Buyers/Sellers Exchange waiting room

[spidershavetoomanyknees]

Currently waiting for exchange, stuck in a never-ending loop of "there's been a couple more enquiries higher up the chain" and "we're nearly there now". Wondering if there's anyone else who would like to join me here in the waiting room of doom to vent into the void.

Next train for Exchange (line terminates at Completion) is currently delayed and they'd like to apologise for the delay.

Yes apparently his Mortgage advisor said to ‘put on hold’ getting one to him??? It’s a homebuyer’s report so I’m guessing nothing to do with the mortgage. Should be ok unless they start raising yet more questions!!
Not sure why our solicitor felt that our Agents were in the wrong unless he thought it was their mortgage advisor?? All just so annoying when we’ve had 3 months to get this sorted

@CoffeeWithCheese did it happen yesterday?

I'm planning to live vicariously through you all while we wait for the never-ending enquiries to be resolved above us...

@Sousuke can you do that? Partially exchange?

You can exchange on your sale without exchanging on your purchase at the same time, but that obviously comes with risk, and if something goes wrong on the purchase could potentially leave you without somewhere to live.

Nope! At least it was issues with collective solicitor-wrangling and not our buyers being dicks again.

Someone finally managed to get in touch with the solicitor at the bottom of the chain. Unfortunately, it sounds like the client is in absolutely no rush. Hasn't signed the contracts yet, isn't really willing to commit to a completion date. I could tear my hair out. One person who it sounds like is living comfortably at home with his parents holding up 8 families who desperate to move. Any ideas how we can put pressure on him to get himself into gear?

@thunderouslug that is incredibly frustrating. It’s so hard to find out what’s happening beyond those right next to you in the chain. I can only suggest a domino effect of pressure so that his vendors put the pressure on him. By this stage you would assume he has invested time and money in the purchase?
Enquiries on my buyer’s sale limp along with no indication of how long they will take or whether they can be satisfied. I think I’m becoming a PITA asking for updates but I need to know where they stand in order to decide whether / when to give up and relist.

Hello all, can I join (this never ending hell that I wouldnt wish on anyone!!)

When did you all buy/sell? We sold early October, purchased end October. All paperwork finally in this week, thought we could talk dates, but top of the chain is moving into rented and today we heard they are in no rush...have 2 big dogs they need to look after....

Going to ring EA today and ask about how long we can give them. I worry so much about chain collapsing and I dont think Ive the energy to do this again. Plus we love love the house we have purchased.

Good luck all = can we keep our sanity??!!!!

@thunderouslug I feel your frustration. See my post, its the end of the chain in no rush for us.....ARRGHHH!! We are going to ring EA and just put on the pressue.

I sold early October and my buyers already had an offer on their flat. That’s the full chain. Contracts for my sale have been in place since before Christmas with all enquires sorted but their flat sale is the nightmare that keeps on giving. I’ve already moved out into a rental and am not in a rush to buy but the worry and cost of the house being empty on the other side of the country is taking its toll.

@Karmatime Well, we were supposed to exchange and complete last week so I don't understand how they haven't gotten the memo yet that it is time to hurry up a little. Like you said, surely they have invested time and money into this. Although it sounded like there was some "bank of mum and dad" involved because one of the big hurdles was that the mum wasn't available to transfer the deposit.

@MrsBlondie Commiserations. Similar timeline here. We were pretty quick for such a long chain but we decided on completion last week in early Feb. So I can't understand how one person hasn't even signed the contracts yet?

We just literally exchanged!!! Complete next Friday! I gets my lovely beautiful craft room with sanded floor boards and everything!!!

@CoffeeWithCheese Congratulations!!! I want to say "time to relax" but I know that's not true. Hope the move goes smoothly.

I also just got an update. Sounds like we can exchange tomorrow. Turns out, the bottom of the chain wasn't just dragging his feet, he was also on holiday abroad. Or rather, still is on holiday abroad but his solicitor is accepting scanned copies of his signed contract as long as he manages to get back with the real ones by completion.

@CoffeeWithCheese congrats on exchanging. One step closer to that craft room!

