Would anyone like an 'in a chain' support group? (2)

[AnnaELC]

Seems we reached 1000 messages so I've started a new one!

Bloody hell kilburn! Good luck!!

We had an enquiry that makes no sense to anybody. Waiting patiently to find out exactly what's required from us.

Also waiting to hear if everything is OK with regards to the buyers and their crazy demands that we said no to

Oh nooooo! It has been confirmed today that our FTBs did not apply for searches 7 weeks ago as promised. They have only just so, so we are looking at ANOTHER month delay

Oh crap Ocelot, what were they thinking? A month's delay is ridiculous. Can they do the private searches that posters were talking about earlier on inthe thread?

Could I possibly join in?

I officially hate buying and selling! I don't think I ever want to buy or sell a house again! 😫

I have news!

Our vendors have pulled out of buying the house they'd put an offer in for!!!

BUT

they've offered on another and it was accepted. What's more, their vendors are buying an empty property, so the chain is complete! The EA has said 6-8 weeks for everything to exchange/complete. I am so happy right now!

Thanks for the sympathy guys. But apparently there is such a queue to do private searches (London borough) that we may as well just wait. There are two truly maddening things about this 1/ I offered to pay for these 6 weeks ago because I KNEW there was a delay at the Council. That message was never passed on 2/ The searches cost £200 and apparently the ftbs didn't want to shell out in case they didn't get their mortgage offer - but they then chose a lender who us notorious for taking six weeks plus to get an offer out. Aaaaargg!!!!!

Just read your update Ocelot. That's terrible, what on earth were they thinking?! Surely the EA knew they were FTBs and could have given them a helping hand/ nudge in the right direction sooner than this?

PS great news Kilburn. I REALLY hope it all goes well for you!

I'm confused about that news re searches. No EA would even accept an offer from me unless I could show I had finances in place. The solicitor said he could not apply for searches until the vendor's paperwork was back, the contract pack - it's taken them eight weeks to do that so we eight weeks in, I've got a mortgage and this week was the earliest I could start the searches.
I couldn't apply for the mortgage and the searches concurrently.

Good news MrsHandles! How many people are in your chain? I ask because our chain of seven is only just complete again after breaking a couple of weeks ago, and the agent says we're looking at 12 weeks to exchange. I'm a bit disappointed as it's over four weeks since our offer was accepted so I was hoping we'd be down to eight or so weeks by now, but apparently that's far too optimistic.

Hi donkey there are just 3 people in our chain now, so a very small one. We've also managed to get all of the paperwork done ahead of time with our solicitor, which has certainly sped things along. FX for you.

4 for us Mrs Handles! Up to 7 weeks and counting (on this chain)

Argh!! Stressful day all round then.

Next weekend is another bank holiday weekend!! more delays then!

I feel grumpy

Is it? Am in Scotland so they are all different

Out you can apply for searches as soon as the contract pack is back. No need to wait for mortgage!

But its interesting that you think its necessary to wait. Maybe our ftbs have just been misinformed - after all, they haven't done this before. Just gutted for my buyers who will now miss their preschool deadline.

Tips for any ftbs in chain are as follows.

1. Apply for searches early - they can take ages.
2. Double check everything (politely). Your EA is probably an idiot. You can't trust them to do anything right.
3. If in doubt, use a mortgage broker. An 8 week process will go down to 2 .
4. Pick your solicit lot super carefully. A bad one will drive you crazy.
5. Pls remember that you need everyone in the chain just like they need you. Try to be a considerate team player!

Anyone else got any others?

solicitor

Yeah May 1st is a bank holiday.

My buyer also waited until their mortgage offer was in before ordering searches. They were told to by their solicitor and our EA said it was "just how it is". Grrr!

1. Respond to phone calls & emails in a timely manner. 3 weeks to reply to an email is not acceptable.

My solicitor just went ahead and ordered the searches before the pack was back, didn't ask about the mortgage offer... I don't mind, I just want to be out of this chain and completed as soon as possible!

The idea of dealing with estate agents for the next 6-8 weeks makes me want to tear my hair out

1. Keep your water bill handy, it is not scrap paper to write your shopping list on

Don't pick a solicitor who only sends letters and not emails

1. Don't commit to buy something unless you are sure it is what you want. That said, it is normal to feel a bit wobbly from time to time. Try not to panic.

Hope everyone gets through the weekend without losing their minds!
We didn't exchange, not surprised at all, in fact I was rather cynical about it. The solicitor at the bottom of the chain wasn't ready, it's laughable. Apparently they will be ready on Monday, our 4th attempt! We are supposed to complete on Friday, nothing like last minute eh...
I actually won't believe it until our solicitor calls to say it's happened.
I'm on my second glass of wine and about to break into the chocolate. It's been a hell of a week

Sending 🍷🍫 to everyone for the weekend. Ours seems to be grumbling along. Our buyers who we accepted a bit of an offer from because they were mortgage free are now waiting for their mortgage offer to come through. More than a little pissed off.