January 27, 2026
There’s a stage in every property deal where momentum disappears.
Not because the numbers were wrong.
Not because the negotiation failed.
Not because finance collapsed.
But because solicitors haven’t even been instructed.
In this episode of Next Deal, both of our current purchases are now over a month past offer accepted — and we’re still waiting for basic legal instruction from the vendors’ solicitors.
No progress.
No movement.
Just silence.
When you’re building a full-time property business, this is more than frustrating.
It’s risky.
We have:
But without vendor solicitor instruction:
You can’t refurb what you don’t own.
And you can’t refinance what you haven’t completed.
If you’ve invested in UK property before, you’ll recognise this.
Common causes include:
In many cases, the seller mentally “moves on” once the offer is accepted.
But legally, nothing has happened yet.
Until solicitors are instructed and contracts issued, the deal is still fragile.
Property purchase delays don’t just test patience.
They affect:
Capital tied up in one deal means:
And momentum matters when you’re building income.
This is the part rarely discussed.
When you’ve gone all-in — no safety net, no side income — delays feel heavier.
You’ve:
And now you’re stuck waiting for paperwork.
This is where discipline matters.
Even when progress is outside your control, you can still:
Silence helps no one.
We don’t stop looking at deals.
Pipeline activity continues.
Because relying on one deal is dangerous.
Out of frustration can come better opportunities.
Delays give time to:
If anything changes materially, we adjust strategy.
Until exchange of contracts, nothing is guaranteed.
That’s the reality of UK property investing.
Gazumping happens.
Sellers change their mind.
Chains collapse.
Which is why we never:
Caution protects capital.
If you’re new to property, understand this:
The timeline rarely goes smoothly.
A “12-week completion” often becomes:
Building a property business means building patience.
And contingency planning.
We’re trying to build a full-time property business.
That requires:
But conveyancing sits outside your control.
So you focus on what you can control:
That’s how businesses survive slow stages.
You’ll see:
What you won’t often see:
But this is part of the process.
And if you can handle this stage calmly, you’re far more likely to survive long term.
When we structure deals offering returns, timelines matter.
Delays impact:
That’s why we build margin.
That’s why we stress test timelines.
That’s why we maintain pipeline activity even when purchases stall.
Resilience is a strategy.
Right now:
But so is discipline.
We’ll keep pushing.
Keep sourcing.
Keep planning.
Because momentum in property isn’t built on smooth transactions.
It’s built on how you handle the delays.
If you’re investing in UK property, you’ve likely experienced this stage.
And if you haven’t yet — you will.
The key is staying steady.
Episode by episode.
Deal by deal.