers on both sides, lots of nagging, possibly get them to purchase previous searches...maybe this will work...

I have hope. As I look at my dwindling bank account, hope is good!

Scotland is a daft comparison as it’s a different system and they move quicker.
As long as the survey is fine 12 weeks is realistic, much quicker probably isn’t unless your old buyer is willing to sell their searches

Ours went through in 10 weeks. The good thing is that your solicitor should have all the paperwork from your side so that should speed things up a bit.

We completed today on a purchase - our solicitor was ready in 5 weeks. Unfortunately there was a chain above us so it took 4 long months! But it is certainly possible with a ftb/ no chain of solicitors are quick.

Thank you, by the way. All experiences very gratefully received.

I know I'm very lucky to be in a position to buy and sell, but bloody hell buying and selling is such a stressful process. If I get the house we've had our offer accepted on, I am staying there till I die, I tell you.