Why the Estate Agent isn’t Sending a Memorandum of Sale

The memorandum of sale is a document drawn up by the estate agent once a sale has been agreed on a property. You, as the homebuyer, are probably getting worried and wondering why you haven’t received the memorandum of sale after getting an offer accepted on a home. Here are a few common reasons that may explain why.

Delay on the seller’s side

The memorandum of sale is usually issued within a few days of a sale being agreed. There could be a delay if the seller hasn’t provided important information to the estate agent, such as the details of their solicitor. This, for example, could happen if the chain isn’t complete. The sellers could still be waiting to find their own home before instructing a conveyancing solicitor.

In such cases, it’s important to not stop your search. Keep doing more viewings as you won’t know how long it will take until the seller finds a property and completes the chain. This is especially important for those that don’t have as much time left until their mortgage offer expires.

Delay on the estate agent’s side

Sometimes the sending of the memorandum of sale could be due to delays on the estate agent’s side. It could be a case of disorganisation. It could also be a case of the estate agent or someone else important in the EA office going on holiday. What’s important is to keep chasing the estate agent, especially if more than a few working days have passed since the sale was agreed.

You may want to set a deadline if the estate agent continues to drag their feet and don’t give you any clear reasons for the delay in sending the memorandum of sale. It should be in the estate agent’s best interest to get the process moving quickly as the commission only comes after completion of sale.