How long did it take for buyer to sign contract

Mooshamoo · 2023-10-22T17:13:48+00:00

I am waiting for my house buyer to sign the contract of sale . The sale contract was sent to his lawyer 3.5 weeks ago. My lawyer has gently reminded his lawyer about it. How long did it take your house buyer to sign the contract?

Doodgreen12 · 22/10/2023 18:29

I must admit I put mine down before work one morning and forgot about it then had to sign it in a hurry when we were reminded! We hadn’t found a house ourselves at that point though so all was fine. With the house we’re buying I received the contract, signed and handed it back the next day.

ClematisBlue49 · 22/10/2023 18:34

A friend received contracts to sign from her solicitor, but there were so many errors (including names and the sale price!) that she had to send them back, so both sets of solicitors had missed quite basic mistakes. This added nearly two weeks to the process. I'd expect solicitors to be better at getting these things right in the first place, but perhaps not.

In other words, a delay does not necessarily mean anything sinister, but there's no harm in chasing it up again.

BrimfulOfMash · 22/10/2023 23:16

Have they commissioned a survey / valuation / Homebuyers Report and had the results back?
Commissioned searches… and had them back?
Had your Fixtures and Fittings form and the one with all the questions about neighbour disputes etc back from you?
Sent enquiries based on any or all of the above?
This all takes a while and is more of a hold up than actually signing the contract.

Are you ready to exchange?

Original poster

Mooshamoo · 23/10/2023 13:22

I'm ready to exchange.

The buyer has decided that he doesn't want a survey as the house is quite cheap, and he also works as a plumber/builder himself, so he said he can do any work himself.

OP posts:

SuddenlyOld · 23/10/2023 20:26

Took our buyers 4 weeks, they didn't seem to understand the process and sent the contract to their solicitor 2nd class post! And they were the ones pushing for an early completion date

Trampley · 23/10/2023 21:03

Several purchases/houses sold - I always signed within a day or two, and my buyers always signed within a few days.

Stephisaur · 24/10/2023 13:45

We had 2 weeks between being told the contracts were available to sign and us actually having time to attend an appointment to sign them. Solicitor was local so that was easier than her trying to run through them with us on Teams.

Took another 7 weeks until we could exchange though 😂

Original poster

Mooshamoo · 24/10/2023 13:51

Stephisaur · 24/10/2023 13:45

We had 2 weeks between being told the contracts were available to sign and us actually having time to attend an appointment to sign them. Solicitor was local so that was easier than her trying to run through them with us on Teams.

Took another 7 weeks until we could exchange though 😂

Ah I see. That might be one thing causinf the delay.

Because when I bought my house, the solicitor asked me did I want to go to her office or did she want me to post out contracts.
She posted out contracts for me to sign , which was handover for me.

I guess maybe some people would prefer to go into office to sign, and have to wait until they can.

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Darknight5 · 24/10/2023 13:54

If you’re worried maybe you could ask the estate agent to chase it up? I found my solicitors often got bogged down ‘waiting for the other solicitor’ when sometimes they were actually the problem. The estate agent was more useful in chasing.

Original poster

Mooshamoo · 24/10/2023 14:15

I contacted my estate agent.

He told me to contact my solicitor.

I'll wait another week. Then I'll chase one or the other of them up again.

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SuddenlyOld · 24/10/2023 18:11

Mooshamoo · 24/10/2023 13:51

Ah I see. That might be one thing causinf the delay.

Because when I bought my house, the solicitor asked me did I want to go to her office or did she want me to post out contracts.
She posted out contracts for me to sign , which was handover for me.

I guess maybe some people would prefer to go into office to sign, and have to wait until they can.

Show quote history

How would you get them witnessed in their office? Or they able to witness them? I thought it had to be a non family member who'd known you for a few years. I suppose you could take your witness in with you

Original poster

Mooshamoo · 24/10/2023 18:13

SuddenlyOld · 24/10/2023 18:11

How would you get them witnessed in their office? Or they able to witness them? I thought it had to be a non family member who'd known you for a few years. I suppose you could take your witness in with you

Show quote history

My witness waa my mother when I bought a house. They didn't say it had to be a non family member. Maybe every solicitor is different.

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BrimfulOfMash · 24/10/2023 18:15

I think my solicitor’s receptionist witnessed mine. I think anyone can do it, it’s not like a passport.

MinnieMountain · 25/10/2023 06:16

Transfers are witnessed, not contracts.

SuddenlyOld · 28/10/2023 13:16

Whatever it was, it was bundled in with the contract and we were told it had to be non family witness who'd known us >3 years

Doodgreen12 · 28/10/2023 16:47

We had to get a witness when we signed both our contracts for buying and selling.

MinnieMountain · 29/10/2023 19:29

If it’s in England or Wales, it would have been the Transfer @Doodgreen12. I’m a conveyancing solicitor.

Doodgreen12 · 30/10/2023 15:22

Ah 👍😊

Original poster

Mooshamoo · 09/11/2023 12:33

I rang the estate agent two weeks ago. He rang my buyer. The estate agent said that the buyer hoped to sign the contract on Wednesday last week.

He still hasn't.

I feel like crying. It's so stressful. It's been nearly two months now.

My first buyer pulled out. This is my second buyer.

I just want to know if he is going to buy or pull out. The not knowing is driving me mad. It's unfair.
My estate agent took the house off the market when this buyer offered and I accepted.

Now we are waiting for two months for this buyer to sign contracts. When the house could have been on the market to other buyers and other offers during that time.

If he pulls out at the last minute I'm back to square one.

I'm so nervous every day.

Please universe, let this man sign the contract.

OP posts:

Mildura · 09/11/2023 13:10

Mooshamoo · 09/11/2023 12:33

I rang the estate agent two weeks ago. He rang my buyer. The estate agent said that the buyer hoped to sign the contract on Wednesday last week.

He still hasn't.

I feel like crying. It's so stressful. It's been nearly two months now.

My first buyer pulled out. This is my second buyer.

I just want to know if he is going to buy or pull out. The not knowing is driving me mad. It's unfair.
My estate agent took the house off the market when this buyer offered and I accepted.

Now we are waiting for two months for this buyer to sign contracts. When the house could have been on the market to other buyers and other offers during that time.

If he pulls out at the last minute I'm back to square one.

I'm so nervous every day.

Please universe, let this man sign the contract.

What explanation is the buyer giving?

mummymummymummummum · 09/11/2023 13:13

Is it worth asking your solicitor to apply some pressure? If not signed by 15 November it’s going back on the market?

DepartureLounge · 09/11/2023 13:27

Please universe, let this man sign the contract.

Oh god, I think we're all willing him to, with you! Come on, buyer, sign!!