Slow solicitors...

[ThisTooShallPassApparently]

I am fully aware I am not the only client they have but I sent them my completed sellers pack on the 1st of July...they are still sat on it and haven't sent it to buyers solicitors. It's been two months and they have done what feels like absolutely nothing.
Our purchase pack was recieved last week, not been reviewed, searches...not started.

Our buyers had their personal survery done and we sorted the resulting questions out directly with their solicitor in the end because ours haven't responded to them.
Every time I call 'this hasn't been done' yes it has, 'this paperwork hasn't been recieved' yes it has, 'this check needs doing' it was done last week.

No one seems to have a clue what's going on and I don't feel like were any further forward than when we instructed them, the owners of the house were purchasing live abroad- and they've still managed to get things done faster!

It's so frustrating and not a complicated situation at all, our buyers are FTB and our new house is empty with no chain.

Any advice on how to get them moving? S this normal?

Desperation in my voice early got us put into the 'urgent' pile but I doubt that means anything🤦🏼‍♀️

I just want to give them my money and move😭

You get what you pay for...

The problem is this time of year is slow because school holidays are coming up and peoples minds are focussed on looking after their kids and or going on holiday.

Solicitors go on holiday too and that leaves them short staffed or things taking longer.

The other possibility is they are just overloaded with work and are slow.

I would probably ask whether it is possible to pay for an expedited service if it was important to me. It may work. It may not.

Honestly you call them and light a fire under them. Or send an email with all this spelled out. Do you have a named conveyancer who is doing the work or are they simply overseeing a case handler?

This.

You can change solicitors if you think that the small delay this causes will be offset by getting shot of this lot. Ask for personal recommendations. The only thing to be careful of is finding a new firm that is on the panel of solicitors for your mortgage company (don't be too worried - most decent firms are on most panels but it's something to be aware of).

Last time we moved, our sale and purchase were broken up. Our sale was handled by the most appalling solicitor who actively caused problems, failed to act on things, and repeatedly almost wrecked the sale. Our purchase was with someone recommended to us by a local property developer, and she was amazing. It was night and day.

But you pay a great deal for what is often a shoddy service.

i agree with nagging until you get some answers and progress.

They are all useless and it’s not hard to see why they have this reputation having recently moved house

I'll be calling up Friday to make sure they've sent out our pack to the buyers solicitors, if it's not done it'll be followed up with a very strongly worded email, spelling it out as advised.

Our estate agent has been onto them aswell because both our property and the one were buying is with him, so it's certainly in his interest.

I just don't get why everyone else solicitors have managed it but ours haven't, and they have the most work to do which is the most concerning.

Told me over the phone it could take up to 20 weeks when I asked for a provisional completion date and I almost choked and they couldn't give me a date because it's too early in the process.....which is only the case because they've done naff all 2months down the line

Going to be faster to get a job there and sort it out myself at this rate

We have the same size chain as you and position as you. Our solicitor said 6-8 weeks from when both solicitors received the draft contracts to exchange. That's been about right for us. I would have expected to receive something by now/your buyers to be sent something, as the sellers info is usually just passed on to the buyer without a huge amount of work first.

You’re not using a national, online firm are you? I did that and they were absolutely beyond useless. Should have paid more and gone with somebody local.

@SquadGoals75they are a local firm!

Ask for a meeting with a senior partner to complain about your lack of service and the total inaction by your solicitor. That did the trick for me.

So last Thursday, two days after the firmer telephone conversation was had, draft contracts were finally sent out to buyers solicitor and searches started.

Today's update, searches are back, draft contract recieved for new house, enquires are in from buyers (not been dealt with), survey has been done on our new house, no majors- nothing were worried about enough to reduce offer etc, report should be with me end of this week.

I know it's a 'how long is a piece of string' question, but out of experience...how long would you guess to expect on exchange/completion?

No reduction in price from buyers following survey, enquiries id expect to be minor, same with the house were are purchasing, mortgages all in place, just at the mercy of solicitors now

We were told 6-8 weeks to exchange from issue of draft contract. We exchanged week 8 and completed week later. And I felt that was with a fairly smooth process and us doing the paperwork and responding to enquiries quickly
Our vendor was quick moving too.