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Original poster

Harrrrrumph! Waiting to exchange.

89 replies

NorthernLurker · 15/04/2008 16:51

So we are buying and selling. I made a special trip to collet the papers today for signing, understanding that everything is in order. Then had to ring my solicitor about a minor query and asked if they had any idea of an exchange date. They said that they didn't know if everyone else was ready yet and written today to ask. There are only three of us in the chain and I'm sure I had been told last week everyone was ready! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! Pass the gin please. At least it's all still on - anyone else out there in the same (nervous) boat?

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PixelHerder · 22/04/2008 11:10

Okay done - reporting for worry duty today (a bit tardily tho', oops!)

Now go and put 'Three Little Birds' and 'Don't Worry Be Happy' on a loop on your stereo, put your feet up and chill. Don't forget to have gin breaks.

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 22/04/2008 13:09

Excellent work Pixel - thanks. Bit more movement today - estate agent has spoken to buyer and he has the quote from the electrician and hasn't said anything about a price reduction so I'm cautiously optimistic. He was apparently seeing his soliciotr shortly (whatever that means). I've also had a letter from our solicitor saying they've heard from our vendors as to when they would like to complete - which ties in nicely with us so it could be all systems go.....eek! Trying not to get too excited.

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PixelHerder · 22/04/2008 15:32

Oh that sounds promising, good luck! No news here today, I'm trying to summon the will to phone the conveyancer to chase, again...

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 22/04/2008 16:00

Good Luck with that - have a nice cool glass of gin as well!

Aaaaaaaaah!

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bringmesunshine · 22/04/2008 18:22

Well no news is good news ladies.

I am sure any day now there will be the 'we have exchanged how the buggering hell am I meant to pack all our belongings in the next 10 minutes' thread

Will have a supportive glass of wine for you tonight because I am nice like that....

clam · 22/04/2008 20:24

Oh go on, then. If you must.... because I was there last week and know how you feel. These things can and do go through, I can vouch for that. Even in this climate.

PixelHerder · 22/04/2008 20:32

Cheers girls

Aaaaaw BMS, you are LOVELY to think of us And so right about the impending packing trauma (assuming exchange EVER happens of course)

I got distracted with sorting things out for packing today while avoiding ringing the conveyancers - but I AM ringing them in the morning. [serious, stressed, slightly squiffy emoticon]

PixelHerder · 22/04/2008 20:35

x post Clam - you're lovely too

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 22/04/2008 21:15

That's better

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bringmesunshine · 23/04/2008 10:12

Pixel - have you called the solicitors yet? ...well consider yourself chased

NL - don't pack get the lovely removal men to do it for you and ply them with copious cups of tea and Jaffa Cakes, Chocolate Hob Nobs or Shortbread. If memory serves me right Jaffa Cakes were a surprising hit - 2 boxes in a morning

PixelHerder · 23/04/2008 13:19

BMS - okaaaaaaay

Okay - quick update, they don't have mortgage offer yet so basically nothing will happen until that does (if it does...)

Any news NL?

bringmesunshine · 23/04/2008 14:01

now pass me your telephone book and I will progress this sale along....in a former life I was an Estate Agent

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 23/04/2008 17:13

Well I have sort of news and I'm very annoyed! Our purchase wanted to complete next Friday - suits us fine - our buyers solicitor is saying they won't be ready to exchange till w/c 5th May and our buyer wanted to complete w/c 12/05 - which is when our vendors are on holiday for two weeks. I have our agent on the case trying to broker a solution and our solicitor is also being lovely but the bottom line is we may not be able to complete till the end of May I don't really understand where the delay is on our buyers side - the letter I've seen from his solicitor said completion was planned for end of April/beginning of May - so I don't know where the two weeks delay came in and wouldn't you have thought the vendors would mention their two week sodding holiday before now? Harrrrrrrrrrumph!

Pass me the gin, no not a glass - a jug full please!

Pixel -sorry you haven't had better news today.

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clam · 23/04/2008 17:24

Everyone, solicitors/agents/the lot seems to lie through their teeth when it comes to who's ready to do what when. We were 'told' that we would be completing 31st March by the agent, because everyone was ready. We said we couldn't even exchange until after the new tax year, but no probs after that, but in the event it was a 2 further weeks as the FTBs at the bottom weren't anywhere near ready and no 2 in the chain had organised a bridging loan rather than wait for them! (mad, in this climate or what?) Anyway, as you know, it suddenly all happened. But I still get shakey thinking about it. Pass some of that gin, please. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder......

bringmesunshine · 23/04/2008 17:25

NL - oh you poor thing it is such a frustrating process...it is a wonder anybody moves house really.

