Buyers sellers roll call 17 - the one where everyone finally completes

[gingerninja1]

Last thread is now full so started another one so the mutual support can continue

@paranoidandroidmarvin
@takeyourfinalposition
@getyourassoffthatquattro
@shineysides
@blacklilypad

On that basis @Getyourarseofffthequattro I've followed suit with a local marketplace posting.
Maybe someone local who wasn't thinking of moving or buying will see and thinks it looks worth considering.
The many local tradesmen always tell me how lush it is and how they wish they'd seen it for sale when we bought it.

@ZimZamZoom that sounds like an interesting moving day! At least mine didn't feature any animals...

@Paranoidandroidmarvin congratulations! Hope it's all going well

@Getyourarseofffthequattro that is devastating 🙁

Well 4 days on things are looking more positive but I've never been so tired! Have cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and we also decided to decorate - starting with the DTDs rooms so they had somewhere nice to sleep. This has added massively to the workload and my exhaustion but has really been worthwhile as it's helped us to see how much impact a little improvement can make. I'm looking forward to going back to work tomorrow for a rest though!

We had friends over on Saturday and everyone mucked in. Kids' friends helped to paint their rooms, people brought food and helped to take down the horrible curtains and blinds and straighten up the kitchen cabinet doors - every little bit helps to make it feel like home. We'll get there.

Now just need to exchange and complete on one of our sales (complicated multiple transactions for multigenerational home) as then we can afford to do some non DIY work. Feels like we are almost there - buyers have searches back, mortgage offers in and surely everyone will want to be in for Christmas? Good luck this week for everyone waiting.

Awake in the small hours still processing the last minute unexplained pull out by buyers after months & on the day we were due to complete.

I guess another option for me is to pull it off the market and start again in the spring.
This would mean zero chance of us buying the house we were about to exchange on whereas leaving it on might see a new buyer emerge.

Autumn & winter not a great time to sell though is it. That's why I worked my arse off getting it ready for sale in spring/summer.

I guess I'll leave it on for now and see what happens.

Morning all!

@Getyourarseofffthequattro Ahhh that's epic!!

@Bobbleka I'm so sorry. I suspect this is what's wrong with our chain - I think there's two or three self-employed people, and they've been warned that if they have to apply again, they won't be offered the same amount. Affordability seems to be changing massively by the week. I hope Halifax can still offer what they initially did.

@Arlington45 Have you discussed exchange dates? We signed our contracts eight weeks ago - some solicitors do it early, some do it much later. I really hope you exchange this week, though! Just don't get your hopes up too high if those discussions haven't happened yet, it didn't help my patience 🙈

@Ruralbliss I'm so sorry your viewers didn't turn up; what absolute knobs... We were in a similar place to you this time last year, albeit with a flat. It was a really tough call... We didn't find Winter was very busy with anyone other than people coming round to talk about our decor. We did see a spike in online views in the new year, but no real spike in viewings until the Spring. But; it wasn't a great market for flats, and it may well be easier for you now. I hope it is

@TweenWrangler That sounds like progress!

For us... nothing much since Friday, our buyer has tried to call twice but hasn't left a message. He needs to have this legal advice meeting, and then I believe we're ready to exchange, which we've asked for mid-week. I'm just hoping his solicitor doesn't suggest that they'll get it done by Friday, like she normally does...

Thanks @TakeYourFinalPosition I do feel significantly better!! Hope you get some good news re exchange

@Getyourarseofffthequattro I am honestly so happy that you know what's happening; and being chain-free is amazing!

You'll probably beat us

[quote TakeYourFinalPosition]@Getyourarseofffthequattro I am honestly so happy that you know what's happening; and being chain-free is amazing!

You'll probably beat us [/quote]
Thank you @TakeYourFinalPosition - maybe not beat you but hopefully we won't be far behind.

How fast realistically can it go if you're chain free?

@Getyourarseofffthequattro We were told 6 - 8 weeks for chain free in July; but that must have sped up loads now that the stamp duty holiday is gone - Google seems to suggest 4 - 6 weeks, but even that seems long!

