Draft contracts!!!

[StandardViking]

It's over two weeks now, and my solicitor is still waiting for the draft contracts from our sellers solicitor.
Several attempts, four emails, plus calls to the estate agent, and I still can't get a straight answer as to how long I am meant to wait. I have asked if they have actually instructed their sol to start work, and I just keep getting a pathetic excuse from the agent, that their solicitor won't speak to them or return calls! How long did you wait?

Cheers for reading!

It sounds like the vendor is stalling for some reason.

It could be the vendor stalling, or they could have been away for Easter and have yet to return their paperwork. Personally I’d have made sure it was done but some people don’t have any urgency.

tell the agent that if nothing has happened by the end of next week, you are walking away. This will only get worse.

Your vendors see you as little people who can wait. Sod that.

Our vendors were like this - in the end DP gave an ultimatum as they were procrastinating over exchange.

In order for the seller's solicitor to be able to provide your solicitor with the draft contract pack, the seller needs to put them in funds to start the process (so the solicitors will obtain title documents etc). The sellers also need to return their paperwork, i.e. Property Info Form, Fixtures & Fittings Form, ID documents and Client Agreement. The seller's solicitor needs to get the EPC (either from the EA) or by obtaining it directly (not likely to do this unless they have the funds and documents first). Once they have all the documents they require, they will draft the contract and send it together as a pack.

Very easy for two weeks to slip by before any progress can be made, but certainly worth having a word with the EA who can prompt the sellers to return their papers etc.

Thank you's to all of you for replying, and taking the time to do so. I am on the case of pushing and shoving lol. As in the two plus weeks, we've got everything approved, checked etc, so my patience is slightly wearing thin.
I am of the same mind set as you specialsubject and still searching! Dragging their feet, and not having manners may backfire!
and to you all

It took 5 weeks to get my draft contracts when buying. I think about two weeks is the norm to be fair. If you're counting the two bank holidays in that as well. The solicitors have to send the forms to their seller to complete and return ( most people this takes about a week) they have to then be sent back to solicitor, who then reviews all this and sends it out. I'd give them a gentle nudge at this time.

Me again!!

Can searches be ordered without a draft contract? tia

I think they can but solicitors like to do things in the right order. I would contact the estate agents dealing with the sale and ask them to chase the vendors up - do they have somewhere to go or are they stalling until they find somewhere?

Thanks bilbodog I have had a bit of a rant lol. They have somewhere to go, but they or their solicitor are stalling, and my solicitor ordered searches and then cancelled them because they still haven't heard.
Gentle nudges went out of the window

They can, our searches have been ordered and draft contracts not yet received. Just runs the risk of losing the fee for searches should the vendor pull out.