How long should it take from searches to completion

[OAmary]

Hello all. Just looking for some wisdom on the house buying process. Currently we are in a chain of three, FTB> US> Downsizer. Our selling side has been fairly straightforward and we are looking to exchange fairly soon. We've done everything our side for the purchase, we have had our mortgage accepted and survey done. We had our offer accepted 13/01, just under two weeks after accepting our buyers offer. So on paper it should be going fine.

Im nervous as our seller seems to be moving rather slow. In person she was telling us she will move to rent/ in with family and its only her in the house. As she said she is chain free and can move asap we thought he hit the jackpot. It took her almost three weeks to appoint a solicitor and we are still waiting on the draft contract for our solicitors to raise enquires- which seems to be a red flag to me. Ive chased EA multiple times for updates and just keep being told she is chasing and the vendor is always slow to respond. The vendor wasnt slow in accepting our offer- was 30 minutes after we offered and was super quick in allowing the survey to take place.

Our buyers are pregnant too, rather heavily now so we are looking to complete mid april. Looking at the searches with our LA it says on average 5 days at the moment. With this all being said would you say Mid April is feasible to complete the entire chain or should we prepare to move to rented. We are working now with 7 ish weeks to go, would that be enough for draft contract- searches-enquires-exchange-complete? We dont want to scare off our buyers so really mid april is when we would need to be done.

Do you have in writing that your vendor will be vacating the property? Was it advertised as no onwards chain?

Do you have in writing that your vendor will be vacating the property

Even if they do, it doesn't count for much, it won't make it legally binding.

no unfortunately we only have it in an informal email from the EA not from her. EA insisted the vendor was chain free and had options like rent and more than likely move in with family but was not listed as chain free. When we measured for furniture around a month ago we met the vendor and she was really lovely. She seemed super keen and she said she is looking to move asap, we spoke around easter as a good time and she was more than happy with that.

She is older and on her own and im getting the impression she isnt the most tech savy. EA only seems to like to communicate via email so im thinking could that be one of the reasons for her slow responses seeing as when she has been phoned such as for the survey we got answers quickly.

im not sure how much to push as im not entirely sure how quickly things can go from draft contract to completion as every house is different and last time we were FTB no chain buying from a vacated house. I'm contacting the EA weekly and even she is slow to get back to us. I dont mind waiting for the property but it gives me anxiety that we need to leave our current house in april and we are pacing towards that now.

@Mildura unfortunately I know that with bitter experience! But it does add context to how seriously their promise might be taken

@OAmary the less you push, chances are the longer it'll take. If you can get in the habit of chasing/checking in on a certain day of the week with your sale progression EA person, that can help

@spidershavetoomanyknees oh bless you, did yours fall through?

@spidershavetoomanyknees thats a good idea, at least she can expect my nagging emails hahaha

@OAmary thankfully no, but we are coming up to a full year since our offer was accepted so maybe we should have!

Do join us in the "Exchange/Completion waiting room" when you get further along 😂(thread here)

From Mid Jan to mid April is 3 months, and will have Easter in the middle. I'd say that's ambitious timing, and will rely on everything going smoothly and people replying promptly.
We were quoted 12-16 weeks - and would probably have been done in 13 if our buyers hadn't messed about. In the end it was 16 weeks, and a very frantic last week, with simultaneous exchange and completion.

@CatOnTheChair right at the beginning we were quoted by our solicitor mid april was doable but like you said its relying on more than just us to be efficient. i think you are right, its definitely ambitious. Can i ask what was your chain like?