How to speed up a house move

[HighSpecWhistle]

We’re hopefully weeks away from exchanging but the last of the enquiries are taking forever! Nothing complicated just paperwork that needs signing and sending which seems to be taking ages as the solicitor forgets to respond regarding some and lots of bouncing back.

Does anyone have any tips on speeding this up and getting past the finishing line?

At the beginning on Jan everyone was talking about exchanging in January, now it’s just pushing later and later (context we’ve been in the chain since March so almost a year and one collapse).

Im not even sure who to chase at this point.

I hear you. In the same boat. We thought we were going to get an end of January completion date, but I'm beginning to think that's unlikely. Vendors want end January too! So is it slow solicitors or what? Cannot seem to find out anything.
So near yet so far. Praying it doesn't go beyond mid-February.
We started the whole thing- selling and buying, this is the 4th house we tried to buy, November 2023! A year and a quarter.
I'm exhausted.
Sorry no help! Just commiserations.

The drift is hard to combat as it only takes one person in the chain to be slow and things grind to a halt. All you can do is lobby your EA to chase down the chain on your behalf. Make sure all EAs in the chain are talking to each other and all pushing for the respective solicitors. We've found that we are getting better, more detailed updates from the EAs than solicitors.

@heldinadream 4th house?! You must be pulling your hair out. How are you coping with the highs and lows?

This house move has really affected my mental health. There have been lots of legal issues and I’ve felt ill a few times over the stress. I’m trying to keep my eye on the prize and have faith that it’ll work out but I just can’t take the uncertainties and delays. I feel so powerless and frustrated.

Im going to increase the chasing of the EA. They need to be trying to get this over the line for us now.

Are you chasing your EA or waiting to hear from them? Ours is pretty useless to be honest but it gives me temporary relief to chase them and feel like I’m doing something.

Call don’t email to chase. The squeaky wheel gets the oil so either you or the EA need to squeak squeak squeak. The solicitor will do it just to get you to go away and stop calling.

Same boat, 13 weeks in. Nothing has happened for 4 weeks, we and onward purchase ready to exchange, buyers solicitors amongst the worst I've know. Told my buyer today I want to complete end of the month. They also want to, but seem very laid back. Surrounded by boxes. Just want to crack on with new house as it's a complete renovation....can't book removals, builders etc... This is our last month,(if it goes ahead), thank God. Good luck.

It's been a very hard year.
We had a buyer from hell who basically pissed us around and lost us 2 houses, having already lost one before we sold ours.
Then we had an amazing speedy buyer and we so wanted to hold on to her that we just went with it and moved into a rental. Been there since October. Weirdly this very evening it has transpired that it might be our own solicitor holding it up now with a ridiculous minor query. But this is info direct from our vendors so who knows. We're getting onto it first thing tomorrow. If that's all it is we should be able to put a rocket under him now.
It's really stressful. This house we're buying now is lovely but we've ended up going waaaaay over our original budget so it's nerve racking.
We're not even in a chain! We're sold and renting and the house we're buying is empty. Make it stop! 😂

Hang in there OP. Hopefully all worth it and very soon. But yes, very stressful and totally messes with your head.
Best of luck.