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Matt Faizey
Matt Faizey
Punch Bag
6768  Profile Views

About Me

Moving home is my life, passion, and expertise.
There isn't another human in this country that has more experience in what the public go through from the actual start, to the actual finish of this clunky, daft, ill put together process than me.
That's quite a statement - yes, but it's true.

(I'm crap at everything else in life)

Oh, and unlike most of the other ego's hanging round here, I'm not so desperate that you'll find me plugging my company at every opportunity. I shall not mention it unless asked. My intentions are sincere. This process, from the sale board going up, to being safely ensconced in the new home is terrible. Truly, truly awful. I want to help make it better, not self promote.

p.s I also drive racing cars. Moreover despite being devilshly handsome I hate having my face photographed, hence the 'racing' pic.

my expertise in the industry

The temptation is always to write funny stuff, for once I shall be serious;
I started out at 12 years old, delivering furniture (Saturday job). By 14 I knew how to discuss moving dates and was, at times. competent enough to deal with the public discussing bookings, moving dates and home moves (over the phone). By 15 I understood the basics of the process. It is a conservative estimate that I have personally held conversations with @35000 home movers (as at 2020). I have had in depth discussions regarding the sale process, negotiations, technicalities and their experience of the conveyancing and sales/buying process with, more than likely upwards of 20,000 of them. My office bookshelves are filled with home moving books, Lawpack books, Psychology, NLP, Paul Ekman through Malcolm Gladwell and much much more (even through Hypnosis..)

I haven't read any of them, but they make me look good and intimidate everyone who sits before me ;-)

I now run a firm that has, at any one time @1000 customers, either for moving or storage. I know all by name and will have held a conversation about moving home with at least 9/10 of them.
I was discussing the publics perceived deficiencies within this system before I even took my GCSE's (most of which I turned up drunk for anyway).

Matt's Recent Activity

Matt Faizey
Gov needs to equalise any form of stimulus across demand and supply. That is if they were going to effect any demand side stimulus at all. I'll always argue that stimulus now should solely be on supply side. However if both sides of the fence were equalised then gov could truly get the boost the economy needs Any reintroduction of H2B needs NOT to be restricted to new build only. The evidence is there of the damage this did. It should be across the market, capped on value. Supply side, crack on with relaxing the planning in favour of brownfield regeneration. Empty shop numbers are increasing, and with no councils willing to roll back on the pedestrianisation of traditional shopping areas they are not coming back. So, make these easier to convert. Same with office space, and indeed industrial buildings. Cleverer bids than I however need to come up with methods of incentivising more small developers to enter. Low rate government backed loans maybe? Available for all developments up to 50 units. Available to any developer who has completed less than 1000 units in the previous year. I'm just spit-balling here Also, a public register of option agreements, and a mandatory 24month time limit on them would also shake the market. While also banning the exclusivity aspect for the entire term. It would force developers to go full throttle to get planning permission in asap. Knowing that the landowner could be approached and easily switch developers if it's not PP'd quickly. Tax incentivise all developers in some fashion based on the speed from date of PP granted to the last unit being completed on. Gov needs to address: Not enough built Not enough competition to do so

