So how long from offer to completion?

So how long from offer to completion?

Author
Discussion

tivver500

369 posts

269 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
Useful bit of info Benn - you can get searches 'walked through' which can cut the waiting time by weeks
(and it doesn't add too much to the cost!!)
Good luck mate

prand

5,910 posts

195 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
To give you some hope, we went from offer accepted to moving in within 30 days.

We were 'looking for the perfect place' while progressing with the sale of our current house, so were less than a week or two exchanging on that sale. We were planning to rent to sell the house to make us a more attractive buyer. We had 6 months grace on our portable motgage too. This house came up, we met the buyers so were able to show our enthusiasm personally and explain our ability to move fast (helped also that Mrs P was 6 months pregnant which got things moving). We were still asked for a sealed bid, we offered a bit under asking (in reTality was all we could afford), but said we'd be ready to move when they wanted, we'd wait in rental, move in tomorrow etc.

They accepted our offer, which was in fact second lowest of four, then suddenly they found the house of their dreams so were keen to go ASAP. So not much more than four weeks later we were moving in. Fortunately the house was in reqsonable condition, nothing dodgy on searches., and our sale was also proceeding swftly.

It was a big lesson to me that being in a good flexible proceedable position can often outweigh the value of the money offer. Then again we were lucky that it was a short chain, the people both sides of us, plus the EA's and dare i say solicitors were 't stupid or vindictive and it all went like clockwork when we all pulled together.

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

151 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
I've completed in 6 weeks before now just keep at your solicitors every week ! It can be done quickly.
SWMBO and I got our first turned round in 6-7 weeks. Just keep on at your, and their solicitors

B3NNL

Original Poster:

1,056 posts

167 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
Many thanks for the tips and usefully info folks.
Luckily for us, our solicitors are family friends and on a previous property we went for (Subsequently got gazumped on) they had carried out the searches within a week. All being well, they should be on the ball getting us sorted with this one quite quickly and our mortgage is going to the underwriters this week. Will also check that the sellers solicitors do their part in a timely fashion. I do need to get a grip of the EA as upto now, he's a bit tardy at passing info, I'll pop into his office this week for a cup of tea and a chat so hes aware of how I wish to expedite this process.

All very interesting...
Will keep you updated as and when things happen.

fido

16,752 posts

254 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
I managed to do it in 3 weeks with a portable mortgage (so basically needed a drive-by survey) but the mortgage can be the slowest bit (on your side). On their side, if there are no legal issues to chase up (e.g. freehold) and you don't faff around with missing paperwork (boiler doesn't have a certificate). My last move took 3 months .. because the buyer used the slowest building society on earth (they might have had a chunky LTV as well) then tried to knock me down on various items which I couldn't do much about. So yeah, if you have the funds to go and can sign the contract .. then it's done.

0000

13,812 posts

190 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
IM (limited) E chances are you won't complete. Otherwise, I reckon January. Good luck though.

FlossyThePig

4,083 posts

242 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
If you are willing to pay, it can all be done in a day.

When we bought our current place, offer was accepted about mid-June and completed mid-September. We could have completed a lot earlier (mid-August) but one of the daughters wanted to get married from the house she grew up in.

Migx

791 posts

178 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
we made a offer for our house in end of October. offer accepted the next day. mortgage in principle done 3 days later.
moved in the 24th January this year.
we where 1st time buyers. seller had a chain (that felt trough).
he just moved in into is new house last month.
(i consider myself really lucky in him moving in with is gf between we moving in and him moving in into new house).

towser44

3,472 posts

114 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
I was a first time buyer in 2012. House I bought had no chain and a really quick sale/completion was wanted. Made offer on 26 November, completed and got keys on the Friday before Xmas (19th Dec). Kept in touch with estate agents, conveyancer and responded v promptly to paperwork requests etc. Made conveyancer aware up front wanted completion by Xmas and though they were sceptical managed to achieve it!

