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Original poster

What are the 'rules' with solicitors and moving house?

32 replies

lavenderfields · 01/08/2012 11:14

Supposed to exchange last Friday and complete this Friday. However none of this has happened yet as solicitor says he is waiting for a document from other solicitors about something to do with the land.

This is apparently a 'standard' document for the new build site and I know others who have it and have moved in and they started the whole process after us!

Have been waiting for this document for 3 weeks. Ive been patient. I've rung once a week for an update.

I rung yesterday. No news. My solicitor says that they are waiting for it still. Said he'd ring me if it came through.

I want to ring today and find out exactly what's going on but I don't know what to say and would appreciate some help. Call usually
Goes like this:

Me: just ringing for update on X
Him: no sorry no update still waiting for document. I'm waiting to hear back and will ring as soon as I hear something.
Me: ok, thanks , bye

I want to know why it hasn't come and exactly what he is doing to get it.

What do I say in phone call to get my point across without being rude?!

OP posts:
morethanmama · 01/08/2012 11:24

If its a new build ring your contact at the developer and try and circumvent the loop. Your not meant to (and I'm a lawyer) but we took to phoning the other sides solicitors directly. Hassle enough people and they will deal with it to get rid of you! Good luck.

addictedisback · 01/08/2012 11:24

Personally my response would be

Me -OK we are 3 working days past exchange are we still on track to complete?
Its really important we complete on. Friday as we need to move in sat

Him - blah blah blah

Me- OK I'll call for a quick update this pm, hopefully things will have moved on by then.

Once a week isn't enough, I would be on the phone daily at least. :)

Original poster
lavenderfields · 01/08/2012 11:28

Exchange hasn't happened yet addicted

I want to ring but don't know what to say. DP does not want me to as says we are hassling solicitor :(

OP posts:
vj32 · 01/08/2012 11:38

Are you actually speaking to the solicitor? When we moved everything was done through the solicitor's secretary, who put all the files together and basically solicitor just check and signed off on everything. I very much doubt a solicitor would actually request a document themselves (they earn way too much for that!!) Might be worth speaking to their secretary/admin type person who will actually do the paperwork.

MousyMouse · 01/08/2012 11:40

you need to explicitly tell you solicitor that he/she should pick up the phone and talk to the other solicitor.
and yes, call more often.

arfur · 01/08/2012 11:45

Is there an agent for the builder? Some use estate agents or have their own sales advisors, if so they will only be paid their commission on exchange or completion so it can be well worth telling them what your solicitor is waiting for to exchange and complete (money is very motivating) Grin good luck! Also agree with chasing every day - you are PAYING your solicitor, its his job to be hassled - he wont take it personally!

Original poster
lavenderfields · 01/08/2012 12:04

Yeah Vj32 I am speaking to the Solicitor. He told me yesterday he is waiting for other side's solicitor to send it over.

OP posts:
addictedisback · 01/08/2012 14:47

Sorry lavinder ot should say 3 days since exchange should have happenrd

suburbandweller · 01/08/2012 16:03

Absolutely do not worry about "hassling" your solicitor. You are paying him to do a job and have every right to be chasing him to find out where you stand! I would be calling every day and asking (i) have they received the document, and if not (ii) what the solicitor has done to try to get the paperwork sent over - simply waiting for other side to act isn't good enough. You should be asking your solicitor to call to chase it up. The more you chase your solicitor, the more pro-active they are likely to be about doing this.

Original poster
lavenderfields · 01/08/2012 17:17

Thanks, I'll chase up first thing tomorrow :)

OP posts:
Original poster
lavenderfields · 01/08/2012 18:33

When I ring tomorrow I am planning to say:

1.What exactly have the other side solicitors said when he has spoken to them ( hopefully his answer will help me determine if he's even spoken to them directly or just left a message)

  1. What might the hold up be andWhat is he planning to do to chase it up / get it sent over?

Anything else I should say?