From: Matt Faizey 14 February 2024 07:14 AM

Matt Faizey

From: Matt Faizey 26 January 2024 14:38 PM

Matt Faizey
The right direction. Nothing regards a mandated gap in-between exchange and completion that I could see in the paper. Anybody who works on the ground knows how much stress this causes. Indeed it is without doubt the peak of the stress curve for consumers. Still gazundering goes unaddressed and at a time where it’s return is causing misery. Moreover the horrific stress incurred by those with exchanges ridiculously close to completion day, often incurring major costs financially as well as emotionally, isn’t discussed. Everybody who works on the ground, with consumers knows there’s absolutely no good reason why there cannot be a mandated period in-between ex&comp. There’s no reasoning against that cannot have a hole quickly blown through it. This was an early aim of the group. It’s a shame those with an interest in maintaining the current stress purely for their own benefit haven’t got on board, and indeed have clearly sought to frustrate a potential change that would have majorly benefitted those who are paying the industries wages. The consumer I notice that where this document contains quite definite language regards many points; Key release time remains an ‘aim’ for 1pm. In fact for the moving day section this document almost insinuates the issue is people being moved out by 1pm. Whereas in the real world, for decades this hasn’t been the issue. One could argue that ensures the status quo would continue to exist, reading this. The Law Societies time for completion right now is 1pm. It could easily be argued that today, Conveyancers will ‘aim’ for 1pm. Movers (both firms and the public) will only benefit if this language for the stated goal changes to ‘keys will be released by 1pm’. I’m uncomfortable that the document doesn’t address moving days historic mess caused by conveyancing practices of almost sociopathic diagnosis. Moreover the language hinting that being moved out by 1pm is an issue. Frankly it’s an insult to the moving industry. Everybody knows the physical home movers aren’t the problem.

From: Matt Faizey 10 October 2023 07:27 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 19 December 2022 06:40 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 22 November 2021 15:06 PM

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From: Matt Faizey 03 June 2021 08:49 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 03 June 2021 06:54 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 27 May 2021 08:59 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 19 April 2021 06:24 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 09 April 2021 07:10 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 25 February 2021 06:16 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 25 February 2021 06:14 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 13 February 2021 07:16 AM

Matt Faizey
the poor sausages, Might be worth considering the mental health issues for the public. They're more important. In the last three weeks; Sydney Mitchell responsible for leaving a family homeless for a working week. Exchange had taken place days before, and then, on completion day - nothing. Cue fully loaded vehicle being brought back to unload into store late at night. Client had to sleep on relatives living room floor for four nights. The excellent 'Wadsworths' covered his fees and are now pursuing his buyers solicitor. I have an audio interview with the client. Its interesting. Last Friday 2 separate poor home moverers. One told by solicitor she should 'prepare to move on Friday even though we don't know when we're exchanging' Yes, I've seen the email. This lady was later told its 'not my problem' that she is having to lay out a four figure sum to a mover to book the day. Money she can't transfer or reclaim. Or indeed last Friday when we have an estate agent refusing to hand over keys to our client despite completion having fully occurred. They prevaricated and lied their way through three hours. Why? So the selfish a**h&les could move themselves out in a sprinter van. Cue customer having crying children and wife. Moving day made miserable - who exactly is responsible for ensuring people know they have to be out? Client number 2 on Friday that I met for this Friday. Marital split. Young children. Solicitor told this lady 'this is just how it is' (again, I've seen the proof) when she asked 'how can you consider it fair that I plan the breakup of my childrens family home with merely hours notice of moving?' Or how about the Client ringing this office at @3pm Friday informing us that she has received an email informing her 'we're now planning on exchanging this afternoon for completion on Monday'. My good colleague here would happily regale the tale of a conversation rendered difficult as conducted through tears. Or the three other members of the public through the course of last week on the phone here actually crying. 'have to be out by Christmas' - 'have to be out before 18th' Conveyancers mental health? Seriously? Movers are experiencing this far worse. We get the blunt end of the frustrations and we see the real fall-out emotionally of the poor public. Whose mental health isn't factored once by EA's and conveyancers happy to promote simultaneous ex&comp or indeed exchange merely a day or two in advance. Happy for people to not know they're moving home even on the morning they're supposed to be out. Happy to consider it fair that people suffer monstrous stress in not knowing when they're moving until a few short days before. And as for moving day..... Those poor conveyancers who continually blame banks.....When in truth its because of daft inconsiderate internal accounting systems that take 90 minutes to acknowledge funds and action key release. When CHAPS is almost instant. Movers carry on. We're good. We know we get paid to do this. So do you. So stop whining. You've all put your fees up. The public who are moving home are more important than any of us and they're getting skant regard for THEIR mental well-bring right now.

