The all new buyers/sellers waiting room (continued) thread

[sweetpickle2]

New thread!

@BG2015 we've been packing for a few weeks now. Only things left in the house are what we use day to day. We've done loads of tip and charity shop runs. Next job is the garage and need to take the swing set down in the garden. Our aim all along has been to be in the new house by Easter but at this point I'm not sure if that's realistic.

Our purchase is going ahead at a pace from our side. in less than two weeks the mortgage had been approved (subject to valuation), all forms submitted and survey completed with only minor issues we weren't aware of so all good on that front too.

My solicitors have chased up confirmation of the draft contracts and seem to be on top of things.

With a small chain I'm hoping it will only be another 6 weeks or so til we get the keys.

Just a lot of waiting around wondering what's happening with the other part of the chain (our FTB's) as our sellers house is empty

Anyone having a problem with conveyancer who does nt communicate ?
No updates for three weeks due to annual leave and being out of office according to automated emails anyone else selling having this problem ?
Could I change conveyancer should be signing by now - no chain

@CHRIS003 , I think if you were to change at this point (and I don't know whether that is a practical option or not), then it might cause further delays while the new solicitor gets up to speed.

I would suggest trying to contact someone else at the same firm. When my solicitor takes leave she makes sure that her emails are forwarded to a colleague / assistant, who can chase things or pass on queries, but perhaps in some cases they don't bother to do that.

Thankyou - I do have an email address for a team leader who I gather is the boss of my conveyancer so I will message her on Monday- the issue is that conveyancer does not seem to be very proactive.
She send answers to buyers solicitors question regarding leasehold at the end of Jan but since then she has been on annual leave and no one has chased it as it seems noone covers her work when she is waway - she was back last week but the only answer I could get was she is working through her emails - catching up.
This week out of office emails. Very frustrating

Gave my solicitor a call on Friday - all is very quiet. She's had nothing from my vendors solictor yet apart from confirmation they've been instructed (just over two weeks since memo of sale). She's had no queries back yet from my buyers - but the survey is happening in the next few days, so at least there is visible progress on that. I don't like the quiet - I need something to do!

I've started a massive declutterring. We're downsizing so we've got to get rid of furniture as well as the usual clutter we all seem to accumulate.

I'm a regular at our local charity shop now . I'm actually enjoying getting rid of stuff.

Evening all, we had a call Friday saying that our file has been sent over to there compliance team to get checked to make sure everything is all good for exchange and asked us about a completion date so I’m hoping by middle of next week we will have exchanged and a date is confirmed. I’m hoping we can complete on the 15th so keeping my fingers crossed.

I'm the same, hate silence and not knowing what's going on. Nagged my agent to get the vendor's sols to send over draft contract so we can start the searches. My sol doesn't update me until I chase her, which I find frustrating. The sols I used for my previous 2 purchases had this great online tracker that updated for every contact/document/email being exchanged. Was gutted to find they folded over Covid so i just chose someone local - not impressed so far despite the good reviews.

We are getting married and honeymoon end April so I would really like to complete before then (so we can just relax). But I also don't want to complete just before our wedding day so it's a tricky balance. We're both chain free so is really dependent on the solicitors working quickly.

Any buyers noticing there are a lot of properties on the market that are run down and the sellers are Landlords? I'd say about 95% of the properties at the weekend were all Landlord was trying to sell and all the properties had a variation of damp and mould.
(I'm London based)

I've noticed a lot of holiday let type places are coming up, @MotherOfRatios (we're in a UK holiday hotspot) and lots of mega mansions, where I'm guessing interest rates have made them expensive to repay.

Very little what I'd call 'normal average residential'.

Hrmm not sure I've noticed. I'm outside the London bubble though. Seems like there there are a few ex-rental or currently tenanted properties but looks like they are harder to shift so hanging around the market longer.

Definitely feels like less family homes on the market, the ones that are available are on the over priced side and/or need work.

Houses are shifting more quickly lately, but there are quite a few homes coming up that are dated as hell but priced as if no work is needed. They're lingering on the market for an age. Hopeful (or just greedy) inheritors😬

Good luck to all for the week ahead! Look forward to hearing updates 😊

Yes quite a few dated/run down places

@MotherOfRatios I've noticed a lot of rental 2 beds but I think there were always those in the 1-2 bed market. Was watching old Location Location episodes for 2015 and most of the 2 beds in London were rentals. Have not noticed it in 3 bed+ but also very very few coming on generally. And the ones that do either go under offer within days or stick around because there's something wrong with them. Not sure if that's par for course though in popular areas - all my friends have complained of the same for the last decade.

Good thing about rental is they can be negotiated on as vendors want a quick sale. Bad is they can sometimes be in rubbish condition and can be a mare to get rid of tenants. My first flat was a rental, and it was in great condition with the tenants in-situ. But they refused to move despite sufficient notice and took 3 months for the vendor to 'coax' them out (sure he paid them money in the end). So stressful though it worked out in the end. That's why I never consider rentals with tenants in them now.

Hi checking in to see where you’ve all go to. Hope it happens for you this week @sweetpickle2 !
Thought I’d share a couple of pics. The last 2 weeks has been all cleaning, putting away (and spending £££! - discovered as well as a new fridge we need to replace the oven and the electrics! TG we had a bit of money left over). Maintenance needed on roof and gutters. Dehumidifier installed. We’re getting there :)
Good luck to you all and long timers @ShittyGlitter @ibelieveinmirrorballs @noodles44

Beautiful pics @Jaq27 and glad you're getting there, even with the extra expenses!

Fingers crossed for everyone this week (and for myself, please....!) We've had the email from Halifax confirming the mortgage funds are confirmed to be released the day before our completion, hope we can exchange so that actually happens!

Our recent purchase and sale had a lawyer with the online system. I have bought and sold maybe 15 houses in my life, and this was so far and above the best conveyancing experience I had ever had! And the same price as the other useless ones we used a few years ago.

It was worth the wait and the stress !!
wishing luck to you @sweetpickle2

So pleased for you @Jaq27 ! My move is on Friday. I’m in complete overwhelm.

Arrghh I know @ibelieveinmirrorballs the build up to moving is horrible, but it's worth all the waiting and stressing in the end.
This board has been a lifeline for supporting me through the torturous buying&selling process and a much-needed place to vent. Thanks to everyone! x

Ah @Jaq27 looks like you have moved to paradise! Hope the beautiful location is making up for the unexpected expenditures.

Good luck with the move on Friday @ibelieveinmirrorballs! And to all my fellow hangers on!

Awaiting an update on exchange dates this week and hoping to have one. Solicitor is chasing it apparently!

How lovely!!! My ultimate goal is to live by the sea one day 💙 many congrats to you!

Gorgeous pics @Jaq27 !

Start of a new week that I hope leads to some progress. We're now waiting on our solicitor reviewing the replies on our purchase and on our sale we're waiting to see what the notices served on the developer were so we can ask the developer if they were discharged. Our sale was progressing at pace, at this point our purchase will be further ahead!

Progression vibes to all and good luck to those exchanging/completing this week.

I have a couple of viewings this week to view flats but I don't know about anyone else but it would be interesting to hear about buyers in London estate agents are incredibly lazy They don't ring back when they say they're going to ring back the customer service is sloppy and just terrible. I feel like you spent half your life chasing for answers just to view a property it's a good job we don't have selling sunset in London as A estate agents would be terrible.