We have accepted an offer, what next?

[YOLO2018]

We have accepted an offer on our property but the buyers haven't sold yet. We have given them a 6 week grace period as we are unable to look at properties to buy for another 3 weeks - due to distance and other commitments.

What moves should we be making? We will probably use the same solicitor as our last sale but we haven't made contact yet. Is it okay for us to wait until we have found somewhere to buy or they sell, to do anything other than wait?

I would have continued to look for a buyer in a better position to proceed. Obviously nothing will happen until they sell. If they sell to another person who needs to sell, it will be never ending. You may find the vendor of a house you want to buy will not consider you are worthwhile because your buyers are not anywhere near exchange of contract.

If you cannot keep your house on the market becuae you have promised your buyers they can have it, then you cannot do much until they sell. Or, remarket after the period of grace runs out.

I agree with Bubbles. Unless you live in one of the areas where the market is still pretty rapid & you know that these peoples property is priced to sell then you're taking an incredible risk. We waited for our buyers after they lost their buyer & then again when their new buyer struggled to get a mortgage. Long story short, 4 months later, after everyone in the chain had spent money on searches, surveys etc, it transpired that these people simply couldn't get a mortgage, so our buyers again found themselves without a buyer. We couldn't wait any longer & risk losing the house we wanted, so had no option but to remarket, a month before Christmas. We wasted all summer & autumn on people who simply couldn't keep a buyer. Much as I feel sorry for them, we couldn't give them any longer! Almost 2 months later & they still don't have a new buyer, so we did the right thing!

Having said that, it seems that you're not ready for the process anyway if you can't even view properties yet, so things could work out well for you. If I were you though at the very least id allow your EA to do some discreet marketing & make a list of interested parties, just in case these people find their house doesn't sell as quickly as you hope it will.