From: Matt Faizey 14 December 2020 08:43 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 03 November 2020 09:00 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 31 October 2020 19:47 PM

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From: Matt Faizey 13 July 2020 08:12 AM

Matt Faizey
This thread reminds me why all too often I hear feedback along the lines of; 'when we went into the decision of moving home we imagined we'd be dealing with professionals. Only when it go to the physical part did we think we would have to navigate the unprofessionalism of 'blokes in vans/ nayer do-wells and charlatans' and have the worry of people we know little of come into our personal space with no guarantee of quality. Little did we know it would be completely thee other way around' There's an office in Brum with handwritten customer feedback forms for the last 22years. It's astonishing and disheartening how many echo this sentiment. That threads likes this come and go day in day out here and elsewhere with almost nobody referring to how the public should be treated or the affects on psyche by the process/player is telling and damning. A comment I've been making for years. I wonder if anybody has the capability or empathy to consider that behind this headline there'd be c)20,000 families heading for the last five working days of March being pressured, harried and cajoled. Facing huge pressure and monumental stress either a) because they need the saving and pee poor service means it's now at risk or b) because some agent or staff member wants their thirty quid commission and their firms fee so badly that quarter they'd destroy the process for the people involved making them move at short desperate notice. You all owe your living to people who deserve better and place great faith.

From: Matt Faizey 10 July 2020 07:50 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 09 July 2020 12:18 PM

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From: Matt Faizey 14 May 2020 12:31 PM

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Good grief. I for one want to get back to work but laughable rubbish like this will not help. One person cannot pack a box body on their own. The body is @2.2m wide. Maximum. More often less. Two people are need to manoeuvre furniture. Both in home, in vehicle and in-between Most furniture is less than 2m in length both physically, and during the angles needed for positioning. 2 persons on stairs, in hallways, on landings... ..... A house move of normal home contents cannot be performed maintaining social distancing. That's not open to debate. The author is an idiot. The author needs to go and perform a home move.. The sooner at GOV level somebody just admits this, and says 'they're going to have to work at risk' the better. 'just minimise it'. As for gloves - wow - they'd need to change gloves after every lift. Or sanitise the gloves after every lift. Totally impractical. And that's just where one person items are concerned. Moreover, mattresses, cushions, sofas. Etc etc. Who is to wrap and/or bag these? Has the author seen the dust particles thrown up when these objects are moved? And yet they advise not using the toilet!! So now 5 persons can't pee for maybe five hours but they can breathed in dust off a mattress, or sofa, or move the dirty washing basket? All while breaching social distancing. Articles this idiotic are not helping. Those associated with moving home should remember moving crews are the true frontline. Individuals who clearly know nothing about the physical process should simply keep their mouths shut. Broadly movers want to get back to work, and can manage risk. Being spoken to like this is insulting, patronising and makes clear the way house movers are viewed. The author obviously thinks it's that simple expert guidance isn't needed.

From: Matt Faizey 29 April 2020 07:49 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 11 March 2019 07:47 AM

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Searches are a small issue in the grand scheme. Over on PIE earlier I wrote, and stand by; (And post here because I consider most of the 'problems' currently being put forward are deflecting from the true issues) Technology isn’t the issue. The issue is that broadly conveyancers are selfish b8st8rds. Not considering that their clients would like clear explanations Not considering their clients emotions, obligations and lives. Specifically where timescales and notice are concerned. Failing to empathise, acknowledge and then act to stop their clients not knowing how moving day should work and leaving their clients sat in cars/homeless for hours because they fail to ensure key release in a timely fashion. Being utterly hypocritical. Many with employment contracts mandating minimum notice periods for time off and who wouldn’t dream of giving their employers just a few days notice that need time off yet seem to think ensuring their client only has >5 days Inbetween exchange and completion totally cocking up notice periods and planning time is acceptable. Hence being the cause of the main point of stress. Failing to explain to clients that completion dates are worthless without exchange. Coming out will bullpoo to justify their pointless practices, such as drawing mortgage funds down on completion day, or refusing to exchange until mortgage funds are in. And many, many more selfish practices that are way way away from truly acting in their clients best interests. And going for lunch while their client is waiting to get into their new house. Oh, and the cheapie production line conveyancers now attempting to give themselves even more latitude to be slow, sh1te and selfish by requesting there be no completion time in the contract. Which is a recipe for utter chaos resulting in people needlessly being rendered homeless. Has there ever been a ‘profession’ so cheapened and manipulated by firms and people intellectually, and educationally deficient at any point in living memory? Technology? Only if that technology identifies selfish Muppets and electrocutes them

