Is this possible after exchange?

[RoganJosh]

My mum's moving house and I'm helping a bit. She tells me she's exchanged. I've asked her if she's sure. She says she is.

But it's four weeks before completion (which is great but unusual) and she's just texted me to say
'buyer's solicitor is still asking questions about the loft conversion and indemnity policy,the curtains and carpets and the garden furniture'

I'm worried her solicitor has said the buyer has signed the contract (i.e. Ready for exchange) and she's misinterpreted it.

Is there any way issues like this could still be outstanding after exchange?

She's now buying another property on the strength of having exchanged so I'm worried she's going to end up in a mess.

Everything is done and dusted at exchange. She may have misinterpreted "ready to exchange contracts"?

Everything should be resolved before exchange, so it doesn't sound like it.

Waaaaaah. That's what I thought.

Thank you both. I wasn't sure I'd made any sense!

From my limited experience, when we moved last year all questions re what works/what are you leaving etc etc are answered before exchange. The only thing that happened the week in between exchange & completion was waiting for the funds from the mortgage company. Only done this once though so could be wrong! Hope it all goes well for your mum, maybe ask her to email them to confirm so she has it in writing?

I've now asked her three times so it's getting to the point where I'm going to piss her off I think if I push it any more.
She's just texted to say her buyer is coming round tomorrow to measure up so I hope it becomes clear then.

Unfortunately not, buying and selling in different countries.

England? The solicitor should have confirmed before exchange, a final ' are y sure?'. Then the solicitors do the exchange and call back to confirm.

All solicitor queries must be resolved before then, incompetent to exchange without that.

Measuring up - yes, after exchange, waste of time before. But fixtures and fittings, indemnity etc are before exchange.

Something not right.

We've exchanged, but our buyers still haven't told us if they want to buy some of the white goods and shutters from us.

They are 'still thinking about it' apparently..!

So it is possible that they are still undecided about whether they want to pay her for those items?

The loft and indemnity should have been sorted, but again, they might just have some follow up questions?

Are they first time buyers? First time buyers always have 20 times more questions, and don't ask them at the correct stage of the process.

If the items aren't on the fixtures and fittings list as included, they go with you.

First time buyers always have 20 times more questions, and don't ask them at the correct stage of the process

Harsh! We've just been through the first time buyer process and barely asked anything! And made sure we knew what to do at which stage of the process..

Yes it's England.

Interesting sparechange , sounds half way like my mum's situation. (Good luck with it!) no, not a first time buyer, I agree that they are often difficult!

If the items aren't on the fixtures and fittings list as included, they go with you

Correct, but you can list some items as available to buy, and the buyers don't have to make their mind up on this before completion, so they might still be deciding about the curtains etc

The English system means that the seller's solicitor is not obliged to respond to any enquiries after exchange, which is why everything needs to be resolved beforehand. People sometimes get mixed up between signing contracts and exchanging, so she's maybe just misunderstood?

That's what I'm wondering, dazed

Let's hope her buyer gives some clarity today. If not I'll need to work out what to do.

Will her solicitor speak to you?

I've just spoken to her. Turns out she thought signing the contract was exchanging.
This is her third house purchase/sale in the last 12 years so I thought she knew how it works.

Thanks everyone. You gave me the impetus to keep pushing her for info!

Nice one. Hope it all works out!