How long does a sale with no chain take?

[Rememberall]

Hi all, am a first time buyer and keen lurker here and wonder if you can give me a sense of timescales?

I’m buying a house where the seller is moving in with family, so no chain.

I’m waiting to hear back from the mortgage company and trying to find a surveyor.

Searches have already been done by a previous buyer who pulled out and I’m going to buy them from him.

I’m not anticipating a problem with the survey as house is just 6 years old.

So, I’m assuming another 2-3 weeks to hear back about the mortgage and get the survey, but how long does the conveyancing process usually take after that? I’m using a local solicitor with a good reputation.

I’m hoping to move around mid July / the start of the summer holidays, does that timescale seem about right? Might it be sooner?

Recently bought a property with no chain and the legalities still took 4+ months. Searches did take a while though.

I sold with no chain a few months ago and it took pretty much exactly 2 months from offer acceptance to completion.

Does the mortgage company not require you to use a surveyor from their panel? How old are the searches?

Thank you, that sounds encouraging, looks like should be sorted by at least the end of the summer if not before. I’m hoping it will be straightforward!

@LIZS I thought buyers organise their own surveys? The searches were done in February / March I think.

im a first time buyer, no chain, searches done, on week 11 now and still gonna be another 4 they’ve said, searches only took a week too the rest has just been solicitors back and forth

Mortgage company will require a valuation survey as a minimum, usually done by one of their panel. There may be the option to upgrade this to Homebuyers or more detail rather than organise it separately. Do make sure nothing has changed locally since those Searches, permission for further phases of building for example.

Mine took 9 weeks mid June to mid august last year , all cash buyers just my buyer , me and my forwards house , both houses were surveyed , only delay was waiting to get searches back on the house I was buying

Recently bought a house as a cash buyer, vendor was moving in with family. Took 14 weeks, absolutely ridiculous!

You have to push along the solicitors - which helps if both you and the vendors are in communication, and chasing both of your solicitors.

We've just completed the purchase of an empty property, first viewed 1st February, with offer made and accepted two weeks later. No mortgage. No house to sell. Still took eight weeks.

My son’s transaction took 2.5 months - FTB, cash purchase of an empty property. It should have taken about a fortnight. I think the solicitors strung it out to justify their fees.

Thanks all. I kind of know my solicitor (sister’s friend) so hoping she will do a good job for me. I’m dreaming wistfully of a holiday in late August, would be wonderful to be all moved in by then!

My neighbour is on almost six months - no chain, first time buyers. Apparently the buyer’s solicitor is terrible. My neighbour is pulling her hair out.

4 weeks, no chain both cash buyers. Searches were used from a previous buyer who pulled out. Might be longer with mortgage though