Our buyer has contacted us to say his ILA meeting is this afternoon and he's going to push for exchange tomorrow or Weds and completion next Monday. There's a solicitor in the chain that's away until Weds so I think that'll be the earliest; and then a few people have said they need a week to draw down funds so our best hope is probably Weds this week exchange and Weds next week complete; but I can make that work...

I'm so, so hoping for good news today.

I’m waiting for good news for u all!!!

Thanks @Paranoidandroidmarvin!

Our buyer has just called to say his ILA meeting is tomorrow, and he wants to then exchange Wednesday and complete on the 10th.

I’m so hoping that can happen; but I suspect his solicitor will say there’s not enough time…

@TakeYourFinalPosition

Thanks *@Paranoidandroidmarvin*!

Our buyer has just called to say his ILA meeting is tomorrow, and he wants to then exchange Wednesday and complete on the 10th.

I’m so hoping that can happen; but I suspect his solicitor will say there’s not enough time…

I hope they can do it!

Sounds like our buyer wants completion mid November so with any luck we will only be completely at my mum's for 2 or 3 weeks. I just want it to hurry up I feel so impatient because the offer was only accepted Saturday but it's been a looooong road.

Good luck to everyone.

We've got around 6 viewings lined up this week with a couple not yet firmly scheduled. Hope they can see beyond the boxes in the corners.

Wondering how to do viewings myself as left it to agent in June. Presumably don't talk too much but point out the features they may not notice.

Garden is sodden after three days of biblical rain so I hope they don't wear their best winklepickers.

Would be ace if someone liked it enough to make an offer.

@Righty yes we're hoping to have a couple of weeks between exchange and completion at least. @TakeYourFinalPosition we haven't specifically discussed exchange dates 😬 I was sort of assuming the lawyers would just figure it out between them?? Ours has asked for our permission to exchange so I think she'll just go for it when the others are ready. But truly who knows?!

We've got some quotes from removal companies and our buyer came round the other day to measure up for furniture so I'm feeling hopeful at the moment...!

I just did one week in between and it wasn’t long enough. I’m not an elderly person. I’m 45. But it really tired me out. It was a lot to get done in a week. Not just the packing but the cleaning and taking everything apart.
If I could do it again I would do two

@Arlington45 Yeah it’s normal to get permission to exchange. When all the solicitors in the chain are ready, they’ll discuss dates and then your solicitor will put it to you.

If you want more than a week between exchange and completion, do the rest of the chain know? Some will be fine with it but a week seems the norm at the moment - there’s a few people kicking off in our chain that a week is needed, even though it’s for mortgage reasons, and our solicitors have said the vast majority of their cases are now a week or same day, and they rarely do any longer periods. I’d set expectations if it’s important to you; so nobody gets annoyed when they think they’re a week away from moving!

It sounds like your buyer is keen, I hope you hear soon!

@Ruralbliss 6 viewings is great; best of luck for them! I hope someone offers

@Getyourarseofffthequattro mid November would be amazing!!

We’re aiming for the 10th, at the moment - our buyer thinks his solicitor will suggest it today. Exchange tomorrow; complete on the 10th. Some people in the chain want to complete faster, but I don’t think it’s possible with mortgages… he also wants to move his stuff in the day before, as he’s got work on the 10th, but the place is full of baby stuff so there’s just nowhere for it to go.

I cannot wait to be exchanged. I feel like we’ve been in a holding pattern forever…

I don’t fully trust the dates anymore; either. We were working to mid September as a final deadline; then October 7th; then November 5th; now the 10th. Tiring!

I don't think we'll be able to complete our purchase mid November @TakeYourFinalPosition but our sale will be. Just want to complete our purchase asap after that.

My solicitor seems to be ignoring me this morning.

Some will be fine with it but a week seems the norm at the moment - there’s a few people kicking off in our chain that a week is needed, even though it’s for mortgage reasons, and our solicitors have said the vast majority of their cases are now a week or same day, and they rarely do any longer periods

That's pretty unusual I would have said, a week between exchange and completion is generally considered the absolute minimum.

It seems absolutely crazy to me to exchange and complete on the same day, the only circumstances where it should be considered are when there's a buyer with no related sale and the property being bought is vacant.

2 - 3 weeks between exchange and completion is far more civilised!

