Just accepted an offer on our house and would like some questions answered.

[ineedsomeinspiration]

Hello,

We've had our house on the market 3weeks and just accepted an offer for the full asking price. It's all happened quicker than I expected tbh. Link here if you want to have a nose.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43261288.html

I've got a head full of questions and the estate agent is shut till Monday so I thought you lovely mumsnetters may be able to help.

First off she is using estate agents solicitors, they are trying to persuade us to do the same. They say it will make it all quicker. We were thinking of using the same one we used to buy our house. Their premises are literally a stones throw from our house and we can actually go and talk to them rather than relying on a phone. What do you think is it quicker to use their solicitors or is this just a marketing thing?

What can we expect to happen now? This is our first home together so have never sold one before.

Any advice anyone can give would be great, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Do not go with their "recommended" solicitor, they get a payment for every client who uses them and they are not necessarily more efficient. You should get written confirmation of the offer you have accepted and the purchasers details from EA. Your solicitor will be in contact with theirs and start the paperwork. Hopefully you will hear re. survey date etc shortly. Are you buying at the same time ?

Yes we are going back to have a second look at our top two houses on Thursday as my other half is away working till then.

The lady buying ours is hopefully not on mn. She's very keen, her chain is short and all moving well and she is going to live with her sister for a while so she wants us to move as quick as possible but understands the process takes time.

So do I just phone up our chose solicitor on Monday and go from there then. She wants a full survey so said she'll start organising that on Monday.

yes call your solicitor say you are selling x address via y EA, assuming they agree to act for you then you tell EA who you are using.

The vendor (you) and the buyer are not allowed to use the same solicitors due to conflict on interests.

The vendor (you) and the buyer are not allowed to use the same solicitors due to conflict on interests.

That's what I thought but I wonder if the estate agents solicitors have more than one working for them so they can get around that.

bairstow eves are, I think, part of countrywide estate agency, and I have heard some awful things about their solicitors on here, so I would avoid!

I agree - use your choice of solicitor, not the one selected by the EA (this is in their interest, not yours).

Some mortgage lenders are restrictive about which solicitors you use too. I know we were with HSBC for our mortgage and had to use someone on the countrywide estate agents network or else pay extra charges on top of the standard legal fees to use someone who wasn't on the network.

But you definitely can't use the same solicitors as the buyer.

We had no problems with the local solicitors we used last time and even got some money back from them. So think we'll go with them.
Yes it is countrywide my parents had rubbish service from them.

Actually it should be quicker if you use the solicitors you used on the purchase, as their old file should have useful information on it - copies of planning permissions etc. That might be a more positive message for your estate agent, if you are interested in that.

You can spend the rest of today fishing out any guarantees you have (boiler, windows, damp proofing), your council tax bill and utility bills if you want to get organised. You need the utility bills for the reference number so your account can be ended and your buyer can organise her own suppliers.

Cute house!

That's a good idea Friday, I'll get all our files out and try and find it all.

Thanks Kitsmummy, we love it but need more space now.

I would use the Solicitors who acted when you purchased especially if they are near to you as will be handy if you need to pop in and sign documents, etc. I think countrywide is like a conveyancing factory and you probably won't get the same level of service you would using a local firm of Solicitors.

Our buyers on our last flat used Bairstow Eves solicitors (part of countrywide) and they were SHOCKING - really slow and incompetent. Our solicitor said they were one of the worst they ever dealt with. They are indeed as pilates says a big conveyancing factory.

Ask around for a good local solicitor and give them your business.

Countrywide! Where to start?

They wont call or email you, letter only, slowing down the whole process.

Letters are poorly written, bad grammar, bad punctuation. Spelling mistakes and words repeated ( obviously cut and paste)

Constant requests for us to take out indemnity insurance, boiler first then pipes under extension, all unnecessary and not needed.( and I wonder of the legality!)

We have to chase constantly, request for our ID over and over again even though sent in.

Simple sale has now taken 8+ weeks due to countrywide and the slow process.

Buyers solicitor asking for extra surveys that are not needed, countrywide don't seem to know the LAW and are not acting in our interests! We have to research and contact other parties. ( so what are we actually paying for here?)

Customer service a complete Joke, they actually get stroppy and rude with you, We are paying for a service that is not being delivered!!!

My advice - AVOID.