@kev8421 you’re not wrong to be nervous, no. That’s a perfectly rational response given what you’ve been through. But the fact that the whole chain is apparently aligned is genuinely a good sign. Most chains collapse because one link isn’t ready, not because everyone’s ready and then something falls apart.
One practical point: even once you’ve exchanged, don’t assume completion day is set in stone until your solicitor confirms the completion statement and you’ve transferred the funds. We had a completion delayed by 48 hours in 2007 because the seller’s mortgage company was slow releasing the deeds. It worked out fine but it was a stressful couple of days. Make sure your removal company is flexible on dates if you can, or at least that they won’t charge you a fortune for a one-day shift.
Thursday update. Actual progress to report for once.
Solicitor called this afternoon to say the vendor’s side have now confirmed they are ready to exchange. Their onward purchase is also apparently good to go. She’s proposed exchange on Tuesday 5 May with completion on Friday 22 May.
Our buyer’s solicitor has confirmed they are also happy with those dates, so in theory the whole chain is aligned. I say “in theory” because I have learned not to believe anything until the contracts are actually swapped.
The one thing making me twitch is the rate news today. Bank held at 3.75% but one member voted to raise, and the MPC basically said rates are going up later this year. Our mortgage offer is locked in at 5.1% until mid June so the timeline works, but if something delays exchange and the offer expires I dread to think what the replacement rate would be.
Am I overthinking this? Probably. But after the first deal collapsing in February I think I am entitled to a bit of paranoia.
Friday morning update.
Solicitor sent an email at 8:15 saying she’s aiming to exchange today. The vendor’s side have apparently confirmed they’re ready. Our buyer’s solicitor has also confirmed funds are in place. So in theory everything is aligned.
I say “in theory” because I’ve been here before, back in February, and the whole thing collapsed at the last minute when the vendor’s buyer pulled out. So I’m not exactly popping champagne yet.
Solicitor said she’d call once she has confirmation from all parties that exchange has gone through. I asked what time she expects that by and she said “hopefully before lunch but could be late afternoon”.
So now I sit here refreshing my phone like a normal well-adjusted person. Am I misunderstanding something or is this genuinely the most stressful part? Because the searches, the surveys, the mortgage offer, all of that felt like nothing compared to this bit.
@kev8421 fingers crossed for you. The afternoon silence is always the worst bit, isn’t it? You’re sitting there imagining catastrophic scenarios while your solicitor is probably just on hold to somebody else’s solicitor.
One practical thing for when it does go through, if it hasn’t already by the time you read this. Make sure you know the exact completion date and get it confirmed in writing the same day. Also check your buildings insurance is in place from the moment of exchange, not completion. A surprising number of people miss that one. Your solicitor should flag it but they don’t always.
I do hope by now you’ve had the call. If you have, put the phone down and go and have a pint. You’ve earned it 
Saturday morning update.
So yesterday was a bit of a saga. Solicitor sent that email at 8:15 saying she was aiming to exchange. Then nothing until about 2pm when she called to say the vendor’s solicitor was ‘just finalising something’ on their onward purchase. That ‘something’ turned into three more hours of silence.
At 4:45 she called again. Exchange happened at 4:38pm. All parties in the chain. Completion set for 22 May.
I genuinely don’t know what to feel. Part of me is relieved, part of me is waiting for something else to go wrong. The deposit is gone, the contracts are signed, and apparently that’s that.
@greenwhistle_hants you were right about the afternoon silence being the worst. I aged about five years between 2 and 5 o’clock.
Now I just need the next three weeks to pass without incident. Am I allowed to relax yet or is that tempting fate?
@kev8421 brilliant news, well done. After all that waiting you deserve a quiet three weeks.
One thing, and apologies if your solicitor already covered this: make sure your buildings insurance on the new place is live from exchange, not completion. You’re technically responsible for the property from the moment contracts are exchanged. If it burned down tomorrow, that would be your problem. Cheerful thought for a Saturday
Sunday morning update, and hopefully the last one of these.
So yes, we exchanged. It actually happened at about 4:30pm yesterday. Solicitor called to confirm the whole chain had gone through. Completion date is 22 May. Three weeks. I genuinely didn’t believe it until I saw the email confirmation come through.
@greenwhistle_hants thanks for the buildings insurance reminder. Yes, solicitor covered it on Friday. We need cover from exchange, not completion, which I hadn’t realised. Already sorted that this morning.
I know I’ve been posting daily updates for what feels like months so I’ll spare everyone going forward. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who chipped in with advice along the way, particularly @rb471956 and @greenwhistle_hants. This thread kept me sane when the whole thing felt like it was falling apart.
Now I just need to survive three weeks without anyone in the chain doing something stupid.