Tuesday
So today was the first day back after the Easter break. Many firms were closed for Easter Tuesday, an old tradition I remember from many years ago, but seemed more poignant this year.
As I have come to expect, the phones were quiet. There was a steady influx of emails but not as many as usual. Was this because it was Easter or just the times in which we now live?
We are all waiting to see what will happen with the lockdown, and my personal view is that it will be extended, perhaps for a further initial three week period, perhaps for longer.
What we do know is that it will continue to impact the property market and it will be some time before chains will flow freely again. However, I have one client (and I am sure that many others have similar clients) and he is putting immense pressure on the lower part of the chain to complete.
He is buying an empty property, but there are three properties in the chain below and although he has agreed to move out of his house, thereby leaving it empty for a two week period before completion, we learnt today that one person in the chain is now self isolating. This has infuriated my client, leading him to email his buyer, blaming the buyer and his solicitor for delays throughout the transaction; and you can guess what happens? That email gets forwarded to others in the chain and we are then left trying to pick up the pieces and apologising for a client’s response to something which was not intended to be read by the person who ultimately received it. So always remember to be kind (or at least measured) in whatever you write in an email – you never know who may eventually read it.
You cannot control the behaviour of others but you can always choose how you respond to it.
This is written by a real high street conveyancer who wishes to remain anonymous.
