I've had an offer accepted but they haven't instructed a solicitor yet

[Littleemma82]

Hi,
So, two weeks ago I put an offer in on a property. I made it clear that I wished to move forward quickly.
Partly because the couple buying my property are pregnant and want to be in before their baby is born ( I know this isn't my problem). Also because of my own situation and needing another bedroom sooner rather than later.
I gave them the asking price. But they have not instructed a solicitor for the sale. They state they are aiming to buy a new build, but haven't found somewhere to go.
I feel a bit peeved as although I do get it to some extent. This is my third housemove in 14yrs and I have never been in a situation where the seller doesn't instruct a solicitor straight away. Even if they don't have anywhere. In the past the people I've brought from have instructed to get started. I am concerned they are not really committed. Help, I need advice as to whether to stick around or find another property. I'm also scared I'll lose my in buyers

I would put that in writing (e-mail) to the Estate Agents.
Let them know that your offer is dependent on being able to move quickly and if the vendors aren't interested then you will look elsewhere.

Of course, it does depend on the market where you are.
Here, there are several offers on every house sometimes within hours of the one viewing day. If you are in that situation, you don't really have the same sway.

Keep looking.
The sellers actions are telling you that timing is not important to them.

Sounds like they think you can wait until they have found somewhere. You need to be clear you won’t do that. If they want the sale to go through they can move into rented whilst they look (if they want a new build they could buy off plan, so a short period in rental might be helpful).
If they won’t agree then you know the position and you can choose to look elsewhere or you can go into rental if you want to help your buyers.

They are looking for a new build

They haven't found one

So it's going to be one that isn't built yet

So it's going to take a long time

Keep looking or be prepared yourself to go into rented

Hi there are three new build estates going up in our area at the moment and the majority appear to be almost complete with lots of plots available.

So the issue of them being built isn't really one, if you see what I mean. As I was going to go for a newbuild, but I backed out for personal reasons

Update, so three weeks ago today I put my offer in. I am at a point where I have no choice but to move on by the end of the week To another property. If they do not instruct
My family situation means I cannot hang around any longer. As I need to complete before the end of October/ November.
Sadly I've learned lots of valuable lessons.

The buyer you have doesn’t sound compatible with your vendor wanting a new build, I don’t think this is all going to line up right unless you’re prepared to break the chain and move into rented. New builds take forever, your vendors new house is probably just a patch of mud at this point.

Sorry, just seen your update.

I’ve never instructed a solicitor/conveyancer until I had both a buyer for my own property and had an offer accepted on a property for me to move to.

It’s not the “instruct” that is the problem here, it’s that your vendors haven’t found a property to buy. They could “instruct” now, and then take a year to find a property to buy and unless they were willing to move into rental, you’re no further forward.

If you can’t wait for them to find somewhere, you need to keep looking for other houses, but don’t get hung up about the instructing solicitors thing - they’re not wrong to hold off on that until they are ready to do both sale and purchase simultaneously.

Also, many estate agents and developers won’t even let you view a property until you have an offer on your own, so your vendors couldn’t start looking properly until you offered. It seems a tad unreasonable to expect them to make such a major life-changing decision (in a hot housing market) to such a tight timescale.

So update, i was unable to find another house I had to break the chain and completed in January.
However, despite being insistent on a boiler certificate I never received. Then discovered a gas leak as soon as we were in. Yep this is unlucky, but I feel I should have gone with my gut feeling to pull out from the start. I know a gas leak is unrelated to the boiler, but it backs up my feelings on this buy
It's a shame as I feel my personal situation was ultimately exploited. My brother died last year and the extra bedroom is for his daughter - which the vendor and estate agent knew from the start. Anyway lesson learned