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AIBU?

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Original poster

To hope we'll be in our new house by Christmas

38 replies

prayingforrainbows · 26/11/2021 09:09

Seller wants to complete ASAP, as do we. We are ready to go. Sellers new property is vacant.

We have sent over our closing help to buy ISA statement to our solicitor this morning via email. We have signed all documents required, including ones with witnesses.

AIBU to think there's a chance we will be in before Christmas? 🤞🏼

OP posts:
WheelieBinPrincess · 26/11/2021 09:13

I’m sorry OP….

We are on week 17 with no chain either end.

It’s the solicitors. It takes ages. Although yours sound better than ours, bloody useless articles they are.

Snowpaw · 26/11/2021 09:17

It’s the searches and coveyancing that take the time in my experience - I think it is a busy time. Perhaps you could agree to rent it from him in the meantime before the sale is finalised - that’s not unheard of.

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 26/11/2021 09:20

Have searches and enquiries been done? Mortgage?

We've accepted an offer on our house in June. We eventually moved out last Friday, but in with my parents after some total bastards of sellers lied to us for months. Found a new house, now have no chain and cannot get solicitor to commit to a Christmas move.

I don't want to piss on your parade but I'd say it's unlikely. Flowers

DrWankincense · 26/11/2021 09:20

I think 6 weeks is usually the absolute minimum time it takes for all the paperwork to go through, depends where you are though.

Mushrooms0up · 26/11/2021 09:23

Sorry - we had no chain either side and from offer accepted in October last year we moved in mid jan.

We were buying from an experience developer as well who just wanted it all done!

ThePoisonousMushroom · 26/11/2021 09:24

The searches and enquiries tend to be the hold ups. We had no chain either side, no issues and it took 11 weeks to complete.

WheelieBinPrincess · 26/11/2021 09:27

Ours has hit a block in that it’s cold to light it’s a leasehold (which we obviously knew) but with possible ‘onerous ground rent’ in that it doubles every 25 years. Solicitors who have sat on this paperwork since august have now said the lenders may well pull out. So we lose it after all that.

We’ve just had a baby and I can’t even think about the stress involved if that happens.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 26/11/2021 09:27

I'd love to give you good news OP but we had an offer accepted on 21st October and we're looking at the end of January if we're lucky. No chain, its the Conveyancing that's taking time - painfully slow.

nottoplan · 26/11/2021 09:29

You and your sellers need this convo with your solicitors and estate agents , they are the ones who can or cannot get things done , if everything is signed and your mortgage/ searches are in hand you need to push both solicitor and agents ( so does your seller ) but if you haven't yet got searches back it's very doubtful , usually a week or two more get used up on post search questions

gannett · 26/11/2021 09:36

Oh this is a very relevant thread for me. We had an offer accepted on 27 October. We'd been aiming for a start-of-Jan completion (and hoping for mid or late Dec). No chain, everything's gone smoothly so far (though the seller has started to make noises about pushing it to mid-Jan), it's literally just the conveyancing we're waiting on now. FTB so no idea how long any of this "should" be taking.

Needdoughnuts · 26/11/2021 09:38

Anyone using on-line solicitors are at a standstill. Still not back after security breach. I'm twiddling my thumbs, extremely agitated and looks like I will lose my purchase as I can't access the portal for my selling solicitor. Aaargh!

gannett · 26/11/2021 09:38

@Snowpaw

It’s the searches and coveyancing that take the time in my experience - I think it is a busy time. Perhaps you could agree to rent it from him in the meantime before the sale is finalised - that’s not unheard of.
Funny, we've got the impression it's been a really quiet time (since the end of the stamp duty holiday). Broker and solicitor are both very responsive and quick so far and the surveyors were virtually beating our door down to work for us instantly.
SuperHeroSweepStake · 26/11/2021 12:06

Years ago, as a junior solicitor, I bought and sold a house (with mortgage) for a client on about 10 days so it can be done.

However I took a large fee for that (we didn't usually do residential conveyancing, it was a favour for the client) and I had to dedicate most of my time to it as well as the client/ lender being proactive and accepting indemnity insurance for certain things which would normally require searches.

Unlikely for run of the mill conveyancer who has lots of other demands on their time and charges the bargain basement prices that your average client expects.

Robinkitty · 26/11/2021 12:09

We sold end of august and still waiting, not heard a thing about a moving date so decided to put up my Christmas decorations

Darkpheonix · 26/11/2021 12:12

3 year ago we got done in 4 weeks. The mortgage advisor and solicitor said they had never seen one go through so fast.

It did involve me, threatening to pull out if they did exchange on the date agreed. Which was being delayed because one solicitor wouldn't answer the phone.

I was staying on a friend couch with Mu kids after having to leave abusive exh and had been since since we split a year before. I told them I would take my money and rent instead.

But, that was quick. Even 3 years ago. It's taking longer now. But even 4 weeks, baring in mind many solicitors slow down/close leading up to Christmas, people taking time off etc.....I would be really surprised if you are in for Christmas. Its likey to be January

Original poster
prayingforrainbows · 26/11/2021 16:31

Sorry I should've clarified! Everything has been done, we had our offer accepted on the house on the 3rd of August and the mortgage offer was received 1.5 months ago.

It's been a journey 🥲

OP posts:
Getyourarseofffthequattro · 26/11/2021 17:13

@prayingforrainbows

Sorry I should've clarified! Everything has been done, we had our offer accepted on the house on the 3rd of August and the mortgage offer was received 1.5 months ago.

It's been a journey 🥲

In that case I don't see why not!
Agadorsparticus · 26/11/2021 17:23

Sounds like it could be OP. We're in the same boat, searches and mortgage offer all done just finishing enquiries and I hope to god we are in for Xmas. Although it is only 3 working weeks away so it feels unlikely 😩

Original poster
prayingforrainbows · 27/11/2021 08:54

@Agadorsparticus here's hoping! When you think of it like that however, being only 3 weeks away, it doesn't sound great 😭

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 27/11/2021 09:04

I did it in about six weeks - several years ago, the sellerd were solicitors and doing their own conveyancing, I didn't have to sell my first property, and the flat they were selling had been an investment property.

I think I read that there are long delays on searches now.
so I think Christmas is unlikely - sorry

Candleabra · 27/11/2021 09:10

Once all the paperwork is done then suddenly it’s a flurry of activity with dates discussed etc.
Whether you’l move before Xmas depends on how much the rest of the chain want to. They may have mentally decided on the new year so it’ll be almost impossible to agree a pre Xmas date.
Can you put the feelers out to see if Christmas is a possibility? Perhaps with the estate agents? At least you’d have an idea then.
On a practical note, do you have a removal company with availability should the move be on?

MoiraNotRuby · 27/11/2021 09:14

Good luck op. My house sold end August and everything has been so slow. I really want it completed mid December but stbxh is in no rush... argh....

Original poster
prayingforrainbows · 27/11/2021 09:36

@MoiraNotRuby good luck! Our original estimated completion date (given in august) was 28th November but with all the delays due to online security breaches it's been a quiet couple of weeks.

OP posts:
MyOtherProfile · 27/11/2021 09:38

Would the solicitors be able to tell you if you call Monday?

FallonCarringtonWannabe · 27/11/2021 09:39

Ask the solicitors. When do they close for christmas?

We had an offer and made an offer beginning of nov ‘20. We moved in may. Hmm