Is completing on my chain-free purchase by next Friday realistic?

[MarmadukeM]

Please can anyone give me some hope that my property purchase is going to
be completed soon?!
it’s been 9 weeks, I’m chain free as husband bought me out, I have a not too big mortgage all sorted. The property I’m buying is ex rental so it’s empty and chain free. It just seems to have been dragging on with a few mistakes at my solicitors end (eg not emailing me documents I needed to sign then weeks later asking me if I’ve signed them, twice telling me I need to provide proof of funds when I did it a fortnight ago, that kind of thing)
anyways they said today that they are happy with the answers to the enquires and they will send me a report and then we can discuss exchange and completion. I said I want it as soon as possible as I’m living with my now ex husband and it’s crap.
I was really hoping to complete by next Friday - realistically does this sound feasible?
do you have to book in exchange in advance or if they send the report can myself and the seller say we want to exchange this week? I know he’s as keen as me but our solicitors don’t seem in much of a rush!

Exchange and completion on the same day is possible under some conditions. Tell your solicitor and it will hopefully make him move up the gears especially if you mention dropping his fee.

Thanks - I hope to hear from them tomorrow with the report but if I don’t I will ring them after 3pm.
can you actually threaten to drop the fee for not being timely? X

Do not threaten, have a meaningful discussion. Tell them they have been slow and it has cost you money and ask/request some sort of recompense. It might mean you do not have to pay extra for completion on Friday. If you don't ask you don't get. They can say no.

Ah right I see what you mean.
hopefully It will all work out as I can’t get past her admin assistant anyways ha ha

My solicitor is driving me mad! I rang again today and got the assistant again (not sure I’ve ever actually spoken to the solicitor). She told me that they are still waiting for the sellers solicitor to ‘sign off the file’ and that it was highly unlikely I could complete next Friday.
so I told seller who contacted his solicitors who told him that everything was done at their end - they just hadn’t received proof of funds from my solicitor - same proof of funds they’ve (my solicitor) had since 11th June!
anyway, his have contacted mine to say that as far as they’re concerned they could exchange tomorrow. I’m still waiting for the elusive ‘ report’ they say they have to prepare and send me ( has been ongoing since middle of last week - how long does it actually take?) they are beyond frustrating and im so sick living with my ex who is literally redecorating house around me while I sit here waiting. Aargh!
I’ve sent a long email about the proof of funds asking them to confirm they have what they need and that they are forwarding it to sellers solicitor. I just don’t get how they can have documents for weeks and miss them/not pass them on then blame the other party for not getting in touch to tell them they can exchange! It’s similar to what they did with me about mortgage deed when they said they couldn’t proceed without it but they hadn’t actually sent me it. 🤯

Make a note of the name and address of the actual solicitor and put a formal complaint in to the head of the company (naming the actual solicitor themselves) listing the contacts you have made chasing, plus making sure to point out that the delays have and are costing you money. Do this first thing tomorrow morning.

Thanks - do you think I have reasonable grounds ? It seems they have not been providing a timely or efficient service but I don’t know if I am pushy/unrealistic. I know this might sound silly but I worry that if I put a complaint in they will purposely drag it out even longer.

Solicitor here, although not a property one. Yes you have reasonable grounds. Send a complaint, this should put a rocket up their arse and someone more senior will probably push it all through.

There should be a complaints procedure on their website.

I would do it tonight so it’s sitting in their inbox in the morning.

If I get a complaint (very rarely!) I certainly don’t drag out the matter longer, I put it to the top of my list to prioritise and get straightened out.

Thanks - I sent an email last night outlining the issues I’ve had, they have pretty much done everything today and even agreed to try for completion on Wednesday instead of Friday as it’s more convenient for a few reasons.. Think I’m exchanging tomorrow. 😀