Silly question: what now?

[Mumofwho]

What happens now once a mortgage offer is made? There is no chain on either side. I cannot think of any other big steps in the process. How quickly to completion? What should my very slow solicitor be doing?

I did this. It was 6 weeks start to finish.

Could’ve been five but with removals being booked up.

You should now be waiting for searches and lenders survey and any niggles sorted. Sellers should complete a list of what they are leaving - includes bath bath panels light fitting etc even if empty.

Then just paperwork to sign

The lenders did the onsite survey on Friday last week. They confirmed the mortgage yesterday close of play. From what you say, this can be wrapped up very quickly? I’m so excited and scared.

Have the searches been completed? Have you booked your structural survey? Have all enquires been completed (where the solicitors query any e.g. covenants on the title or anything in the lease)?

Ask for when you can expect to set an exchange date and ask them where they are with all of the above.

Have your vendors returned to you / your solicitor yet the Property Infoemation Form? As pp mentioned that’s the document where the vendors detail things like any disputes with neighbours, who owns what boundary, what fixtures and fittings they’re leaving, and anything that needs to be declared. They should also provide you with things like warranties for boilers or windows if they’re new. You should go through the information provided on that form really carefully - it forms the basis of your purchase.

Have you had back the searches yet? That’s the other big thing, and it’s hard to say how long it takes as it depends on each local authority. The searches include things like any planning permission applied for / turned down/ granted which relates to the property you’re buying (which you’ll need to check tallies eg they haven’t built anything kit in accordance with planning permissions) and also planned developments/ neighbours extensions etc nearby. Again, you need to check through this carefully as there could be for instance a big development going in which you don’t know about nearby, or your nextdoor neighbour has applied for an extension, or to turn his house into a chip shop. There’s also the part of the searches which assesses whether the property is a flood risk or was built on contaminated ground.

The mortgage lenders survey is just one part of the process! Good luck.