Page 16 | Buyers Sellers Roll Call 15

MotherofHeathens · 2021-04-27T08:59:38+00:00

Because we're nearly at the end of the other thread and still inflicting this torture on ourselves...!

HumourReplacementTherapy · 14/05/2021 17:50

@Andthenanothercupoftea

Our buyer is asking lots of questions! Most of which will be answered via the property information form so it's getting a bit annoying, however we don't want to come across as obstructive.

Then again I keep getting worried that were proving too much information and therefore coming across like we're trying to hide something?

Feeling like I'm second or third guessing everything when my natural position is to be as open and honest as possible.

Realistically would you be worried by a house that has had new windows, a semi-flat roof repaired, new boiler, new kitchen etc. in the last 3 years? No you'd be thrilled, then why am I somehow thinking it's a bad thing to disclose!! Gah!!

Just ask them to wait for the property info form. (Why hasn't their solicitor told them that? It's just causing more work for them ? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Can you complete it?

HumourReplacementTherapy · 14/05/2021 17:53

@Andthenanothercupoftea

Our buyer is asking lots of questions! Most of which will be answered via the property information form so it's getting a bit annoying, however we don't want to come across as obstructive.

Then again I keep getting worried that were proving too much information and therefore coming across like we're trying to hide something?

Feeling like I'm second or third guessing everything when my natural position is to be as open and honest as possible.

Realistically would you be worried by a house that has had new windows, a semi-flat roof repaired, new boiler, new kitchen etc. in the last 3 years? No you'd be thrilled, then why am I somehow thinking it's a bad thing to disclose!! Gah!!

The house we're buying has had a lot of improvements including loft conversion/garage conversion/new kitchen etc. Which is great, but! We can't get hold of any guarantees/warranties though. Building regs yes, but nothing else.

Andthenanothercupoftea · 14/05/2021 17:55

@HumourReplacementTherapy it's being done through the EA. It started off as quite casual queries about the age of the boiler which seemed fine to pop a quick reply to, but they've escalated to stuff like "have you ever had issues getting insurance?" I just feel it would be weird to stop responding now.
We've had the PIF from the solicitors and will be filling it in over the weekend to return on Monday although I'm aware it may take some time for their solicitor to request/receive/share it.

Andthenanothercupoftea · 14/05/2021 17:57

@HumourReplacementTherapy none of our work has required builders regs but we have all of the certificates like FENSA for the windows. I did say we'd issue them through via the solicitors though as I cba to scan/copy everything twice.

SpnBaby1967 · 14/05/2021 18:50

Our solicitor emailed to say she has the queries from our buyers solicitor and will get them to us next week. So heading into another bloody week with it feeling like we're making no progress. Even though I know it's technically progress, the only progress I want is exchange

LaMariposa · 14/05/2021 19:04

No exchange today, our buyers haven’t returned the signed contract to their solicitors yet.
We’ve had post to them already though, including a water bill.
If they return the contract on Monday we can exchange Tuesday.

Dandelionrarrrr · 14/05/2021 19:46

Hi everyone. Seems like so many of us are in that final stamp duty push. It’s really horrible.

We feel very close to the end. Our buyer was a bit slow with searches so we are waiting on those. Hopefully they don’t raise any more enquiries after. As we have answered their initial ones.
Awaiting 3 enquiries from the house we are buying. I don’t even know what they are. Do you ask or do you get told by your solicitor? Our solicitors seem good but we call them weekly for updates, they are very helpful when we do. Just seem to wait to be asked.

I’ve posted before about our mortgage, we went with a broker who we were told would speed it up. Well we are still waiting. Our valuation was carried out around the 20th of April. Still no offer. Seeing other posters saying how quick it took from the valuation seems like something is off... we are with virgin money if that helps.

I hate this process.

Starseeking · 14/05/2021 19:47

@Newhousehope

Do people use the same solicitors for their sale and purchase?!

I am, although I have not linked my sale and purchase in a chain. Is there a reason that people wouldn't? I would have thought it's less hassle to use the same solicitor.

Smokeahontas · 14/05/2021 20:49

I sold mine just over two weeks ago, but only agreed the one I’m purchasing on Wednesday. Thankful to have got it done though!

Everything moving along nicely on my sale.

Got my buyers pack from the solicitor in the post today & took it to their office. Only 10 mins away & I want things to go as quickly as possible. Mortgage application was sent off today via the broker.

ballsdeep · 14/05/2021 21:11

This is a really silly question....but...

We signed our docs on Friday . Do these originals need to then pass up and down the chain physically or can they be scanned and then signed ? We are supposed to have change early next week and I just can't see it happening because no one else had signed!

BabyPotato · 15/05/2021 17:59

I'm not very helpful at the moment because I have no idea how any of this works. I'll make sure to share any knowledge when I learn new things. Haha.

Our house went on Rightmove last night and we have a viewing on Monday already! It feels real now. I wonder if people are nosey and they will look into our cupboards etc? If so, we have some sorting to do!

Newhousehope · 15/05/2021 19:16

They’re not meant to touch anything @BabyPotato. But the agent wears gloves so they opened anything we were curious about when we were viewing - airing cupboard, secret doors, that sort of thing

BabyPotato · 15/05/2021 20:33

@Newhousehope Ahh, thanks! That would make sense. Haha, at first I forgot about the pandemic and imagined the agent with white silk gloves opening doors etc.

