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Original poster

Sellers/Buyers roll call Part 4 Keep strong everyone!

999 replies

alifelessordinary · 13/02/2019 16:46

Thought I'd start a new thread as previous one had hit 1000 posts and wouldn't let me reply!

@LookingOptimistic why do solicitors have to be so difficult at times? Hope it gets resolved for you soon.

The indemnity policy came through this afternoon, so we're hoping we might be exchanging sometime next week...unless something else crops up!

OP posts:
TiddleTaddleTat · 11/04/2019 14:48

@BeauticianNotMagician81 I think it can be done... at least other people manage it somehow...
When we bought our flat it took 6 months (chain free) we are now selling it (chain free) and on month 5... we were talking about exchange around Christmas time, then there were more enquiries...
But it certainly can be done. Certainly with a freehold.

Mildura · 11/04/2019 15:04

@BeauticianNotMagician81

It's certainly possible. It all depends on what happens to be the slowest component within your particular chain.

"An army marches at the pace of its slowest soldier."

At the beginning of any house buying/selling process it is unlikely to be obvious what the slowest component is, and it may take a few weeks for it to be identified.

Thekitten · 11/04/2019 16:07

@BeauticianNotMagician81 it took 10 weeks and 4 days from offer being accepted to completion. It would've been shorter but there was a hold up getting proof of address, I waited til the survey was done to pay for searches, then the vendor at the top of the chain had useless solicitors and didn't keep to the agreed completion date. It could've been done in 8 weeks otherwise.

TiddleTaddleTat · 11/04/2019 16:59

Good luck getting to exchange @Smart123 if both you and the buyers are pushing to get there surely it will happen soon?
We are waiting to hear now whether the buyer has taken his solicitors advice about our lease being absolutely fine...if a little wordy.
I emailed our sol with a preferred completion date (by Easter! Or just after if necessary) which feels like tempting fate but I know that this needs to be agreed between all parties before exchange can happen, so I'm hoping to speed things up.

Smart123 · 11/04/2019 17:15

Amended contract should get get to me in the morning, hoping to exchange next week, can't see completion before Easter, it's possible but it'll take a lot of pushing.
Crossing everything for you @Tiddletaddletatt

WBWIFE · 11/04/2019 17:54

Spoke to solicitor today and they think we are on for completion weekend after Easter!!

We just have to send over our buildings insurance the satisfy the lender

Smart123 · 11/04/2019 18:07

Fabulous news @WBWIFE

amroc18 · 11/04/2019 18:57

That’s good news @WBWIFE

We have entered that funny no mans land where the surveys have been done on both and ok and mortgages approved so it’s all just gone a bit quiet.

Is it just searches and enquiries now?

WBWIFE · 11/04/2019 20:53

@amroc18 we did searches first but yes it will be searches and enquiries now, good luck!

BeauticianNotMagician81 · 12/04/2019 06:22

@WBWIFE eek good luck. It's a nice time of year to move and to get the work done.

Thank you for all the responses regarding time scales. We just need to decide where we want now. Looking at a new build as well today which would hurry the process along.

@amroc18 last time we completed searches first and took a risk at getting quite far along with enquiries etc as our mortgage offer took 6 weeks to come through Hmm

WBWIFE · 12/04/2019 06:26

@BeauticianNotMagician81 thank you!

We will be living with my dad two doors up from the bungalow for a few weeks to get the works done, very excited but worried about move day already!

Think we're going to hire removals people

BeauticianNotMagician81 · 12/04/2019 06:43

@WBWIFE we are going to hire removal vans/people this time. I will pack myself but I can't be bothered with the stress of moving it all from one house to another.

amroc18 · 12/04/2019 06:59

Thanks @WBWIFE and @BeauticianNotMagician81 trying to not get too excited, impatient and attached! I’m going to ask in a couple of weeks if I can go round and measure up as not seen the place since Christmas and the house is a bit smaller than ours. Would be good to see it again!

@BeauticianNotMagician81 Hope you find a place you like!

Original poster
alifelessordinary · 12/04/2019 09:43

Thought I'd give a quick update for those who remember me!
We finally completed on Wednesday after much stress and being knocked down 25k by our buyers Angry
Is worth it though as new house and location is lovely!
Good luck to all of you with your journeys in this process Smile

OP posts:
TiddleTaddleTat · 12/04/2019 10:42

Crikey @alifelessordinary congratulations on getting there! What a relief!

