How long does conveyancing usually take?

[user1497207858]

Yes yes I know, how long is a piece of string.

This is my first time buying so I'm very new to this.

The reason I am asking is I'm keen to exchange ASAP. I want to secure the property as I LOVE it.

Lucky for us we aren't in a chain and there shouldn't be any delays but there's been loads. First the vendor went on holiday and didn't return the forms, then their solicitor went on holiday and didn't process the forms. I have been chasing the estate agent and my solicitor and 4 weeks later we are no where near exchanging.

It's very frustrating but I know life gets in the way. I am also a very impatient person but from your own personal experience how long did it take up to exchange?

Another reason I'm asking is because we are spending a fortune on renting and need to move out to save money.

Our solicitor told us yesterday that the vendors solicitors are now dictating the vendors forms and rightly so she doesn't want to do any searches until we've seen the forms to make sure we are happy to go ahead. But how much longer am I supposed to wait?

Again I'm impatient

We exchanged in six weeks, moved in seven but that was with a very short chain and with me hounding the relevant parties. If you are 4 weeks in with no searches done I would say at least another six, possibly ten.

National average is about 12-16 weeks. Can be much quicker, can be much slower. I know it's hard to take but every property really is different and it will totally depend on any legal issues in your searches and papers from the vendors.

I'm one of these people when you give something to me I do it straight away. I know it's completely different with this and things need to be done properly but it stresses me out

My DP has told me to stop replying to emails now and he's handling everything because I panic. I sound like a nightmare, haha I promise I'm not. Im like an excitable child at the moment

I gave up conveyancing about 8 years ago, but I used to reckon 12 weeks from instructing solicitors was fairly quick. But I've no idea how long a local search would take these days ( I've known them be turned around in days, or alternatively take 16 weeks).
Presumably you won't want to give notice on your flat until contracts are exchanged, but your required notice period will presumably be 2 months - check your tenancy agreement, and think about how you will deal with that - can you afford to pay mortgage and rent at the same time? Or maybe you need an overlapping period to decorate etc?.
Have you instructed a surveyor yet? That used to take about 3 weeks and then you will want to raise enquiries based on the survey,; depending on what they are it take a few weeks to get satisfactory responses. Your mortgage offer will need to be in place around this point. Once everything is in order, your solicitor will do a report for you and arrange for you to sign the paperwork and pay the deposit in readiness for an exchange.

I got offer to exchange in 20 days.

It's simple if there is no chain.

Vendor completes a questionnaire and it goes to buyers solicitor.

Buyers solicitor requests searches which take 10-14 days to return.

During this 10 days, buyer gets mortgage application and valuation/survey completed.

When searches are returned, buyers raises any enquiries if they have any.

Exchange happens.

Why people make a bloody song and dance about it I don't know!

Obviously things are much more complicated if in a chain but if it's just you and them then it's easy.

Yes we've had our surveyor comes round and everything is good.

Mortgage offer is due this week or early next week.

Now we are just waiting for the searches and paperwork then we will be ready to exchange but it's already been 4 weeks and we've had nothing.

We are on a rolling contract so can get out at anytime but we want to give our landlord 2 months notice as we get on with her and want to give her enough time. We would ideally like to move the date we complete and will decorate while we live there so we don't have to do cross over.

Can't you just let your landlady know that you're moving so she can start arranging for new tenants now for a certain date?

Unfortunately not. We've agreed with the vendor that we will have 2 months during exchange and completion so we can hand our notice in, plus she needs to find rented accommodation. I spent 2 hours with her on Saturday talking through things and we have agreed it's best for both of us. So I suppose this is my reason for wanting the exchange to happen quickly so we can start our 2 months

sorry i'm not following? it's best for both of you if you rent a house you don't need because you now own, or only best for your landlord because she gets money for an empty house and can show new tenants around at any time without any loss of money?

Do not give notice until you have exchange. You can't get out 'anytime', your notice is one month, not two as someone said. Keep landlord posted if you like.

An overlap is handy. If possible dont complete on a Friday, especially with a solicitor in the chain that doesn't delegate.

We need to give our landlord 2 months notice and the vendor will be moving into rented accommodation and will need around 2 months to find somewhere for her family and animals.

rolling contract? One months notice if England/Wales. Regardless of what the previous tenancy agreement said. Remember it cannot be rescinded once made.

Your vendor is going to have quite a game renting with 'animals' though, so I take the point.