Waiting for Sellers info..

[sall74]

Had an offer accepted on a property but my solicitor is advising I hold off from ordering up and paying for searches and survey etc until we have all the sellers info forms and deeds etc first, is this normal practice?

I don't want to appear tardy or disinterested by not ''getting the ball rolling'' with the things I as a buyer need to do!

why would your solicitor want to hold up the process we offered on saturday and by monday morning that week we had the solicitor in place and survey booked for three days later searches yes he will do those later but i would book a survey now so that any problems with the house can be included in the enquiries later down the line

Is the chain complete? It's fairly standard to hold off spending any money until your vendor has offered on somewhere, then their vendor etc etc. It can take months (years if you're really patient!) for a chain to be completed and all parties ready to start the process so it's sensible to avoid starting searches/ surveys etc that will cost money until the chain is a bit more secure.

Sorry forgot to add it's a cash purchase so a survey isn't actually necessary and I've already offered on the assumption that everything needs doing so I probably won't actually have one.

Yes the chain is complete as it's a second property for the seller.

Bit odd. Is your solicitor maybe busy ,,,

Your solicitor is waiting for the draft contract documentation before he starts any work. i.e. searches. Quite normal for many practices to do this. You can get the survey done as and when you like, but of course until the chain is complete and the ball rolling with the paperwork, you would be spending money before you can proceed further with your purchase. A survey gives you advice about the state of the structure, roof, boiler, electrics, damp, water pressure etc. Although surveyors are very keen to cover themselves by using ambiguous language, a survey has got precious little to do with whether you are buying with a mortgage or cash. It is peace of mind that the property is not suffering any major defects.

Cash purchase or not, a survey is a must imo.

In the grand scheme of things, a few hundred quid could save you thousands further down the line.

Not something I'd be penny pinching on.

We didn't get given the sellers form (info, fixtures and fittings) until we paid for searches

Just to add but I believe the vendors solicitor had sent them to out solicitor already. Perhaps they havent even filled them in yet so until your solicitor receive a them they don't recommend doing the searches. Maybe clarify the process with them.

Thanks for the replies, I've got the house for a good price and a builder friend has already looked at it and given me a good idea of the work required so I am happy to proceed without a survey.

Just waiting for the sellers info (TA6) to come back now, 3 weeks and waiting.

Maybe it would help if you told your solicitor you don't intend to have a survey for the reasons you have stated here and ask them to communicate this to the seller's solicitor? As a seller I'd want to know you'd instructed a survey to show your commitment.

Everyone (EA, vendor and my solicitor) already know that I'm prepared to proceed without a survey and I've already told the EA that I'm ready to order up the searches as soon as we get the sellers info.

I take it I'm not being unreasonable in thinking 3 weeks is a bit tardy of them? The last 2 houses I've sold I had the TA6 completed and returned within 48 hours!

Have the sellers found somewhere to move to yet? That could be why they are delaying. Some people just aren't quick at turning things around - we got the property info form after three weeks and fittings and contents one a number of weeks after that. I completed ours and returned them in 24 hours. Some people do not have a sense of urgency!