Buyers sellers roll call 12

[Bells3032]

New thread. Hopefully the last one for us!!

We are very near the point of exchange on my sale but nowhere near that on my purchase. I received my mortgage offer 3 weeks ago but solicitor hasn't had it yet, and still haven't had searches back yet. I've just emailed to ask for an update.

Although my vendor doesn't want to complete before Xmas which is also proving a massive headache for various reasons, there isn't even an upward chain they completed on their onward purchase a month ago 🤯🤯 my buyer has always maintained they want to complete before Xmas 😫😫 so stressful!!

@Catmummyof2 no need to be as immaculate as for viewings, but I’d make sure it’s tidy and clean remember they are valuing the property too and the last thing you want if them to under value it to what price your buyers are paying. Just make sure access to loft garage etc is clear and doors are all open for them to get into each room. It’s really not that bad they’ll be in and out in no time

We have a contract! 123 documents later, just off to get it witnessed and then back to the solicitor. Finally things are moving!

After nothing to view for weeks, seeing TWO today now, BEFORE they go on the market. No wonder if nothing appears if they all sell before they go on rightmove!

Both detached (short supply in my price range), four beds with extremely small 3 and 4 bedroom:

One 510k, nicer road, closer to secondary schools, 2001 house. Garage. No conservatory or utility but potential to add them. One of my 'mum' friends used to live in this house so I have visited but just once a long time ago.

Second 450k, dodgier area but close to current primary school. Awful decorating so requires some immediate work (pink walls, floor, and a pine ceiling in one room). No garage but has a utility room and conservatory.

450k would mean we could afford it even if we miss the stamp duty deadline. 510 is more of a stretch but would be easier to sell on one day.

Hope I hate one of them so it's an easy choice!

Any solicitors here pretty please 🤞🤞 my solicitor hasn't received my mortgage offer, so I just called nationwide to chase it and they told me they don't send it out to them and that my solicitor needs to go on to something called 'lender exchange' online to download it - is this correct? First I've heard of it and how would my solicitor know what to look for on this 'lender exchange'? TIA 😩 (I'm not using a mortgage broker btw)

@lollypop345 our 'backup' mortgage is through nationwide. We had a text to say we'd been offered a mortgage on Monday but couldn't see what that offer was. Today our solicitor has received that offer and shown it to us. I don't think he went onto a 'lender exchange'. We were expecting the offer to arrive in the post as we can't see it online ourselves. Hmm.

@lolabears when I received mine in the post the letter actually said 'we have sent a copy to your solicitors and then listed my solicitors address' so I'm confused they've said this now! Have told my solicitor so will see what they say - they have clearly been expecting it in the post...

Our latest stalling tactic from our buyer is he needs a personal guarantee for his ltd co mortgage, which he can’t obtain until lockdown lifts next week. I’m calling BS on this as it’s been one delay after another. Why would he not be able to get this sorted until lockdown lifts? Surely signing paperwork can be done socially distanced?

Does anyone know how long it is between between Santander mortgage application and them booking the valuation via estate agent (not the valuation date itself as that varies regionally)?

@lollypop345 I'd ring nationwide again for clarification. How long did it take for you to get the offer in the post from them confirming an offer via text? I'm thinking I need to ring them to see why our solicitor has a copy and we don't. I could print it I suppose but I'd rather not.

@lolabears my solicitor says they are 'double checking' so shall see what they come back with. I got it about 3-4 working days after I had the texts/emails to say they had made an offer. Definitely call to ask them to resend!

I never received a hard copy of the mortgage offer - only a soft copy from our broker.

Checking in as my stress levels are in over drive today!!

We are supposed to exchange within the next few days touch wood after a really stressful few weeks

For some reason today knowing it will soon be in contract has given me a massive panic and I've been frantically reading through all solicitor correspondence to check i haven't missed anything important. Massive anxiety!

Hoping everyone else is holding up ok

@Badgerbadger22 I was told that it would be booked in 'a couple of days'. They made it all seem quite straightforward.

They also said a desktop valuation could be done in another 2-3 days, but an in-person one could then take a few weeks. Really hoping we meet the criteria for desktop valuation, although I think we may be just over the value threshold, eek.

@HouseyHouse21 they said exactly the same to us today! What’s the threshold for a desktop valuation? She said we might qualify for one....

Apparently they go by value (£500K or £750K if in London) and LTV (not sure of the threshold but we were ok at 60%). But he also said they might be lenient as the house we're buying is only slightly over the value limit. I'll cross fingers for you too!

@HouseyHouse21

Oh interesting well our house is quite cheap for the area

@lollypop345 hi, I'm a solicitor Nationwide do all of their mortgages via Lender Exchange now so your solicitor should be well used to using it. I often find that clients get their mortgage offer before I do so don't worry too much, give Nationwide a chase if your solicitor still says they don't have it in a couple of days. It's a sort of portal system and you just download it from there when it says it's available, if it is available Lender Exchange will have emailed your solicitor a notification to tell them it's there ready to download.

Hope that helps

We have all agreed 14th Dec in our little chain (now of 3 since we completed our sale separately) and hoping to exchange next week. Counting down the days!

@jujuball thank you! They emailed me earlier to say they have found it which is a relief :) and all searches are back now so the ball is rolling finally 😁

I revisited the house I'm buying (🤞) and the owners were on their way out - so we chatted until the EA arrived.

I did some measuring and videoing - thank goodness - as radiators were in just the wrong place for some of the furniture I wanted to take. Back to the drawing board (downsizing).

My EA did a really accurate floorplan of my house - the one I have for the house I'm buying is rubbish, very little relationship to reality, which is frustrating.

My biggest problem is books. Very little space for bookshelves, I have TONS of books. Of course I've just seen a better house come on the market today, better layout, a whole room with bookshelves, conservatory, but the garden is not so nice and the location is much much worse.

Basically I'm buying a fabulous garden in a wonderful location with a beige house in it - but the more I see it the more I love the location and the garden and the more anxious I get about losing it!

Well we very nearly exchanged today (buyers solicitor came back at the last minute with a ridiculous demand). My Solicitor says tomorrow.

And I have 3 plans for removals: a) phone down my list and try to get someone at the right price, b) use someone from "really moving", c) rent a storage site near the new house, take lots of holiday and shift boxes - then man and van or equivalent for the furniture bits.

We will be in by Christmas.

Our survey was yesterday (finally, we've been waiting an age as surveyors round here are so busy.) Hoping to hear back at the end of the week.

Have also had three quotes for removal companies, all varying prices it's mad how they can be so different for essentially the same thing!

Thanks @Catmummyof2 that is reassuring.