Signing contract for exchange, help please!

[TrueBuys]

I'm due to exchange contracts in the next couple of weeks. However, I haven't seen the draft contract from my solicitor yet. Is it normal that this has to be signed and witnessed and posted back? Or can it be signed and witnessed electronically?

The seller is issuing ultimatums, do hoping an electronic signature may be enough...

@zaffa

Oh *@HogDogKetchup* as this thread has thrown up all sorts of questions about my recollections (I blame having had a baby since we moved only three years ago 😂) does the solicitor send over the mortgage docs to sign or do we do those independently with the bank? I can't for the life of me recall! I know they sent us the info direct from the bank but I can't recall what we signed (but I know usually the solicitors handle the mortgage / money laundering checks etc). It's driving me mad trying to recollect it all!

The solicitor will send you your mortgage deed for signature.

@WeAreTheHeroes

When we signed the mortgage deed, we had to have our signatures certified by a solicitor. Not all mortgage lenders require a mortgage deed.

They do - it’s the deed that allows you to register a charge on the property.

@MinnieMountain

I suppose what’s confusing some posters is that different law firm send the contract out to sign at different times. My employers do it as soon as we get it, others won’t until they have all their enquiries answered.

Yes - they’re confusing the contract, transfer, probably mortgage deed aswell. Some firms send it at the outset and amend in manuscript for any changes, others send it once it’s agreed.

Thanks @HogDogKetchup it sounds like there will be a contract, transfer form and mortgage deed to sign and send back then. It's stressful that the seller is piling on this pressure when it's clear we are so close to exchange, hopefully it's just empty threats and they'll be OK to wait for the signed paperwork to be returned.

Please don’t stress, I’m sure it will all happen as it should good luck.

TrueBuys What are they threatening to do?
Start again with a new buyer and wait another 3 or 4 months if they're lucky?
If they're in that much of a hurry they should have put their place on the market sooner and at a lower price. 🤷‍♀️

Good luck with the move always pack the loo rolls, tea bags and kettle separately I'm sure they're just being a PITA enthusiastic vendors.

@pussycatunpickingcrossesagain threatening to pull out if exchange not done in the next week. I understand it has taken a while to get to this point, but there's been steady progress throughout, my solicitor is very nice but understandably closed over Xmas and has other clients.

I also hope that it really isn't in the interest of the seller to start from scratch again, prices haven't increased in the past couple of months so no gain to them from starting again.

If progress has been slow they may be doubting whether you are serious. Christmas has been over for a few weeks now and the exchange form is a standard form that your solicitor could email you in a few minutes. You need to tell your solicitor to send you the form ASAP so you can get it signed and returned in time for the exchange. No-one can relax until the exchange of contracts has taken place as nothing is sure until then. You can always complete in a few week's time, but exchange is the crucial part and this is obviously what your seller is nervous about, so if you are committed to the purchase get the exchange done asap.