Should I start the conveyancing?

[AGreatUsername]

We are in the process of selling and buying. We wanted to delay starting conveyancing until our mortgage offer was through the door however the lender has been a pain and it’s been 2 weeks now. All we are waiting for is a letter from HMRC which should be here this week and there shouldn’t (touch wood) be any other problems bar valuation. Our seller has sent draft contracts in and our buyers solicitor has requested them from ours. Our solicitor is now asking when we’ll be ready to start on both sides.

I don’t want to count my eggs before they’re hatched right now as things have been way more difficult than imagined (not through any fault or issue of ours, more then lender being a bit sticky) and commit to full solicitors bills, but nor do I want to delay things.

In my shoes would you wait another (potentially) 2 weeks for a mortgage offer or start things going with solicitors?

Have you got a mortgage in principle so that it’s quite likely that you will get the mortgage? What does your mortgage advisor say? I would be worried about delaying the chain as the conveyancing can be quite a lengthy process.

Yes we have mortgage in principle. Unfortunately on applying the lender kicked up a fuss because childcare features on the tax credits. This stopped in December so once we’ve proved that (hopefully this week) they haven’t mentioned any other issues with the application. So I’m hoping that because we actually don’t have childcare and can prove it that will be that. But still...it’s made me nervous.

It's a bloody nightmare, isn't it?

It really is. I’ve not slept for weeks with the stress of it all. The idea is so simple, the reality is a nightmare. I might just pay the money to the solicitors. If we don’t end up completing it’s wasted, but I’ll have no need for the money then anyway!

I think some solicitors don’t charge unless the sale goes through, they do charge for searches though

Is the chain complete?

You could always take out insurance if a purchase/ sale fails.

I have no idea why anyone delays conveyancing
There is always a delay with something, the sooner you get everything in place, the better