First time buying-what happens?
Discussion
craigjm said:
.....The buying process is simple you just need good solicitors and to keep on top of them.
I think the problem is people go for the fixed price house purchase package, which is just a tedious little sideline for most solicitors. We did just that ourselves, twice, and got the third rate treatment, had to keep chasing them to keep things moving along. It took four months for both our houses.
Thanks for all the advice on this. I've been sitting on top of the Solicitors who seem to be doing everything we ask of them, in good time (according to my folks!).
We've had the Survey done and all is good (went for a home buyers report), the mortgage went through fine, all the searches are done, we're just awaiting the banks solicitors to do their thing before we exchange contracts....
Fingers crossed it'll be done in time for March 24th, not only does that mean no stamp duty, but our rental property is up then!
I'm really looking forward to getting in there now!
We've had the Survey done and all is good (went for a home buyers report), the mortgage went through fine, all the searches are done, we're just awaiting the banks solicitors to do their thing before we exchange contracts....
Fingers crossed it'll be done in time for March 24th, not only does that mean no stamp duty, but our rental property is up then!
I'm really looking forward to getting in there now!
AlecG said:
All the paperwork should be done this week by the sounds of things, am keeping in contact with the solicitor and mortgage chap once or twice a week, it seems to help iron out any creases!
Stay in touch daily. Trust me.Armed with the phrases:
"What needs to be done today to move this forwards"
"Who is taking that document from a to b"
"By when will you complete that"
"If that is completed then we can do x/y/z?"
"Has the vendors solictor accepted that by email/phone/writing?"
"Are any of the parties involved about to go a)into hospital b)on holiday c)into prison?"
Remember, they don't care if you complete on time, the solicitors still get paid...
Stepson and GF have just been accepted yesterday for house they put an offer in on.
Estate agent said after it was accepted to call in to office pick up all paper work that needs signing etc and she will do everything possible to make sure it goes through before stamp duty comes in.
Which as im sure were all aware is 4 weeks away ish.
All docs were signed last night and now dropped off 1st thing this morning so they can get on with it, or thou i have made it clear that they will still have to chase her up and ask how things are going etc etc.
Estate agent said after it was accepted to call in to office pick up all paper work that needs signing etc and she will do everything possible to make sure it goes through before stamp duty comes in.
Which as im sure were all aware is 4 weeks away ish.
All docs were signed last night and now dropped off 1st thing this morning so they can get on with it, or thou i have made it clear that they will still have to chase her up and ask how things are going etc etc.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Would have to be via an annex to the contract? Can't see there would be any liability in the standard terms. Surely most things can be agreed via a well worded rider?Having the seller accept them, or their solicitor advising them to accept them is another....
AlecG said:
And relax. Contracts are exchanged, and a moving in date of 22nd is on the cards!
Jeebus H Christ that was a stressful process...
Well done. We've just moved into our first house. Jeebus H Christ that was a stressful process...
Although the process is stressful as you're fraught with worry, for us it was actually rather simple. Our solicitor was fantastic and everything went as it should have done, with most things happening early!
Moving on the 22nd is cutting it a bit close. I think you have to be completed by the 23rd to be free from stamp duty! I put a clause in our offer. If we weren't completed by the 23rd, through no fault of our own, then the vendors would pay our stamp duty. They were fine and accepted that risk. Luckily we were in by the start of March anyway.
zaphod42 said:
Stay in touch daily. Trust me.
Armed with the phrases:
"What needs to be done today to move this forwards"
"Who is taking that document from a to b"
"By when will you complete that"
"If that is completed then we can do x/y/z?"
"Has the vendors solictor accepted that by email/phone/writing?"
"Are any of the parties involved about to go a)into hospital b)on holiday c)into prison?"
Remember, they don't care if you complete on time, the solicitors still get paid...
This is crucial. We bought our first home in January (completed 27th of January anyway) and to start with, our solicitors were fantastic.Armed with the phrases:
"What needs to be done today to move this forwards"
"Who is taking that document from a to b"
"By when will you complete that"
"If that is completed then we can do x/y/z?"
"Has the vendors solictor accepted that by email/phone/writing?"
"Are any of the parties involved about to go a)into hospital b)on holiday c)into prison?"
Remember, they don't care if you complete on time, the solicitors still get paid...
Bit by bit it got slower and slower... use the above as a template for EVERY phone call. I didn't to start with and got palmed off for about 2 weeks until I had enough and went with a similar attack to the above. We exchange contracts within a week after that.
You pay them, make them work for you. If you go with the uber-patient and polite approach like I did, then they may take that as an opportunity to focus their efforts on a 'bigger file'.
(Disclaimer - This is nothing against solicitors, we were just unhappy with ours. They were slow, spoke to us like scum and not once did they update us with ANYTHING. They even 'forgot' to send our response to the proposed completion date, meaning we missed it and it delayed us by weeks.)
We exchanged contracts a couple of weeks ago, and we completed about an hour ago!
Picking the keys up in a bit!
As well as all the stuff involved with buying a house I also start a new job in a few weeks. If you're stressed you may as well add to the load?! Not quite like brother though who bought a house, got married, and got made redundant and got a new job in the space of 2 weeks!
Picking the keys up in a bit!
As well as all the stuff involved with buying a house I also start a new job in a few weeks. If you're stressed you may as well add to the load?! Not quite like brother though who bought a house, got married, and got made redundant and got a new job in the space of 2 weeks!
King Herald said:
So, three months, about average I guess.
Enjoy your new maison, there is a certain satisfaction from moving into your own home.
It's been a hectic and expensive weekend! Friday night saw us moving 2 car loads of boxes in, after walking in and thinking what have we done-it was a sEnjoy your new maison, there is a certain satisfaction from moving into your own home.
t tip! 2 trips to B&Q later and busting a gut from 5pm until 1 pm we had stain free carpets and a fat/grime free kitchen! Saturday saw us moving the rest of our stuff in, after an early start for remedying a few bits on the rented house. A few more trips to B&Q (thankfully it's down the road!) and a lot of dad/older brother know how when we sat down for a well earned beer at 7pm we had something resembling a house!
Today the OH unpacked after we went to B&Q again and bought other bits, which I spent most of the day fitting!
It's been a long, stressful and emotional weekend but we're in and I'm very happy :-)
AlecG said:
It's been a hectic and expensive weekend! Friday night saw us moving 2 car loads of boxes in, after walking in and thinking what have we done-it was a st tip!
We moved house last 23rd December, using just our family car! probably 50 trips, back and forth, couldn't rent a van or truck as it was last-minute, and so close to Xmas. Utter frustrating chaos. Luckily we only lived 500 yards away.t tip! King Herald said:
We moved house last 23rd December, using just our family car! probably 50 trips, back and forth, couldn't rent a van or truck as it was last-minute, and so close to Xmas. Utter frustrating chaos. Luckily we only lived 500 yards away.
Haha! I can only imagine how stressful moving over the festive period must be!I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms from B&Q so off there again at lunch, hopefully for the last time in a while!
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