0000

13,812 posts

190 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
quotequote all
We're 2 months in from offer accepted. The mortgage company have just got round to doing the valuation survey (which, naturally, came in exactly on the agreed price). Solicitor hasn't get got a draft contract.

This is as far as we've ever reached in the process so hopefully we'll get there this time. No idea how long we're looking at being left but I'd imagine it'll be at least another month.

Pit Pony

8,268 posts

120 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
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How long from Ringing up the estate agent, to actually arranging a viewing?

I saw (online) a flat in Derby 2.5 weeks ago, took me 3 days to get someone in the agency (based in Manchester for some helpful reason) to talk to me, and half heartedly take down my list of 4 questions (how long is lease, are you sure the parking is allocated - it looks like first come first served, what are the maintenance costs, and are there any restrictive clauses on lease - like no BTL, no pets - it's ex council) and another 2 weeks to get "90 definitely 90", "yes you are right about parking", "£300 a year", and "oh yes I'll find that out, but I wouldn't think so"

I still don't have a date to view. The last date I told him I could do, I'm going to have to change on Monday as something is preventing me getting to Derby that particular day.

If I see it and get a price agreed, my solicitor says 2.5 to 3.5 weeks as I don't need a mortgage on this one.

Rickyy

6,618 posts

218 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
quotequote all
Recently just bought a house and it took about 8 weeks. I was a FTB and she was emigrating. Could have been quicker, but the owner wasn't in at the agreed time to let the surveyors in, so that delayed it by a week and they were on holiday the week we were due to exchange, so that added another week onto it.

bigdom

2,072 posts

144 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
quotequote all
Our current house was empty, and we had first time buyers with 'daddy' stumping up a good 6 figure deposit (our house was just 6 years old, so still under nhbc). If they got round to completing their paperwork quicker we could have been in 4 or 5 weeks, in the end took 8 weeks due to their tardiness.

B3NNL

Original Poster:

1,056 posts

167 months

Monday 6th October 2014
quotequote all
Ok 6th October.
Time since start:6 working days

Our solictors now have the notification of sale from the estate agents.
Our mortgage broker is aiming for the mortgage to be complete back from the underwriters end of the week.

Little steps, but all in the right direction.
Will keep the thread updated as and when I hear any more.

Edited by B3NNL on Friday 10th October 16:21

B3NNL

Original Poster:

1,056 posts

167 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
Friday 10th October.
Time since start:10 working days

Mortgage now approved subject to valuation.

Time to give the solictors a nudge and see what can be expedited there.

TA14

12,722 posts

257 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
Send off all of the searches at once

XCP

16,876 posts

227 months

Friday 10th October 2014
quotequote all
I completed on 22 Sept. Offer made and accepted 2 April. Good Luck!

Pit Pony

8,268 posts

120 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
Pit Pony said:
How long from Ringing up the estate agent, to actually arranging a viewing?

I saw (online) a flat in Derby 2.5 weeks ago, took me 3 days to get someone in the agency (based in Manchester for some helpful reason) to talk to me, and half heartedly take down my list of 4 questions (how long is lease, are you sure the parking is allocated - it looks like first come first served, what are the maintenance costs, and are there any restrictive clauses on lease - like no BTL, no pets - it's ex council) and another 2 weeks to get "90 definitely 90", "yes you are right about parking", "£300 a year", and "oh yes I'll find that out, but I wouldn't think so"

I still don't have a date to view. The last date I told him I could do, I'm going to have to change on Monday as something is preventing me getting to Derby that particular day.

If I see it and get a price agreed, my solicitor says 2.5 to 3.5 weeks as I don't need a mortgage on this one.
Still haven't seen it. Grrrrrr.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
My parents put an offer in for a house 2 weeks ago and they were ready to complete on FrIday.

So can be done in a couple of weeks if you have solicitors that get on with it.

B3NNL

Original Poster:

1,056 posts

167 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
Wed 15th October
Time since start: 13 working days

Survey carried out.