From: Matt Faizey 30 January 2019 08:01 AM

Matt Faizey
I'll bet the silence in here will be deafening! The first rumbles of recognition seem to be appearing in public of this daft problem. Yet, for the last ten years of me writing about this 99% of the responses from EA's or Conveyancers have been absolute denial it happens. CHAPS takes minutes, yet a chain of four can take 8 hours from start to the last party having their new front door open. All the reasons, as I've outlined thousands of times are human. Apathy, a lack of empathy, and laziness. Moreover, over recent years utterly stupid advice given to the public. Such as Conveyancers telling clients to stay put in the old house until their new house has completed. Yet often the client may be a combined total of 2 hours away from that position. Truly stupid. Solicitors going for lunch when completions are still waiting without thinking that there are families, homeless with barking dogs or screaming kids sat in their cars. One complete t1t of a conveyancer who said (and this is a direct quote) 'I don't check for funds until after 2pm, and that's how I've always done it'. Despite the fact that this melon might be acting for the second party in a chain of six. Idiots not drawing funds down the day before and then (and I have a recent email chain that I shouldn't to prove one recent instance) blaming the bank for their client not being able to complete on time and having notice to complete served. The situation that neither Agent nor Conveyancer can be bothered to properly explain to their clients what 'vacant possession' means, both in physicality and legal obligation. The answer to this issue doesn't rest with anything revolutionary Rob (I only say this to you as you've responded - in truth it's to every stakeholder). It rests with the individuals who already operate becoming more empathetic, efficient, client focussed and determined. Everybody knows a chain of six can complete by 1pm, it's happened, thousands of times. The problem is that for hundreds of thousands it's 3 or 4pm in the afternoon. And the reasons for that are, for the most part, and exceptional (rare) circumstance aside, human http://moversandstorers.co.uk/category/matts-blog/

From: Matt Faizey 16 October 2018 08:45 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 13 March 2018 16:04 PM

Matt Faizey
Dear God. The 'lack of understanding' is born from your professions complete and total lack of empathy with your clients. And the only party within the process that could wipe out gazundering for example is YOU. Just by stopping exchanging within 3 minutes of completion. But no, having no fixed timeframe allows many to do sod-all until the last minute and then rush it through. That your profession fails to have basic conversations with clients about their home move, their hopes and wants has led to this. All the while moaning about low fee's .......yet the service is such that broadly you don't deserve higher fees. Combine this with the 10,000 (fairly accurate ballpark) completions PER MONTH where customers don't get keys until late in the afternoon (and another. 20k way past contracted time) due to collective incompetence of your profession and you're firmly into the territory where the phrase 'glass houses and stone's comes to mind. Ally this again with the arrogance of choosing exchange-complete timescales without consulting customers, not too mention choosing completion dates and telling clients rather than asking what they do, or do not want, and once more we see a 'lack of understanding' claim can be met with withering contempt. Let's not forget how many of you only work a 3 or 4 day week now too. Resulting in poorer service and extended timescales. It wouldn't be so bad if you actually told your client. Maybe the reason many don't is that they don't want the client to understand this? Then, we have the wonderful situation where the clients lack of understanding means they are not aware that only a mere underling will be dealing with the sale/purchase and not the solicitor they think they're paying. Then, right at point of exchange the solicitor finally reviews and says 'not ready, 'x' isn't done'. And so completely cocking up an entire chains preparedness and expectations. Often only a mere 8 days in advance of a moving date families have set their hopes and plans on. Ooh, plus of course the idiots who don't pull mortgage funds down until the day, so delaying everyone. And those who despite knowing local searches are delayed to 8 weeks (time of year etc) still don't bother with them until well into the process so delaying all the others in the chain. On, and on. But no, I'm sure you're right. It's a lack of understanding..... (Of how despite the advent of all tech post Windows95 it's no more efficient, and due to which the process has become more a name and number on a file rather than a human process)