Congratulations @CoffeeWithCheese it is always heartening to hear someone has made it, and your craft room sounds fabulous!
I feel as if I’m going to be the last man standing on this thread. Absolutely no indication as to when or if these enquiries with my buyer’s sale will be resolved.
I am self-medicating daily with gin, it helps a bit!
Fingers crossed for you @thunderouslug

Ah I'm so happy for you! 🥳

@CoffeeWithCheese phew! We made it through the tunnel a few weeks ago - today the packers have been like a swarm of locusts. There's 22 years of stuff to move here...we complete on Monday all being well.

@CoffeeWithCheese congratulations!! Very envious

@Katisha how exciting! We are potentially having packers and I’m excited to see it after the stories I’ve been told.

Still in limbo here. Was supposed to have soil results back today but nope. Chain below us all agreed to the completion date. Not heard from above. Quite possibly they’re waiting for the results of the soil test which isn’t unreasonable.

I’m so stressed it’s unreal. I’m supposed to be leaving my job in 10 days but can’t even hand my notice in as sale isn’t confirmed. (I have a lot of leave to take so can give my months notice whilst on leave) Bosses are understanding but getting twitchy as they can’t advertise my role until I resign and the next lot of recruitment is next week.

@spidershavetoomanyknees @Mildura Yes its basically staggered exchange / breaking the chain. Only possible from the bottom of the chain up.

So bottom of chain expires on 7th. The middle solicitor apparently was ready with that property file but has been slow with finalising the sale of our property which is the top of the chain (just two links). Its being discussed in the background, to go ahead and stagger if she can't meet the deadline. However at this point everyone is pushing her to get our property ready for exchange next week. My solicitor has our signed contract and we haven't been asked anything further for a month when enquiries were responded to.....so we are collectively holding our breath hoping she finishes up her file doesn't ask more questions, and allows an exchange next week or worst case the 7th. If she does we all go together....if say by Monday/Tuesday nothing is agreed, I'm hoping the bottom of the chain and our buyer agree to move forward and we get staggered a few days behind them.....I'd say its lower risk if say they exchange on the 2nd with a completion on the 7th, and we exchange on the 7th with a completion on the 8th/9th/10th. I really hope we all just exchange on the 2nd/3rd and complete on the 7th.

Congrats @CoffeeWithCheese

Don't worry @Karmatime we're only a month in to the process so I expect to be here for a while.

Packers have been mentioned on here a few times. We're paying extra for packing as well but haven't done in the past. I read they're kind of like locust descending on your house and packing everything in sight. Is that right? Absolutely everything? Even stuff like food and toiletries? I'm trying to plan ahead because our car will be so full already with the pets, so the more they take, the better for me.

@thunderouslug the packers will ask you what not to take. As ours is a big move it's taking several days. Bit of a panic yesterday as I thought they'd packed my car keys but no. We've put some stuff like immediate paperwork and laptops in cars to keep them out of the way.
But yes they just get on with it and just require coffee as they go. It all magically disappears.
We haven't booked them to unpack though so that's probably going to take years...

We're paying for packers as well - although we've packed a lot of random bits over time with decluttering and putting stuff into storage to sell the house (we had completely outgrown this place and I think half of Build A Bear is in storage from my daughter's room)... dog is getting kennelled for the duration, other pets (we have 4 hamsters and 2 guinea pigs are going in DH's car) and I'll take bits and bobs like my work laptop and stuff in my own car - they're coming the day before to do the bulk of the packing/loading and should make the actual clearing out day a bit less painful, especially since it's only a short move (about 3 miles).

We're going from a 2 bed semi which was small to start with, into a 4 bed, three floor, huge additional loft bit boarded out and set up for storage plus a cellar house - so I'm quite looking forward to unpacking and actually having space to put everything for once!

I just need to stop mentally playing furniture Tetris while I'm trying to get to sleep now - planning out my office/craft room/woman cave.

Sounds lovely @CoffeeWithCheese Im so jealous of you!!

Its never-ending loop of doom here haha! Im just trying not to think about it too much. Apparently we are awaiting hard copy of one piece of paperwork then we are all done. BUT we cannot exchange until end of chain has found somewhere to rent. How long do we give them for goodness sake - sob sob. Im thinking its going to be April at this rate and I could cry.
I wont though, Ill grin and keep on living in limbo for a bit longer!