Sigh lender refused to extend mortgage offer so I now have a "dead" deadline of completing in 1.5 months. Solicitor is as crap as ever. By now I'm so used to this that I feel quite relaxed about whatever outcome. The only problem is I'm at the bottom of the chain so if I can't complete then the whole chain will collapse 🤦

@Okigen I'm sorry, that's rubbish.

@Getyourarseofffthequattro Ah sorry - Clearly the brain cells are strong this morning 🙈

I've had a good cry over everything. Our solicitor is going to request funds today for completion on the 12th, as that's the last date we can do it, really... but she's heard nothing from our buyer's solicitor, and won't commit us to exchange/completion until they've confirmed they are ready. Which I understand, but if nobody chases her, she doesn't update anyone... And our main EA, who seems to have finally understood that, is off all week without telling anyone.

I know the 12th seems really close but I'm so done with it all; and we've got so much to do to get the new house ready for the baby. I'm so worried that it won't feel at all like "home", and that won't help with the new baby anxiety...

Today I really wish we'd never started trying to move.

Our solicitor has said pre Christmas completion is unlikely not impossible.

I've just messaged the EA and asked if he can ask the other solicitor to get on board with getting a shift on basically.

I need a home for Christmas

Aw I'm sorry, @Getyourarseofffthequattro. I hope the EA can nudge things along.

Today has been... fun. Our seller kicked off about lack of progress and then got annoyed that our estate agent is off this week, which was also news to us.

Then our solicitor said she was drawing down funds, which got everyone excited...

Then our seller told us his solicitor had said there were further enquiries from our buyer.

Eventually got hold of our solicitor who said our buyer had requested an indemnity policy; which I think is now sorted...

And he now thinks he's ready to exchange. So tomorrow or Thursday, we hope.

@TakeYourFinalPosition

Aw I'm sorry, *@Getyourarseofffthequattro*. I hope the EA can nudge things along.

Today has been... fun. Our seller kicked off about lack of progress and then got annoyed that our estate agent is off this week, which was also news to us.

Then our solicitor said she was drawing down funds, which got everyone excited...

Then our seller told us his solicitor had said there were further enquiries from our buyer.

Eventually got hold of our solicitor who said our buyer had requested an indemnity policy; which I think is now sorted...

And he now thinks he's ready to exchange. So tomorrow or Thursday, we hope.

We've got 6 weeks. I don't see why it can't be done tbh! We are completing on our sale on the 19th.

That sounds stressful. Nothing ever goes smoothly does it?!

I'm so sorry @Getyourarseofffthequattro and @TakeYourFinalPosition, both situations sound mega stressful. The whole process is just such a load of shit isn't it.

Our seller's agent is mega on it, he messaged today to say that the only thing still outstanding in the whole chain is enquiries on the bottom purchase which is encouraging..! Hopefully they are nice straightforward enquiries which will be easily resolved.

I don't really know what my expectations are about the gap between exchange and completion except that surely if a completion date is fixed-ish and then exchange hasn't happened and it gets closer and closer that must get difficult with movers etc?! Ugh if/when we actually move I am staying in that house forever!

I noticed my solicitor has changed her surname. I know it's mean for me to think this, but she has just returned from 4 weeks of holiday and if she goes on honeymoon now I'll rock up to their office to meet their managing partner

I'm a bit concerned that we have only 6 weeks left before my mortgage offer expires. I'm ok with whatever, but the rest of the chain seems very emotionally invested. To be fair, I'm only ok because I have a therapist who is keeping my mental health afloat. What a shitshow.

Hi was wondering if I could join? Reading through your posts has helped my absolute burning frustration (misery loves company and all that!)

We are finally talking exchange after a 22 week process! We offered in May. To make that even more ridiculous, we are FTB and the sellers have no onward purchase, so it is literally just us. No chain.

The biggest issue has been the sellers absolutely useless solicitors who take weeks upon weeks to perform the simplist tasks. Originally we were aiming for an August move, the fact we may not even make it in this side of Christmas is honestly baffling to me.

I've more than once got to the point of wanting to pull out out of principle, but we love this house and love the location.

Constantly on at my solicitor, why do solicitors not do anything unless you poke them with a stick? If I performed that way at work I would be having serious performance reviews.

Sorry for the rant, trying to keep hold of my final marble.