Ist viewing to completion

[efmach]

I know this is a daft question but roughly how long has it taken between seeing your chosen property for the first time to finally completing(getting the keys of the place). Just curious. We are heading into the 5th month and we haven't exchanged yet. Just need reassurance.

8-10 weeks is average

efmach it took us 8 months earlier this year! Don't despair, though it's difficult isn't it?

We viewed this property in January 1999, exchanged contracts end of March 1999 and finally moved in on 18 June 1999!!

I've done it three times: 9 months was the longest, 4.5 months the shortest! Think you're v lucky if it all happens v quickly if there is buying AND selling to co-ordinate. What's the hold up in your case?

We viewed at the beginning of July and are playing solicitor ping-pong at the moment. We're hoping to complete in a fortnight. [hollow laugh]

Many thanks for your replies, that was really helpful. Puts things into perspective. Won't bore you with the details of delays. You've heard them all before. Just can't bear the ongoing feeling of uncertainty. We are supposed to be exchanging before Xmas. I feel drained already and this isn't even the stressful bit!!!

Never know how long it will take, but it always takes longer than you think it will. Then often you get a call saying, you're moving the day after tomorrow, and you have to go like a bat out of hell to get it all packed in time.

If I were you I would have as much as possible packed just in case. This strategy has saved my bacon in the past.

efmach, many sympathies from me. We are going through this at the moment bnd I hate it

Sorry...ours was a particulary long one. Viewed first week in June and finally moved in last week of October. good luck!

Hometrack says it takes (average) 4-8 weeks from going on the market to getting the offer that you accept. Then it takes another 6-8 weeks (usually) to get to exchange/completion. Those are averages, and our soliciter says you can go from offer to exchange within 1 week, but it's pretty unusual...

We are languishing in home-sellers uncertainty purgatory, too.

I know none of you will believe this but it took us 4 weeks & 3 days from viewing to completion. If I remember correctly we exchanged, completed and moved in on the same day. We were desparate to move and the seller was moving overseas... we were both pushing our solicitors HARD!

saw the house on friday, exchanged on tuesday. then completed about 9 weeks later but that was because we wanted to move in the school holidays. we could do that because when we saw the house we were renting so had nothing to sell. also didn't arrange a mortgage until after exchange (which is a bit risky to say the least - because if you can't get a mortgage from anywhere you are still liable to buy the house!)

Yes, Efmach, this IS the stressful bit! Honestly! Hope it goes with a gallop from now on.

efmach

Last time around it was April viewing and September completion - but we'd already had one sale fall through though the previous Christmas so it was more than a year since we'd put our flat on the market. Don't envy you - my dh won't let me deal with Solicitors, estate agents et al as I'm too, er, forthright with them !

good luck

It took us about 23 months this last time although that was a new apartment and the builders were just rubbish!!! Saw plans in August 2001, put holding fee down in September, exchanged in January 2002. Expected completion date was August 2002 - finally moved in in July 2003!!! DD was supposed to be 3 months old - she was a wlaking, talking toddler by then.

We, however, sold our house very quickly in about 7 or 8 weeks from the ad going to the estate agents. Actually first viewer was before the agents had the brochure.

For this last move, completed on May 2nd this year, it took around 6/7 months. This was lonnnnng for us as we were told that our buyer had a first timer buying his and so it would be a straightforward 6-8 weeks !