House move slowing down

[LittleMissPenny]

i haven’t heard from my solicitor since january 19th, the lsst update was that they are waiting for the last of the searches and to receive the property certificate within the next few weeks. Should I email and ask for an update?

I’d be in constant communication with the EA and my solicitor - can’t you phone them?

You're more patient than I am. I'd contact weekly at a bare minimum if they're not updating you!

I'd call if you can.

Yes! I'd be chasing about twice a week unless they give you a next time estimation. Ie searches won't be done until mid Feb and can't proceed until then.

I'd be on the phone to my solicitor every day! (And I was when I last moved.)

As above, I chase my solicitors daily now we're getting close to the finish line- before that once or twice a week.

We were told that the searches would take a maximum of 2 weeks to come back, what would you say to the estate agent regarding it?
i was told by someone that they charge extra for every email or phone call. I hope to be moved by end of march, does that sound realistic?

You need to speak to your solicitor. We have no idea!

Have you been quoted a fixed fee or hourly rate? That will determine if you're charged for every call. Who is the 'someone' who told you that? If it's not your conveyancing firm you need to establish the position for yourself.

I would call today. It's been 2 weeks and ask in a light hearted way if they charged for every phone call. I would hope it's fixed fee.

What did the contract you signed with them say about costs and payment?

We haven’t signed any contract with solicitor or paid anyone yet, they only told us how much the fee would be.

Seems to be the norm when moving, as soon as it reaches the solicitors everything slows to a snails pace

We had to chase ours 2-3 times a week. They were very slow. Annoyingly so.

There is no point in constant badgering, searches and certificates do take a couple or few weeks . And the middle part of conveyancing, working towards exchange can be v slow.

Each update, ask for the timescale, and then contact once that timescale is reached.

I'm surprised they've done the searches with you paying anything, most solicitors ask for this upfront.

I'd definitely call them as I'm not sure you've actually instructed them / they'll have done anything given your latest update. No solicitor I know would incur disbursements like searches without you making payment first.

We are in exactly the same position . It's tiresome isn't it .

We are expecting an update in the next few days to where we are at . Unfortunately there is a fairly big chain (7 ) so we just have to chase and wait .

I want to get packing!!

I live in Northern Ireland, searches take 2 weeks max here. Over here we do not pay our solicitor until the end of the process.

I have instructed them. This is what they have said last time and they haven’t asked for any payment.

Then you need to call them.