You can expect
several weeks of nothing happening as your or their solicitor does absolutely sod-all. This is apparently standard. I recommend phoning them up daily, and urging the sellers to do the same. It won't help, but at least the solicitors will be as annoyed as you.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 10:46, 3 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I got round this problem
by using my sister as my solicitor. She was shit hot at hassling their useless solicitor.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 10:48, Reply)

God that was the main thing that sucked about
working as a receptionist at a solicitors. All the friggin' paranoid bastards of the world calling demanding to speak to their conveyancer, through fear that things had fallen through on their house plans and then me trying to put through the call and them going 'no no, tell them I'm not in'... great! :(
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Tue 20 Oct 2009, 10:52, Reply)

It's not paranoia
there are so few safeguards on buying a house, it's the most expensive thing you'll buy and yet you are more protected buying a packet of crisps.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 10:55, Reply)

Meh
I was 19, It seemed liked paranoia to me. Also it seemed to be that the estate agents caused quite a lot of problems too, like when we would need to exchange funds on a Friday they would always be out to lunch forever... I used to be made to walk down to their offices to spy on them... bloody hell that job was crap! :(
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Tue 20 Oct 2009, 10:58, Reply)

Just you wait young lady
when DiT decides to share his unbridled wealth with you and purchase somewhere for you to live, you'll know what it's like.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 11:00, Reply)

Haha
I think we'll be waiting a while... by the time we can afford a deposit for a house I'll be getting out my pension.
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Tue 20 Oct 2009, 11:02, Reply)

Yes!
Although we're not in a hurry (we have cheap rent at the mo), and due to general busyness we'd rather not have to move before Christmas, so I won't be too concerned if the lawyers take their time. So far all quotes are for the whole thing, not by the hour.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 11:11, Reply)