Slow solicitor or are my expectations unrealistic?

[Clearseas]

First time buyer so I have no idea what's normal or how long solicitors take. I know they have multiple clients.

I know my solicitor received the search results and draft contract on the 13th September but I'm yet to receive the search report, list of enquires, basically any update.

I thought it might have been done last week but is that unrealistic? How long should it take for him to review the paperwork etc?

I'm not sure when to chase.

Sadly, this is normal. It takes an age. In fairness to your solicitor- it’s only been a working week and most conveyancing solicitors will have 100-150 files to supervise and progress.

@CissOff I thought that might be the case and I didn't want to come across as pushy or rude.

Unfortunately the vendor was really slow to get the protocol forms to her solicitor and the local searches also took a while to come back so it's had a knock on effect as we're 11 weeks in now and haven't even got to the enquires stage yet.

That isn't my solicitors fault of course, just frustrating as there's no chain and the property is empty.

It's also entirely possible that your solicitor won't send you a list of the enquiries they are raising, and will include the search results and answers to their enquiries in their final report on title.

Unfortunately these things take as long as they take, and sounds like much of the delays are not the fault of your solicitor.