Every year, I forget how busy it is coming into Christmas – the pressure of those who want to move before Christmas coupled with the pressure of those who just want to exchange contracts before Christmas so that minds cannot be changed over the Christmas dinner table. Picture the scene:
– So how are you , little Jamie? What are your plans for the New Year?
– Well I am hoping that we will be ready to exchange contracts on the purchase of my flat in the first week of January
– Why are you buying a flat? Do you not read the news and see all the potential issues that there are ? why waste your money on a flat? Carry on saving for another twenty years and you could buy a house
– But I like the flat
– No, flats are so toxic – buy a house
And that is why everyone wants to exchange contracts before Christmas on top of those who actually want to move. And every year, I wonder why people want to move so close to Christmas. What if the boiler is not working when you move in and you cannot get anyone out to service it until the New Year? What if there is an issue with the house that the buyer did not know about because they rushed to complete and did not have a survey done? And what if you are meant to move just before Christmas but there is an issue with the completion monies and everyone is left surrounded by packed boxes for the Christmas holiday period rather than being in their new homes.
I have read many reports recently about completion monies being held back if there is a non –clearing house bank in the chain. That is beyond the control of us conveyancers. We cannot do very much about it, but what I don’t want is to be eating my Christmas dinner, worrying about someone who has not been able to move due to no one’s fault other than the banking system.
I see that most firms are not doing any completions past the 18th December, although I did see a firm that were saying that they would move clients on the 23rd December but there would be a premium to pay. I would not want my clients to risk the danger of not moving!
So at this time of year when we are all so busy, not only with completions but exchanges (just to be sure that uncle does not dissuade his nephew from buying the flat) a big shout out to conveyancers across the land. You are all amazing. You all work so hard. Many of you do not enter for awards to recognise how good you are and what you achieve on a daily basis. I raise a glass to the unsung heroes of the conveyancing world.
