3 minutes reading time
(619 words)
From Offer to Ownership: What Still Slows It All Down?
Property Matters – Tuesday 22nd July at 1.05pm
We’ve all seen it, haven’t we? The board goes up, the viewings begin, and then suddenly the sign changes to “Sold – Subject to Contract.” From the outside, it looks like a done deal. Yet for weeks, sometimes months, nothing happens.
The property vanishes from the portals and drops into a strange limbo where updates are scarce, progress is patchy, and everyone involved seems to be waiting on someone else.
Buyers are left wondering what’s going on behind the scenes. Sellers get nervous. Chains wobble. It’s a frustrating phase of the transaction, made worse by the fact that so little of it is visible to those not in the know.
This week on Property Matters, we’re taking a look at what’s really getting in the way of a smooth journey from offer to ownership. The basic sequence of events has not changed in decades. An offer is made and accepted, then searches and surveys are commissioned, the legal work begins, and the mortgage offer is finalised. So why does it still take months to get the keys?
A key reason lies in the number of moving parts. Each purchase involves solicitors, estate agents, lenders, surveyors, local authorities, and often multiple buyers and sellers linked together in a chain. If just one element is delayed or incomplete, the whole process can grind to a halt.
We’ll be joined this week by Zahrah Aullybocus, an experienced solicitor and legal consultant, who brings a wealth of insight into the friction points that slow things down. Zahrah has spent years navigating the practical realities of conveyancing and understands where the real obstacles lie.
One of the biggest culprits remains missing or incomplete paperwork. Whether it is a lack of upfront information from the seller or slow turnaround times from third parties, too many transactions still suffer from information gaps. These gaps lead to queries. Queries cause delay. And too often, those delays are entirely avoidable.
Another issue is the lack of joined-up communication. Buyers are often left chasing updates from multiple people, unsure of where responsibility sits. When one party assumes another is handling a task, it is easy for key actions to fall through the cracks. In many cases, it is not about deliberate obstruction. It is about assumption, miscommunication, and overwork.
There are also long-standing structural issues. Local authority search times can vary dramatically depending on location. Lenders may have differing requirements. Leasehold properties often bring an extra layer of complexity, particularly when management companies are slow to respond.
For the buyer, all of this can feel bewildering. They may be told that everything is moving, then discover a week later that a form has yet to be submitted or a response has not been received. It is no wonder that many buyers come out of the experience frustrated and anxious.
This week’s podcast features a practical conversation from those working within the system, drawing on real experience to explore what could genuinely make the process better. It brings together insight from professionals who want to see the buying journey run more smoothly for everyone involved.
Hosted as always by Gareth Wax and Hamish McLay, Property Matters goes live on Tuesday 22nd July at the slightly later time of 1.05pm. Expect thoughtful insight and real-world examples from those who have seen it all before.
Never miss an episode of Spilling The Proper-Tea again. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch up or watch live - https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea
PS:
For content enquiries:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For podcast/media info:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We’ve all seen it, haven’t we? The board goes up, the viewings begin, and then suddenly the sign changes to “Sold – Subject to Contract.” From the outside, it looks like a done deal. Yet for weeks, sometimes months, nothing happens.
The property vanishes from the portals and drops into a strange limbo where updates are scarce, progress is patchy, and everyone involved seems to be waiting on someone else.
Buyers are left wondering what’s going on behind the scenes. Sellers get nervous. Chains wobble. It’s a frustrating phase of the transaction, made worse by the fact that so little of it is visible to those not in the know.
This week on Property Matters, we’re taking a look at what’s really getting in the way of a smooth journey from offer to ownership. The basic sequence of events has not changed in decades. An offer is made and accepted, then searches and surveys are commissioned, the legal work begins, and the mortgage offer is finalised. So why does it still take months to get the keys?
A key reason lies in the number of moving parts. Each purchase involves solicitors, estate agents, lenders, surveyors, local authorities, and often multiple buyers and sellers linked together in a chain. If just one element is delayed or incomplete, the whole process can grind to a halt.
We’ll be joined this week by Zahrah Aullybocus, an experienced solicitor and legal consultant, who brings a wealth of insight into the friction points that slow things down. Zahrah has spent years navigating the practical realities of conveyancing and understands where the real obstacles lie.
One of the biggest culprits remains missing or incomplete paperwork. Whether it is a lack of upfront information from the seller or slow turnaround times from third parties, too many transactions still suffer from information gaps. These gaps lead to queries. Queries cause delay. And too often, those delays are entirely avoidable.
Another issue is the lack of joined-up communication. Buyers are often left chasing updates from multiple people, unsure of where responsibility sits. When one party assumes another is handling a task, it is easy for key actions to fall through the cracks. In many cases, it is not about deliberate obstruction. It is about assumption, miscommunication, and overwork.
There are also long-standing structural issues. Local authority search times can vary dramatically depending on location. Lenders may have differing requirements. Leasehold properties often bring an extra layer of complexity, particularly when management companies are slow to respond.
For the buyer, all of this can feel bewildering. They may be told that everything is moving, then discover a week later that a form has yet to be submitted or a response has not been received. It is no wonder that many buyers come out of the experience frustrated and anxious.
This week’s podcast features a practical conversation from those working within the system, drawing on real experience to explore what could genuinely make the process better. It brings together insight from professionals who want to see the buying journey run more smoothly for everyone involved.
Hosted as always by Gareth Wax and Hamish McLay, Property Matters goes live on Tuesday 22nd July at the slightly later time of 1.05pm. Expect thoughtful insight and real-world examples from those who have seen it all before.
Never miss an episode of Spilling The Proper-Tea again. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch up or watch live - https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea
PS:
For content enquiries:
For podcast/media info:
Stay Informed
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
Comments