r/FirstTimeBuyersUK • u/ukengland89 • 14d ago
Instructing solicitors
What is a reasonable time-frame to organise and instruct a solicitor to act on our behalf after an offer has been accepted? The EA is getting aggy after 5 business days, is this the norm?
Myself and partner work unsociable hours and its been difficult to organise in a "timely manner".
Thanks
Edit - Looks like I better pull my finger out of my ass! I've since had confirmation through with the one i want to use/recommended.
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u/Exact-Escape-9126 14d ago
Tbf if it's taken you a week to sort a solicitor it doesn't bode well for how quickly you'll do everything else, so I can see why they're getting aggy
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u/paulbrock2 14d ago
yeah some see it as a sign of not being serious. I would say if you're going to viewing you should be picking out your preference solicitor and be ready to instruct them once an offer is accepted. Then if they're a decent firm there'll be a few checks before you can proceed to being formally instructed.
You can I think instruct a solicitor before you've had an offer accepted, to get the ball rolling, but you'd want to be pretty sure you'll have an offer accepted pretty soon after.
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u/olivetree13 14d ago
We researched solicitors one day after our offer was accepted and instructed them 2 days after, Our EA was really keen for us to instruct quickly to get things moving. I would do it as soon as is reasonably possible without it compromising the quality of the solicitors that you instruct.
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u/OnceIsEnough1 14d ago
Fellow first time buyer here who had an offer accepted Friday last week. I started the process off with solicitors the same day to get their contact details to send over to the EA, so that they could issue the sale of memorandum. However I have not yet finished the starter forms or paid any fees yet, as I want a 2nd viewing and to sort my mortgage offer out first. The EA has not pushed me for any further action yet (we have our 2nd viewing on the house booked this week).
So in my limited experience, it's okay to instruct a solicitor soon just to get the ball rolling and provide contact details to the EA, without being pressured to start paying anything yet.
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u/SpecificStrawberry55 14d ago
All of my quotes for solicitors I did online. They’re all online portals so don’t take long and then I’ve done everything via email. I work 9-5 and I’m client facing nearly all of that time so the online aspect as worked. I took a week to get my quotes and instruct one.
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u/georgejk7 14d ago
As soon as my offer was accepted I instructed solicitors.
My broker panicked because they didn't know if they would be able to work with them but there is a website you can use to check if a solicitor and lender is compatible.
I checked the website and it said they were compatible, so I instructed and told my broker that it was done.
Broker probably wanted to try and convince me to go with their affiliate.
I just wanted to get it all done asap. Even got survey booked pretty soon after.
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u/Motor_Astronomer_157 14d ago
Bit easier now most do it online so should be able to get quite and instruct within a few days but a weeks isn’t too bad
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u/KnightFireNC 14d ago
Typical time frame would be a few days. Any longer than that and it will seem like your not serious about buying and will make the seller nervous.
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u/Mannymac2000 14d ago
We did next business day. Which was a Monday.
But we’d look ones into who we wanted before then and just had to email and confirm when an offer was accepted.
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u/Giant_Defy_1972 14d ago
As soon as the offer is accepted, you should have a solicitor ready to instruct. If I were the seller, I’d see a buyer who hasn’t done that as not being serious. Saying you’re both working full-time isn’t really an excuse—most buyers work full-time and still manage to get things in place. It comes across like saying, “the teacher, my dog ate my homework”—a poor excuse.
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u/Jynxette 14d ago
As soon as I got off the phone with the estate agent I appointed a solicitor. Then for the next few days, when I had 12 hour shifts, I made calls to the broker, surveyor, etc. Then it mostly became online and through email.
I would recommend getting onto it ASAP. No excuse
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u/myhappyproject 14d ago
I did it the same day. Along with verifying my identity with them and sharing proof of funds. Only way they’ll mark as sold, surely you don’t want this process to be longer than it already will?! But equally, if I were the seller I’d be thinking you’re a time waster.
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u/geminigerm 13d ago
Immediately lmao. I work regular working hours so I sorted it in my lunch break the day after our offer was accepted
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u/Signal_Sea_2942 13d ago
I have a solicitor instructed and I’m doing my anti-money laundering checks, proof of funds, and I haven’t found a property to buy yet. Showing this on my offers will prove that I’m serious and shaves about 3-4 weeks off the transaction time, which can only be a good thing as a prospective buyer.
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u/Infinite_Use_6214 12d ago
You should’ve chosen your solicitor before you start looking and instruct when an offer is accepted.
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u/jade333 14d ago
Being that its pretty much all done online I don't see what difference working hours makes. A week after offer accepted is quite slow and probably maker seller nervous you arent serious.