From: Matt Faizey 07 February 2018 08:38 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 30 November 2017 12:42 PM

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From: Matt Faizey 30 November 2017 12:38 PM

Matt Faizey
I love the way almost every piece written regarding the 'service' provided by conveyancers never ever references attracting business through word of mouth. Moreover never explores what great service actually is defined as by the paying customer. The moans are constantly in reference to price. The moans almost always extend to referencing service level drops because of the price drop. The drop in service is a choice. Let's be clear. The implicit, crystal clear inference from many of these articles is that quality of service is being dropped in reaction to lower fee's, not because of lower fee's. Any individual or firm that plays the long game knows full well that a period working at maximum brilliance for little reward absolutely results in reputation led demand. And ultimately the ability to set fee's higher than others. Marking a return to profitability, often on stellar scale. The parallels with EA's are slowly being rubbed out as EA's are facing vastly different challenges. Although whenever they write about this they never seem to have quite the same chip. And certainly not the same size of chip. In truth the conveyancers are moving towards parellels aligned more closely with the moving and storage sector. Lots and lots of choice, lots and lots of crap firms / individuals. Lots of competition, and only a small percentage will be able to command decent rates. The key word here being 'command'. It's a tough old world. Let's not pretend though that the SRA and Law Society actually wield any fearsome power however. Any member of the public is far better off choosing based upon solid reputation and referral rather than a badge. A conveyancer that had to be called back from the golf course at @three thirty Friday to exchange contracts (phone in car) is unlikely to suffer sanction despite the fourth party in the chain being close to nervous breakdown (completion date 12th, a three day move beginning Tuesday, and moving hundreds of miles). It's common sense. This muppet will suffer reputational damage. Yet another conveyancer in that foursome may be remembered for his or her empathy < keyword there. That he or she is under the LS means nothing. Cue more work and higher fee's.

From: Matt Faizey 07 May 2016 09:58 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 24 February 2016 06:42 AM

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From: Matt Faizey 30 January 2016 11:15 AM

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Hello Eddie How many complaints about the conveyancer or EA are set to exist even before any service (following the sale) has been given? The answer – A lot of them. As you and I have discussed before (2014) the memorandum of sale is the first culprit of client dissatisfaction. You take Mr and Mrs Smith, they’ve not moved for 27 years and they’ve just accepted an offer on their home. Two days later and a memorandum of sale arrives with ‘Expected Completion Date’ (or words to that effect) written on it. More often than not for a wholly unrealistic 6-8 weeks down the line. Why? Well, that’s what most agents staff trot out to their customers. The total absurdity of this is (and always has been) beyond comprehension. So now this nice couple ‘KNOW’ their moving date. How do they know? The agent has told them, and put it in writing. It isn’t this couples fault that they invest their trust in the first ‘knowledgable professional’ they dealt with – The Agent. It is the agents responsibility to manage the expectations of the client. From this point on, you’re ALL doomed to failure on the customer satisfaction front because this couple can only ever suffer the emotional trauma of the date not being met. That’s the first thing you all need to fix. Stop giving the client unrealistic promises at the very start. Simply tell the truth. Make an effort to track the average offer to completion timescale (obviously it differs year to year, qtr to qtr, and across economic cycles) and tell them the truth. More importantly do NOT put a specific date on it. This is a prime source of frustration, and absolutely down the line leads to many of the complaints. ‘The solicitor is useless he/she had the date months ago’ < Yes, and instead of your solicitor saying ‘the agents an idiot’ he or she was non-committal, and handed a pacifier sentence down the phone like ‘that is still technically possible Mrs Smith’ Whilst thinking ‘not effing likely though’, so again the client walks away ‘knowing’ the date. ‘The agent lied about everyone working toward the date, they knew the date months ago’ So don’t talk dates! This is problem number one toward reducing the complaints at the end. There are many more to discuss, but I’m not going to hog all the page space.

