Can anyone give me an idea of expected timescales?

[Thatsajokeright]

I know this is a 'piece of string' question but both the estate agent and solicitor have refused to give me an answer and I really just want a rough idea of timing.

We have a very short chain. Our buyers have a cash buyer and our purchase has no chain.

Searches are underway, as of yesterday, for our purchase. Our buyers are ready to go bar the survey next week.

When could we reasonably expect to complete? I literally have no clue and I've a whole house to pack up!

Is that a 'very short chain' - 3 properties and 4 interested parties? Our first purchase was a one house, two parties chain and that took 3.5 months. I'd expect at least 3 months from start to finish is realistic.

Well, it's considered a short chain by both estate agents and solicitors but that's just semantics really.

I was hoping for more insight on how long it takes after searches are started or returned. We anticipate searches being back within 3 weeks but what happens after that? and how long does it reasonably take?

I agree with the PP that it's not really a short chain. But in any case, it only takes one party to get hung up on one aspect of the move for things to grind to a halt. Surveys can often be sticking points as they tend to generate queries and further investigations. These can come up late in the game. Other sticking points can be mortgage applications, particularly if people have complicated circumstances or are buying properties that are non-standard or that a certain mortgage lender doesn't like. That's not to mention anything arising from searches or enquiries.

Also, you have 4 parties and therefore, 4 solicitors. That's 8 people who can be on holiday, sick or just slow at responding at any one time. Depending on where you are in the chain you may have little sight of what is happening at one end. This is where you need the estate agents in the chain working together to share information up and down the chain so everyone is kept informed.

Personally, I'd focus less on the potential length of time it will take - it will likely lead to disappointment - and more on what you can actively do to ensure your part moves as swiftly as possible (have certificates ready, any maintenance done ahead of survey, respond to as much as you can within 24 hours, book your survey early in case there are follow ups required).

Good luck with your move.

We had a chain the same length - as long as everyone is on the same page about moving quickly, no survey issues, reductions in price, things coming out of the woodwork during enquiries I would say three months. But obviously some of that is out of your control. The best you can do is return your paperwork/enquiries promptly and hope everyone else does the same.

We completed the chain 16th sept and moved 17th Dec so it can be done!

That's a good turnaround @Dramallama91 . I think 3 months is doable with all the caveats you mention. We were less than 2 months from start to having signed contracts on our purchase. We had our survey done within 2 weeks of offer acceptance with no follow ups, mortgage was in place and searches sent for within 3 weeks. Our vendors were quick with completing their documentation and turning around enquiries and we had everything requested back to our solicitor within 24 hours.

Unfortunately, we were undone in other parts of the chain by surveys being booked only after everything else was complete. It only takes one thing to slow things down.

I think four months is probably 'average' but you don't really have a short chain. Hopefully nobody has a problem and if straightforward you might complete in three months or so?

The searches can take ages. I was told it could be 8-12 weeks, and it was about 8 weeks in the end.

I was in a chain of 3, with me at the bottom coming out of rented. I had my offer accepted the first week of May, and we finally completed on 11th September. We actually moved in a week later.

We're buying a new build and part exchanging so literally no chain, and it's taken us 3 months from reserving the plot to exchange of contracts today!. The delay was totally on our house and endless queries from the solicitors, and a 2 week shut down for Xmas.
I wouldn't think you would be any quicker than 4 months.