Our sale is looking more hopeful and my solicitor is currently chasing the other side to confirm we can now exchange.
On the purchase we have received contracts to sign and our solicitor says that early June completion should be doable providing the (one link) in the chain above is smooth.
I contacted the landlords family directly to see if they would consider July to move in and they said they can't do it. If LL wants us to leave mid June they will trigger Sec 21 next week, but I know that we could feasibly stay a few weeks beyond that if absolutely necessary. Would like to avoid falling out as they are a decent LL but at the same time it would be reasonable to give us a few extra weeks... we have a young child, are good tenants etc. I have always done the same for my tenants and been reasonable with them.

Original poster
alifelessordinary · 12/04/2019 11:35

Good luck with everything @tiddletattletat

OP posts:
LeopardPrintKnickers · 12/04/2019 13:30

alifelessordinary, I remember you well (I was previously UninspiringUserName) and I am SO delighted for you, well done!

Well done to everyone who's had good news! After falling in love with the house we want 7 months ago, we finally have some progress. After 6.5 months on the market, 33 viewings, and two reductions in price, we finally have accepted an offer!

The house we want is due to go back on the market next week, so we were able to text the owners (who are family friends, and also on holiday) and so that's now not happening. We need to confirm our offer to them when they get back tomorrow, and then we can breathe a little...

TiddleTaddleTat · 12/04/2019 15:09

Does anyone else struggle for any contact from their solicitor after Friday lunchtime ?
It gets past that time and I think...ugh... another weekend waiting and wondering

Smart123 · 12/04/2019 15:33

@Tiddletaddletatt definitely agree, I seem to dread weekends as nothing happens.
My sol has been great, I received my amended contract to sign this morning, I've signed and sent back.
In the meantime, my buyer has to have her mortgage offer amended as the purchase price has changed.
Still hoping exchange will happen next week, my buyer is hoping completion too, but I'm doubtful, everything is done my end.
I just have to take a meter reading and hand keys into EA

Fleabag123 · 12/04/2019 16:30

I’m annoyed with my sols as they haven’t been in contact all week! Will call them on Monday...know what you mean about the waiting game 😡

BeauticianNotMagician81 · 12/04/2019 18:50

@alifelessordinary congratulations. Sorry it took so long. I hope you have celebrated.

@TiddleTaddleTat I hope things work out ok for you. I'm sure everything will come together.

@LeopardPrintKnickers wow that's amazing how lucky. It was obviously meant to be.

So we viewed a new build today and love it. Problem is it's not due to be ready until Autumn they've said Sept/Oct/Nov. So we would go into rental. Does anyone know how the new build process works? Do we just pay a reservation fee then get our mortgage at a later date. It would be nice to have a few months to save more money towards our deposit.

Sirrah · 12/04/2019 19:24

My daughter and her partner are FTBs and had an offer accepted on a house on 20th March. They had searches and enquiries back today, and are signing contracts on Monday. If their help to buy ISA money is transferred quickly they hope to exchange next week, and complete before the end of April. So 6 weeks is possible, although it has helped that the house is already empty and the sellers were keen to get on with the sale.

sandybayley · 12/04/2019 19:31

@alifelessordinary - wonderful news. We were originally on the same timescale before we lost our buyer. Delighted to hear you got your happy ending. Cheeky buyer to reduce price at last minute though. What was their excuse?

@TiddleTaddleTat - good to hear that you're getting closer. It's funny how when you're on the market weekends are busy with viewings but when you're under offer it's dead time.

@BeauticianNotMagician81 - going into rental sounds like a good idea. At least you can avoid the dreaded chain collapse.

Our buyer still doesn't have their mortgage offer sorted. I guess the fact that they're in Australia doesn't help but it's irritating nevertheless. Their solicitor is working hard though and apparently two of the three searches are back and we've received and replied to the first set of enquiries.

I do recommend having a break whilst all house buying/ selling is happening. We've had a week in North Cornwall this week and it's been brilliant to get away. We booked it after our first sale fell through as we felt like we couldn't put our lives on hold - definitely a good idea!

TiddleTaddleTat · 13/04/2019 15:24

Here here to having a break @sandybayley
We wouldn't survive otherwise
Although I don't like to be out of phone / email contact for more than a couple of hours. You definitely can't put your life on hold and lots of wine / choc / fun / nature etc needed to keep sane.

Allhallowseve · 14/04/2019 12:26

Well we have sold our first little house to first time buyers. Now we need to get a move on and find somewhere. Spoke to mortgage advisor Friday r.e mortgage in principle however the loan amount wasn’t as much as we had hope for .
He advised that if we can pay off a loan we have now (instead of with the equity from our house as we had planned ) lenders would be willing to lend more . It’s £260 a month and a family member has agreed to loan us the 5k to pay it off now.
Does anyone have any experience of this?
Hopefully we can lend more as everything we like is above our current budget although we could afford more .