From: Matt Faizey 30 January 2016 11:02 AM

Matt Faizey

From: Matt Faizey 10 January 2016 20:18 PM

Matt Faizey
Good Morning. First, for any conveyancers, and you Rob reading this, I am not trying to tell you your job. I am aware however that there are people and staff (and possibly members of the public) that might read this. They might not actually have a clue how it works. As far as the public are concerned the overwhelming majority have not a clue how it all works, it could be magic, witchcraft, divine intervention, or just a job. Nobody tells them, and many only do this 3 or 4 times in their lives so they pay little attention. So, when I write I try to consider any and all who might read it. Moreover I will absolutely and always put first those who don't understand it. So, I am not trying to teach you and others to suck eggs. Protocols ; Thinking of the protocols set down by both LS and CA for example. Why can it not be that there is a widespread 'code of practice' that conveyancers could not sign up to that solves the issue of 'start time'? Yes, this is a simplistic 'first response' but how long do you really want this answer for now? Why can it not be that a code of practice lays down a requirement for how long a conveyancer has to acknowledge funds having landed? (here I will say that as I write this stuff I absolutely accept there will be a caveat regarding banking errors etc etc) All too often funds are transferred by one conveyancer, with no effort to then ring ahead or make any effort to speed the human element up and then the receiving side takes another 60 minutes before checking. This just isn't fair. There is a LOT that can be done by conveyancers. A code could mandate that once a conveyancer has sent funds they are required to chase through immediately to confirm recipet, and this, alongside (within the framework of a CoP) could also lead onto an agreed timeframe for the receipt and again, acknowledgement. Not too mention action by the receiving party upon receipt. All too often customers are told 'banks fault it took so long' and it just isn't true. The instances of simply - funds landed, next conveyancer on lunch so nothing doing for 90 minutes.. Its just too common. Or, as I personally witnessed - on lunch, in meeting, gone out, finally three hours after funds landed actually dealing with it. I am NOT 'conveyancer bashing' for the sake of it. I, and many others, know how it works and we know it can be better with mutual understanding. There needs to be a wider understanding from all parties, and better collaboration to 'fix' a system that just doesn't function properly. I had a customer receive a call from the EA at 4:15pm recently, saying 'congratulations, you can come and collect your keys, are you happy?' The customer went ballistic. 'Happy? Would you be f**king happy at this time?' This 'system', by the change to CHAPS has been granted the right to take even longer. So, what do removers now do? Do we have a 4:30 cut-off? An average home move will take @2.5>3 hours to have the customer safely, courteously and properly moved in. After this though the customer has a good hour or two of 'getting straight'. Is it fair on them that now they might sit in a car all afternoon, and then only move in, during the dark, and not even be finished by the News at Ten? Of course the perverse side is that the high up the chain moves are often £500k+ and larger than average, resulting in a likely timeframe of 4-5 hours to move in + the customers own sorting and getting straight. What of our staff, in our industry? Is it acceptable to have them go like lambs to the slaughter, moving the client out for 13:00 and then, well, sat, maybe for 5 hours, only then to finish work at 9pm having done a 14 hour day? In July, maybe 4 out of 5 days a week? They won't do it. There is a real, genuine problem brewing here. The current system is not broken. You yourself confirmed that. We know it. How come? Because when the right combination of conveyancers are involved, a chain of 5 is done and dusted by 2pm, just as you say. The CHAPS change, does not address the real issues. It does however now allow the faults in the process another 1hr 40minutes to be, like I said in the beginning 'even more crap'.

From: Matt Faizey 09 January 2016 10:03 AM

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