I think all you can do in the circumstances is to keep pushing for an exchange date. Once you have exchanged and fixed the completion date then everybody will relax a little.

We had a protracted purchase that took 5 months to get to an exchange due to the dick-head chap at the top of the chain and we then had just over two months between ex/c and completion during which time we had to move into a rented house as we completed on our old house the day we exchanged on here....all worked out in the end and we are selling again next year....I am completly mad

Keep your estate agent on side they should really be pushing hard at this stage or their commission walks out of the door if the chain collapses - it always focused my mind

Gin all round ladies....I hope you exchange soon my liver is near collapse

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 23/04/2008 17:37

Our agent is working her socks off tbh - really do have confidence in her - just want to inflict pain on everyone else
I've got a splitting head - could it be the gin?

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PixelHerder · 24/04/2008 11:03

NL - grrr what a bugger , hope your EA can sort out a solution soon.

BMS - aha! Yes if you could just take this whole thing by the scruff of the neck and shake it HARD that would be great - don't know whether anyone is actually slacking or not but it would make me feel better In theory though this mortgage offer is now the only thing holding up our sale (that we know about anyway , and I would have thought that they will know one way or the other pretty soon as the valuation was over a week ago now.

Whose turn is it to worry today NL, I've lost track!

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 24/04/2008 15:45

I was worrying today but I'm not now as our estate agent has rung and she has got everyone to agree to a completion date of 7th May! Whhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooo! Now we just need to exchange next week and we'll be ok

Gin fizz anyone?

Tell you what Pixel - I'll keep on fretting today and you can do tomorrow. If it's any consolation our mortgage offer wasn't exactly quick - they said they were very busy which I found VERY hard to believe

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PixelHerder · 24/04/2008 16:08

Wow NL - 7th May is SOON!! That's fab, fingers crossed it goes smoothly from now on.

That's interesting re your mortgage offer, how long did it take to come through?

Yes, don't think there's much point in me worrying today as it's too soon to chase again - so I'll crank up the worry tomorrow morning

Gin Fizz sounds luverrrly, yes please!

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 24/04/2008 16:15

we signed the paperwork with our IFA on 8th March, the valuation was done on April 2nd and we had it in our hands a few days after that so it should be any time for you. Has your estate agents chased it up with your buyer's lender? The agents we're hoping to buy with iyswim certainly did that. Our IFA told us it was the getting the application processed bit that took the time - once the valuation was done it moved pretty quickly.

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PixelHerder · 24/04/2008 16:52

ah okay thanks, hopefully we'll know soon then. I'll ask our EA tomorrow re chasing up.

bringmesunshine · 25/04/2008 13:16

NL - completion on the 7th May sounds good!

Pixel - any sign of a mortgage offer? get that Estate Agent chased!

As it is Friday I think an early drink may be in order, but I have a cracking headache so will have some water instead

I am with you in spirit ladies

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 25/04/2008 16:27

Everything still ok today - got a decent quote from the removals firm. I'll have a quick anyway. Oh I do hope it all comes off - I SO want to move

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PixelHerder · 28/04/2008 16:43

Thanks BMS - hope your head recovered enough for some weekend bevvies

Fingers crossed NL - hope all's progressing well.

STILL no news here, chased both EA and conveyancers today, one of whom eventually got through to buyers solicitor only to find out their mortgage offer still hasn't come through. Conveyancer said that they are having lots of cases held up by mortgage lenders at the moment. Frigging hell. WHY oh why didn't we sell at the end of last year, grrrrrrrrrrrrr

oh my god can't believe it, Three Little Birds is actually on teh radio as I type !! Let's hope Bob's right...

Original poster
NorthernLurker · 28/04/2008 22:27

Rang our soliciotr today and heard that our buyer had signed - just waiting for their deposit and then we can exchange!!!!

I hope you get some better news soon Pixel - I think the lenders are scrutinising every penny they hand over VERY carefully atm. Hugely annoying when you think how easily you could borrow mega bucks last year

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