exchange/completion dates

[VannaB]

Hi
I'm at the mega stressful stage of buying & selling and we've all verbally agreed (my buyer , me and my seller) via our solicitors that we're aiming for completion on 2nd Feb.
My solicitor seems calm enough and when I ask about doing the exchange asap (for peace of mind & so I can book the removal men) he says that it's ok to exchange and complete within a few days or even the same day!
Obvioulsy I'd rather have it now so I can definitely know 2nd is all-systems go, but assuming he continues with his 'no need to worry about the exchange' , is is reasonably 'safe' (ahhhhrrr!) to assume that 2nd Feb WILL be the completion date? The only hold up was my buyer wanting joint buildings insurance with the upstairs flat (I have it seperate).
I mean, my removal firm have provisionally booked the 2nd but I need to have paid & confirmed by this Fri!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do I risk it?
Answers (said in a way as to not instill fear into very stressed lady) are greatly appreciated at this point please.
THnak you

[lady_p_gold]

Hopefully it will all be ok, but sorry to say you can never ever be sure and things can fall through at the very last minute. If there is only a small chain it is a lot more likely to be ok. So, try not to get stressed, but until we have a different system in this country nothing can ever be certain. So fingers crossed for you!

[Nether Edge]

English conveyancing system works and is v. cost-effective. No foreign systems are as efficient.

Until contracts exchanged, V and P have no legal relationship. Simultaneously exchanging and completing is virtually impossible in a "chain" situation. You cannot be sure of completion date until contract fixes it, ie on exchange.

Keep calm and, like Corporal Jones advised, "Don't panic!"

[VannaB]

Thanks for the advice.
Am trying not to panic, but as I chant the phrase, I am also running around 'Jonesey' style as i chant!
Emailed solicitors today and they haven't replied! Gonna ring in the morning-maybe hounding them to death is the way forward! See how logical my plans are at 10 minutes to midnight! Maybe if I went to bed earlier I wouldnt panic so much!

[Nether Edge]

Do realise that hounding the solicitor will not help your transaction. He/she is being paid to do a proper job for you; if work is done badly, you can obtain redress; but it makes his/her work impossible if you consume more telephone time and pester constantly.

Hope it all goes OK.