0hforfoxsake · 16/05/2021 09:22

Morning - another one signing up! I’m mid-chain and getting it from all angles at the moment. 😖 Cant wait for it to be over!

Newhousehope · 16/05/2021 09:34

I discovered yesterday that the chain we joined is literally our buyers, us, vendors. The vendors had buyers pull out last week, they were set to move in time for stamp duty holiday, I think. Not sure how achievable that is now that we’ve joined her chain 🙈 the EA is seeing if she can find a magic solicitor for us to get it through in time, ours are quoting 18-20 weeks 😱 we’d need to pay ours something I assume if we change as they have started work on our sale.

I don’t know the mortgage process, our broker has submitted our application - is this going to hold things up? How long are they taking?

BlueCherryBlossom · 16/05/2021 10:43

I think your vendor is being highly unrealistic, @Newhousehope

Getting a 3 party chain done in 6 weeks, at the peak of the Stamp Duty rush, is vanishingly unlikely.

How long are searches taking in your area?

Newhousehope · 16/05/2021 11:15

I have no clue @BlueCherryBlossom. We have asked if we can buy the searches from the solicitor of the previous buyer (that pulled out) , so then it would only be our buyers searches outstanding - not that I know what is being searched 🤣🤣

I’m prepared for a longer wait, (although 6 weeks sounds amazing!) and to pay some stamp duty - not sure about our vendor though. I don’t know how near to completion they got, must be so frustrating for them. Pretty sure they only put their house on the market in March though, so even that was a tall order surely!

Newhousehope · 16/05/2021 11:16

Although I assume we’d need a search/survey for our mortgage. Again - clueless!

BlueCherryBlossom · 16/05/2021 11:22

You can find current local timescales for searches here: search-acumen.co.uk/covid-19-coronavirus

Newhousehope · 16/05/2021 11:42

Awesome - thanks

HumourReplacementTherapy · 16/05/2021 13:26

[quote Andthenanothercupoftea]@HumourReplacementTherapy it's being done through the EA. It started off as quite casual queries about the age of the boiler which seemed fine to pop a quick reply to, but they've escalated to stuff like "have you ever had issues getting insurance?" I just feel it would be weird to stop responding now.
We've had the PIF from the solicitors and will be filling it in over the weekend to return on Monday although I'm aware it may take some time for their solicitor to request/receive/share it.[/quote]
How strange of the EA to even bother passing the questions on, just wait! I think if it's something major that would be a deal breaker then ask ahead of the Survey/searches but otherwise they should cool their jets and give you chance.

BakeOffRewatch · 16/05/2021 15:04

@Newhousehope changing conveyancer, unless you’re unhappy with yours, sounds like a really bad idea. Especially when you’ve incurred costs already and your buyer is used to dealing with one. I’m sure the EA is being really helpful in increasing the transaction value for their firm by adding additional referral rewards!

BlueCherryBlossom · 16/05/2021 15:38

[quote BakeOffRewatch]**@Newhousehope changing conveyancer, unless you’re unhappy with yours, sounds like a really bad idea. Especially when you’ve incurred costs already and your buyer is used to dealing with one. I’m sure the EA is being really helpful in increasing the transaction value for their firm by adding additional referral rewards![/quote]

Agree with this.

At the same time I'd be alarmed by a solicitor stating 18-20 weeks before they've even started? @Newhousehope I'd speak to them about what led them to that timescale. Are they too inundated with work, are searches slow etc? Or are they just trying to manage expectations and hope to work quicker if it's all straightforward?

As has been pointed out, changing solicitor could be costly and problematic, but it sounds like you are pretty early on in the process so if they aren't the solicitors for you then cut your losses and find another.

We are on week 16 of our chain-free fairly straightforward sale, so perhaps your solicitors are sensible 🤷‍♀️

Newhousehope · 16/05/2021 17:01

Well if it saves us £5k in stamp duty it’ll be worth it... right?!

And yes, we are very early on. The buyers welcome pack has only just been sent so they haven’t dealt with them yet I doubt. I am calling them tomorrow to ask, knowing what I now know about the chain and those involved, are we still looking at 18-20 weeks. I’m hoping it’s just to cover them. If they are too busy, I’d rather find someone who has the time to at least try and push it - but, not having an actual clue I am more inclined to just let them get in with it and pray 🤣

BakeOffRewatch · 16/05/2021 17:48

If anyone is promising you anything about meeting the SDLT deadline @Newhousehope they’re charlatans. Don’t go with them on that basis. Treat the two things separately: do you like your current conveyancer? Who do you want as your conveyancer if not them (don’t just fall into the one someone else’s EA recommends)?

No one can promise anything about meeting deadlines in comveyancing. Anyone with integrity would be telling you to budget for full stamp duty just in case, when I was speaking to professionals in March they said “maybe if you sent searches this weekend”.

I’m going to sound like your Nan, but I’m a bit worried about you being messed around, especially with what you’ve said not knowing what searches are for etc! This time round I got a flow chart from each conveyancer I asked for a quote from, about the process it shows what’s expected from who (EA, buyer, seller) and when. I went with the one that let’s me fill in forms online and has a tracking portal. Your broker should have explained the mortgage application process to you.

If you google image search “conveyancing process uk” and “mortgage application process uk” it brings up some good infographs.