buying a house

[wollock]

I am buying a house. No onward chain. Had my survey done and recieved my mortgage offer. Im selling to a first time buyer who has had his survey done on my house today. How long before it can all be wrapped up? Anyone please?

[smudge]

I would imagine that would depend on how good your solicitors are. Some can really drag their heels, so you must pester them if you want a really hasty move.

Good luck in your new home wollock!

[wollock]

Fair enough Smudge. And thank you.

[Hgrove]

When I bought my last house I made an offer in May and moved in on 26th August.  The house next door was also being sold, unlike us, the buyers were first time buyers. They offered in February but only moved in two weeks before us, despite the fact that first time buyers are supposed to be able to move faster.  There is no hard and fast rule, but I think about six months is a good bet.

[cazza0310]

Oh My God! I am in exactly the same possition as you, no upper chain, first time buyers having my house. Surveys done. I sincerley hope HGROVEs answer is a very extreme case. Ive got all my hopes pinned on first couple of weeks in new year (before xmas would be amazing-but unlikely)

I'm calling my solicitor later today so I'll let you know what timescales she gives (if you hear any timescales from yours pls note it on here, I'd be intersted to know.

thanks

[pea12]

Hi, I was a first time buyer this time last year.....no chains, took 6 weeks altogether.   Took about 3/4 weeks after the surveys were done.  Keep on at the solicitors and good luck!

[smudge]

I'm glad you agree with me pea12. I had to do most of the conveyancing myself, purely to hurry things along when we moved!

[cazza0310]

Hello again. Well as I said I called my solicitor yesterday for a run down on whats happening. All I can say is GET ON YOUR SOLICITORS BACK and if you can do it yourself, do it yourself, I know we're paying them ALOT of money but they will go at a speed that suits them. My solicitors said that they hadnt received a contract from the seller so no searches had been started. She said she'd chase this, but so did I. Turns out it was sent to her a week ago and was sat in her 'in tray'. all docs have now been sent out to me  but dread to think how long it might have taken if I hadnt looked into it myself.

Searches are taking about 7-8 working days to come back at the moment, but there is xmas closing to consider. Searches wont be started until the contract has been given the ok so make sure your solictor either has it or is chasing it.

When searches are done they will discuss a completion date with you. I think 6 weeks is a pretty average timescalse and thats what were hoping for

[smudge]

Well cazza - if you read my two posts, you will see that is exactly what I was referring to. Money for old rope, that's all it is!

[wollock]

Thanks to all of you. I will be making some calls.

[Octavius]

Beware of the exchange dates though, as you may get lumbered with a hefty interest bill from the mortgage company.  Best to aim for the beginning/end of a month.

[ama]

We were in this situation about 15 months ago, but we were in a chain, \it can be so frustrating. We were first time buyers, The solicitirs we used messed us around all the time. I had to phone them twice a day or they did nothing. They kept changing our completion dates. At one point the day before our completion date, i phoned up to confirm a time and they said there had been a mistake and our money (from the mortgage company) had been transferred to the wrong bank account (apparently a different solicitors. They also used this excuse with 2 sets of friends that also used them when buying a house.

The best one was when the solicitor tried to convince us that the delay was because the people we were buying the house from hadn't signed the contracts yet. We knew this was bull as their signatures were already on the contracts when we had signed them six weeks previously. I hope its all pplain sailing for both of you Wollock and Cazza.

[Hgrove]

Well, I suppose you do lose a few weeks during the summer holidays with solicitors, buyes and sellers all taking their two weeks holidays at different times.