Buying A House Or Flat

My transaction is moving much too slowly. How can I speed it up?

My transaction is moving much too slowly. How can I speed it up?

Remember conveyancing takes time – most ‘delays’ are nothing of the sort, it just takes time to get searches and replies to enquiries.  When you are in chain, everyone goes at the pace of the slowest link.  Ask you solicitor or conveyancer why things are going at the pace they are.  Some are more proactive than others – if they are vague or don’t return phone calls then it is worth pressing them.  Estate agents can be important in chasing the seller and rest of chain to return documents as your solicitor will only be dealing with the other solicitors involved on your sale and/or purchase.

 

Imposing a deadline can sometimes work but it is risky – it should only be used if you are actually prepared to withdraw if it is not met.  Imposing a  deadline should only be used if people really are delaying – there is a good chance that it will not achieve anything as if there is a genuine hold-up then it will be impossible for it to be resolved any quicker and will just aggravate everyone involved in the chain.

 

If there is a major delay – for example if someone in chain has a problem with their mortgage - you will need to decide whether you are happy to wait or not.

 

Please try to keep a good relationship and a three way dialogue with conveyancer, agent and your seller or buyer – this is the best way to ensure that a transaction goes smoothly – just remember, some things do take a while!

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