I would agree that some parts of the process make sense, so i was clearly being a bit excessive to claim that it is entirely insane.
I think the bit that most frustrates me is the time that solicitors and estate agents take to do things - they are being paid a very handsome fee (fixed IIRC, so not enhanceable by taking ages) and instead of getting on with the jobs which should take barely any time they take forever and you have to speed things up by chasing them or by discussing things directly with the other party (or parties, in a chain situation). There ought to be a financial penalty to the Estate Agent or Solicitor every time a party to a sale/purchase has to do part of their job for them due to them taking too long to get around to it.
Also the ability for a purchase to crash down after you've spent money getting all these things done at the whim of the vendor (it's legit for a house purchase to collapse due to the surveys and what-not bringing up issues) and with no financial consequence to the vendor. I have a friend who has just managed to purchase a new place after 2 previous sales vanished out from under her feet for no given reason, after she'd spent a good chunk of money on the process in each case.
no subject
I think the bit that most frustrates me is the time that solicitors and estate agents take to do things - they are being paid a very handsome fee (fixed IIRC, so not enhanceable by taking ages) and instead of getting on with the jobs which should take barely any time they take forever and you have to speed things up by chasing them or by discussing things directly with the other party (or parties, in a chain situation). There ought to be a financial penalty to the Estate Agent or Solicitor every time a party to a sale/purchase has to do part of their job for them due to them taking too long to get around to it.
Also the ability for a purchase to crash down after you've spent money getting all these things done at the whim of the vendor (it's legit for a house purchase to collapse due to the surveys and what-not bringing up issues) and with no financial consequence to the vendor. I have a friend who has just managed to purchase a new place after 2 previous sales vanished out from under her feet for no given reason, after she'd spent a good chunk of money on the process in each case.