Please help me understand the chain...

[SeLHopeful2024]

If I'm a FTB leaving a rented property, does that mean I am automatically bottom of the chain?

Our vendors onward purchase is the draft contacts stage (survey and searches not ordered it seems), but EA has given no details on the onward purchase (if any) from the people he's buying off.

Our sale is pretty much done in the sense that we've got our contracts from our solicitor to sign and return, but it still seems impossible to make an educated guess as to when we can move.

EA (called him after emails have been ignored for 11 days) said the vendors sale should have caught up in 6 weeks.
Getting so stressed with planning childcare now 😫

Not so much the bottom as the foundation stone. It sounds nicer.

Try not to stress about stuff you can't control and ask others to be aware that you might need some flexibility.

@Eyesopenwideawake that's a lovely way to put it actually.

I just wish we could understand how big the chain is.
For all we know, our vendors seller could just be out looking now!

It's just such a worry as we are moving to a new area and we need to continue working whilst finding care for a 3 year old. Not to mention the 6 weeks notice we need to give to the current childminder.

If have thought it's normal to give you chain details. Have you asked? I know how long our chain is, and I was told within a day or so of it having been completed. Id expect your EA to be able to tell you the same

Yes you’re at the bottom of the chain. I would be telling the EA now that you will want a month between Exchange of contracts and Completion as you need to give notice to a childminder & a Landlord .

Any longer than a month you may come up against a lot of resistance but I would say a month is reasonable.

@Somanypiessolittletime EA seems to be very economical with the facts.
Just got off a call when I posted this as he was very hesitant with information.
It took a bit of pushing for him to say the vendors had received draft contracts.

He told me to check in again in about 3 weeks to see what the progress is.

@Twiglets1 hopefully a month would be OK.
At least ot helps a bit.
We'd planned to rent for 1 month to over lap, but can't really afford 2 months rent on top of mortgage etc.

I'm just stressing now as so much feels out of our control.

I phoned my solicitor in these situations, I felt what he told me was more likely to be truthful than the EA

@CrotchetyQuaver I was hoping they may be more helpful.
Just waiting to receive one document so I can send everything back to my solicitor on Monday.
Fingers crossed they can then help get more information for us.