OP posts:
sneezecakesmum · 01/08/2012 20:28

We had similar shite happen, took an extra 2 months!!! Perperwork for adopting the drains (also was a new build we were selling) paperwork for something else and something else!.. Our solicitor said the other persons solicitor was being anal as a lot was unecessary! DH DID ring the builder and eventually sorted some paperwork. The solicitor was onto the buyers solicitor every day so ask your solicitor to do this. Ring your solicitor every day to get their fingers pulled out. DH also called the water company to find out the answer to the unadopted drains!

One thing never do is to ring your buyer telling them to get onto their solicitor to get a move on. DH managed to really upset her and it could have lost us the sale Blush All went through in the end but blood pressures up all round!

Original poster
lavenderfields · 02/08/2012 10:48

He is out of office for Next 2 days Angry so someone else has said she will chase it up and actually call me back which makes a nice change

OP posts:
Xenia · 02/08/2012 11:09

Just keep chasing. Very often you can solve the problem,. arranage to pick a document up by hand, chase the person from whom the document is awaited. Often the delay is because the other sdie want to delay and documents used as an excuse, though although unlikely with a new build.

Woofsaidtheladybird · 02/08/2012 11:13

I'd call back this afternoon anyway. Continue calling twice a day if necessary. You are paying them enough!! Keep badgering and good luck

suburbandweller · 02/08/2012 13:53

Also badger by email if you can - always good to have a paper trail if you end up needing to complain about inactivity!

MousyMouse · 02/08/2012 14:03

agree suburb follow up every phonecall with a short email 'as discussed on the phone today...'

Original poster
lavenderfields · 02/08/2012 16:42

Tried calling but couldn't get through to her again this afternoon ( She didn't call me back) Hmm

Plan tomorrow: Ring early and ask them to chase it up and see what the hold up is.
I want to say something like 'I'll ring you back this afternoon for an update' but I think they'll say 'no we'll ring you' so what do I do/say back?!

I am not good at being forceful!

OP posts:
sneezecakesmum · 02/08/2012 19:08

Be forceful! Take no prisoners!

Original poster
lavenderfields · 02/08/2012 19:10

What would you say if it was you? Grin

OP posts:
addictedisback · 02/08/2012 20:56

i wouldnt give them the opportunity to say no!

'ok then, I'll touch base with you this afternoon to see how things are going. thanks bye'

usully works for me and veen if they say 'no we'll call you' phone them anway!!

GreatBallsofFluff · 02/08/2012 21:12

If it's a new build could it be the NHBC paperwork? If so you won't be able to move in until it's been signed off as safe and up to a particular standard.

Believe me the developers will want to get it completed as quickly as you do as they will want their money.

Original poster
lavenderfields · 02/08/2012 21:55

Thank you, shall take on board some tips for the morning. No ironically we've got all that fluff :)

Thy rung after I posted amazingly to say they finally managed to speak to Someone at the other solicitors and something should be arriving in the post tomorrow ( to my solicitor!)

OP posts:
suburbandweller · 03/08/2012 12:23

lavender. if they insist on calling you back and you don't feel able to do anything other than go with that, you can always say "fine, but if I haven't heard from you by [x o'clock] I'll be calling you". Of course there's the possibility they won't answer the phone but it gives you the feeling of having a bit more control over the process and makes it clear you won't let things drift.

Original poster
lavenderfields · 03/08/2012 12:38

Have just sent this: does it sound okay?

Anyone got any ideas for Monday's email which will need to be more
Forceful?

Good morning,

As discussed on the phone this morning, Thank you for chasing their solicitors in regards to where the documents and responses are and why they haven't sent them yet.

I would appreciate a phone call this afternoon as I am interested in what they have to say. I appreciate that you won't have the documents but I would still like to know what they har said and how they intend to resolve the issue and get the replies sent as quickly as possible as it is getting rather difficult living out of tw boxes of stuff.

If it is not possible for you to ring me, I will ring you before close this afternoon.

Many thanks,
Lavender fields

OP posts: