Exchanging contacts on property whilst overseas

[Iantatton]

Hello I’m buying a property in Aus. And I’m away for Christmas in the UK. Time has come to sign and exchange contracts. But we are forced to stay here in England a few weeks longer . Has anyone exchanged contracts whilst not been in the country ? How does this work . Can it all be done with scans and submitted signatures?

If you haven’t already signed the relevant documents then they can be couriered to you, you sign and have your signature witnessed and courier the documents back
using UPS/DHL/Fedex etc. The whole process will take a few days. I doubt a solicitor will be happy with a scanned signature, they’re likely to want the actual signed document, but no harm in emailing a scan or a photo to show you have signed. Speak to your solicitor (might be easier to email given the time difference) and ask
how you can resolve this as quickly as possible.

Here in england you would have signed ages ago and exchange is done by the solicitors - but no idea how the system works in your state, sorry.

In England we have to have "wet ink" signatures on property contracts and can't work on scans. However a power of attorney can be scanned, and that would allow someone else to sign for you, if DHL isn't fast enough.

Entirely depends on the rules in your state in Australia, you will need to ask your solicitor to advise!

The process is very different in Aus to the UK. Assume you've already paid your 10% and have agreed sell date or is it a new build?

we are waiting on the nod' from the bank to say we have the finance then we wanted to exchange and complete all at the same time. - the mortgage is only 50% of the final sum - We are wanted to do this so the vendor and us can do the move quickly on our return to Aus.
Is that going to be an issue

Its not a new build. To complicate things its classed as a Company title.
With a right to live on the land in the stated building.

we sold our uk house. We now live in NZ. contract emailed to us we printed it out signed ect scanned and emailed back then sent the real copy back. Not sure how house buying works in OZ Not sure it would work trying to buy in nz but being in uk. But buying in nz it nothing like buying in uk