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Original poster

Buyers want completion in 4 days!

34 replies

Sittingonasale · 10/07/2023 17:35

This has to be a mistake right?

Solicitor dropped me an email to say they want completion 14/07/23.

We haven't even exchanged yet.
Offices now closed so can't clarify tonight.

OP posts:
OneForTheRoadThen · 10/07/2023 17:37

It could be, we bought recently and were told there's a minion in of 3 days between exchange and completion. We were happy to agree as we were sitting tenants but you don't have to, just negotiate.

OneForTheRoadThen · 10/07/2023 17:38

Sorry, minimum of, typo!

Mercurial123 · 10/07/2023 17:39

I've completed and exchanged on the same day.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 10/07/2023 17:40

Haven't heard from them since enquiries sone back in June so this is a bit of a surprise. There's no way I'll be ready this week!

OP posts:
AbacusAvocado · 10/07/2023 17:40

It’s possible, but obviously you don’t have to agree to it. Just respond with whatever would work for you, eg if you need one week between exchange and completion in order to move out then that would be standard.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 10/07/2023 17:41

I told them I couldn't do it before the end of July. My solicitor knows this.

OP posts:
Royalsingingseal · 10/07/2023 17:54

Our solicitor told our buyers solicitor our planned move dates 8 weeks in advance. After much chasing their solicitor told their client a week before the dates. It didn’t happen, but it was so frustrating that some solicitors just sit on information. Negotiate I’m sure it will be fine.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 10/07/2023 18:54

Royalsingingseal · 10/07/2023 17:54

Our solicitor told our buyers solicitor our planned move dates 8 weeks in advance. After much chasing their solicitor told their client a week before the dates. It didn’t happen, but it was so frustrating that some solicitors just sit on information. Negotiate I’m sure it will be fine.

Communication is dreadful. Not a peep out of EA either! 🥵

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 10/07/2023 18:56

Typo for 14th August?

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 10/07/2023 18:58

PuttingDownRoots · 10/07/2023 18:56

Typo for 14th August?

This is what I'm hoping and praying!

OP posts:
TobiasForgesContactLense · 10/07/2023 19:02

In theory you can exchange and complete on the same day but would only usually be done if the property is empty and there isn't a chain.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2023 19:15

'I want doesn't get'...

Reiterate via your solicitor that you won't be ready to move out until the end of July.

When we sold our previous house the buyers were desperate to move in, really tried pressuring us - said they'd be arriving with their delivery van the next day at one point, before we'd completed! We just told them sorry, we'll still be here so you'll have to wait. We knew they wouldn't be able to find anywhere else before the day we'd be moving out. So there was no need to 'negotiate' - just calmly stuck to our date.

Justmemyselfandi999 · 10/07/2023 19:29

As part of a small chain I have previously exchanged and completed on the same day

HopelessEstateAgents · 10/07/2023 19:35

Just tell them you can't, they are not the boss of you Grin

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 10/07/2023 19:58

I understand you can complete and exchange on the same day but surely I can't get everything ready with 4 days notice?
Not to mention taking time off work and organising removals.
It's not going to happen!

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2023 20:02

It's not going to happen!

That's really all there is to it. It's ok for them to say what they'd like to happen, but they aren't in a position to bully you into moving out before it's logistically possible for you to do so.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 10/07/2023 21:10

ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2023 20:02

It's not going to happen!

That's really all there is to it. It's ok for them to say what they'd like to happen, but they aren't in a position to bully you into moving out before it's logistically possible for you to do so.

I agree. :)

OP posts:
eurochick · 10/07/2023 22:30

You can negotiate the date. Unless their mortgage is expiring or something there should wiggle room.

I have exchanged and completed on the same day twice. It's bloody awful but can be done. We had removals reserved in case it went ahead on that date.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2023 22:44

Unless their mortgage is expiring or something there should wiggle room.
If their mortgage is expiring, that's their problem isn't it?

MinnieMountain · 11/07/2023 06:28

If their mortgage was expiring, their solicitor would have mentioned it to yours by now.

eurochick · 11/07/2023 06:56

Well yes, it's their problem but if they don't complete and the mortgage offer expires the chain will likely collapse. Our second instance of exchanging and completing on the same day was due to this, although we were made aware that someone in the chain had this issue more than four days in advance.

Yea2023 · 11/07/2023 07:10

We exchanged and completed in 3 working days, luckily over a weekend so 5 actual days.

It was that or a collapsed chain (5) as we would have legitimately lost our buyers.

Had movers on standby and packed a decade of house in 3 days.

Campervangirl · 11/07/2023 07:34

I had this with my first time buyers, they gave me a week.
They had no house to pack and move, I had 20 yrs of shit to pack 😁
I went back to my solicitor and said no and gave a date that suited me, no issues at all.
We completed and exchanged on the same day.
I doubt your buyers are going to pull out at this late stage

primoseyellow · 11/07/2023 07:43

It's pretty common to exchange and complete on the same day so maybe they are use to this? I think most people start packing and are ready to go once solicitors are nearing the end of the process.

Nannyfannybanny · 11/07/2023 07:44

Seems quite normal these days. Our last 2,we completed in 3 days
The move here was fun!! I'm very superstitious,so didn't pack(I've had people back out AFTER exchange,) DH was away on a course, signed contract and was faxed over. I was working FT nights,I worked all night,packed all day,DS, helped , after 48 hours,I was hallucinating! This was a 3 bed semi.We wanted to be settled in by Christmas,and moved 16.12. it was snowing!! We couldn't get the boiler to light... went to bed at 8.30 exhausted and with an electric blanket!!