FTB - when to chase / what to expect

[lobsterz]

Offer accepted a couple of weeks ago on a place we really want. We are FTB and moved very quickly to get mortgage application in via our broker, instruct solicitor etc. First slight twinge of worry came when it took over a week to issue the memorandum of sale, because the sellers hadn't yet chosen a solicitor. Then we heard last week that the lenders' valuation was delayed by two weeks from the original date - we don't know whether that was a delay on their part or caused by the vendor (is it normal to wait several weeks for that to happen?). Today I've just heard from our solicitor that she wrote to the sellers' solicitor a week ago and still hasn't received confirmation of instructions from them.

I know this whole process is notoriously slow and painful, and it is entirely probable that our sellers have a rubbish/non-communicative solicitor. Ours seems hyper-efficient and keeps us updated on all the communications she has sent / not yet received responses to, which is great but no doubt adds to the stress! We're paranoid because we had a sale fall through last year due to scumbag agent/seller not being upfront about major issues, and we cannot afford to throw money at another sale that won't go through. So I guess what I'm asking is - does this all sound totally within the realm of normal and we should chill out? And/or at what point is it reasonable to email the agent and ask if there is any issue - because if the sellers are having second thoughts we need to get back to househunting asap...

Same situation. Just feels like it's dragging on. Been over a month since offer accepted yet no movement.

Has your seller found their onward purchase or are they selling the property chain free?

Usually the legals/mortgage/surveys don’t commence until the chain is complete.

@Porridgeislife they're moving into rental so it's chain free...

Ah yes. Question that statement very closely, as it’s amazing how many people decide to stay put when they find out how difficult it is to rent at the minute.

[quote lobsterz]@Porridgeislife they're moving into rental so it's chain free...[/quote]
Ah. Yes as a PP says that would worry me too.

In our situation the house is empty!

They are looking for an onward purchase. If the solictors hasn’t been instructed yet, the vendors are waiting for something and that’s usually to find another property. If they were truly moving into a rental they would get on with the conveyancing but ask for extra time between exchange and completion in order for them to find a rental, which is reasonable. I would call the EA and ask for clarification as to what the vendors plans are as you want confidence that the sale is progressing.
For the valuation, it could be either the lender or the vendor who doesn’t have availability until then. There’s probably little you can do about that I’m afraid

@Fretfulmum that is helpful, thanks. Yes, my assumption was they might need time to find a rental property at some point but that shouldn't cause a delay now - we will be open to that particularly as it seems no nursery spots are available in the area for love nor money until July earliest It's good to hear that a friendly call to the agent to ask for clarity won't seem bonkers (and we hadn't even considered the risk that they wouldn't be finding rental accommodation tbh). We're painfully aware that it's a very sellers market and to an extent that means we need to put up with whatever, but after our last experience we have limited tolerance (and financial capacity for) being messed around!

Yeah even if seller has said to agent that they intend to rent the agent won’t necessarily tell you if they hear they no longer plan to do this. So totally fine to ask agent what’s going on.
But on the face of it i don’t think anything major to worry about just press with the agent that you want to get a shift on. We have just completed after a really difficult conveyancing process that has been dragging on with increasing stress for 6 months. Hope it improves for you.

@Fretfulmum

They are looking for an onward purchase. If the solictors hasn’t been instructed yet, the vendors are waiting for something and that’s usually to find another property. If they were truly moving into a rental they would get on with the conveyancing but ask for extra time between exchange and completion in order for them to find a rental, which is reasonable. I would call the EA and ask for clarification as to what the vendors plans are as you want confidence that the sale is progressing. For the valuation, it could be either the lender or the vendor who doesn’t have availability until then. There’s probably little you can do about that I’m afraid

Agree with this. TBH it sounds like an ok level of progress for the first couple of weeks, surveys/valuations can take a bit of time to arrange and its not necessarily the fault of the vendor.

I've been stung before by the vendor that says they are moving into rental then finds an onward purchase a couple of weeks later. It's really common and a right pain! I agree that a friendly call to the EA to check how things are going would be a good call before you spend any more money on the process.

We had almost the opposite issue in that we sold our house to what we thought was a cash buyer and just weeks before the sale it became clear he was actually top of a complicated chain. The EA can’t properly verify what they claim their plans are and even if they can they can change their mind and you can’t do anything about it

I had the 'she'll move in to rental' assurances from the agent just before I booked a £1300 survey, only to be told by a different agent that she was actually looking to by as we stood outside the property waiting gif the surveyor to be done! Of course after three months she still hadn't found a place and I pulled out.
The valuer is your end so it's up to your mortgage lender.
Afraid the system in this country has a awful.
I'd keep looking on the off chance they decide to buy and you get caught up in a chain. I eventually moved in to a succession of airbnbs as my sale went through but I was let down by another seller (even the brochure said chain free, but seller pulled out due to illness). I finally found an empty house with sellers abroad keen to close the deal.

Urgh thanks all, this is all very helpful. Tbh - we love where we are currently (but cannot afford to buy) and I can definitely foresee it being a giant pain to get childcare sorted with very short notice, so if there did turn out to be a chain that would not necessarily be a problem - it would just be good to get clarity. We'll do as suggested and call the agent for a friendly chat. Also @ukborn I understand the valuation is being done by our lender but had assumed they would need access to the property and that therefore the delay could have been caused by the vendor if they suddenly changed their mind about giving access on that day, is that not the case? (Though of course it's also entirely plausible that the lender had to reschedule because of their own availability so not reading too much into that by itself)

Usually the mortgage provider will do a drive by or desk based valuation.

I too would be cautious about promising to go into rental. Our vendors had that plan but couldn’t find anywhere just before exchange. luckily they had family locally and were too motivated to move to pull out. But if they didn’t have that we would have had to wait until their onward purchase completed 6 months later than when we actually moved in or would out after paying for survey and solicitors.

Yea the vendor has to give access, they can ‘not be available’ for whatever reason they like it’s still their house.

I know this whole process is notoriously slow and painful

Our FTB are on it, so are we (offered on 17th accepted 18th mortgage valuation today and they’re buying previous buyers searches), it’s as fast or slow as everyone wants it to be to be honest.