Is this really what selling to a first time buyer is like now?

[vipersnest1]

I do understand that buying a house is a big deal, but the whole thing seems crazy….
I accepted their offer in December.
Despite draft contracts going out mid-January, their solicitor took eight weeks to raise enquiries (apparently known for it because they are low-cost - the words of my solicitor).
Repeated questions based around issues like management company and fees when there are none. I’ve now answered questions about this four times.
Assurances sought about the condition of appliances that I've thrown in for zero cost as I don’t need them in my new house (I’ve already said they are in good working order).
Questions on possible development near the house - that’s what local searches are for, surely?
Delays on completion date due to various excuses - storage costs, rent, supposed holiday.
Having insisted on completion in early June, I’ve now been asked for another viewing, which I can understand (kind of!), but have also found out that they haven’t even returned their signed contract to their solicitor.
AIBU to think there is an ulterior motive here, or is this common?
I’ve been in my current house for 12 years so may be out of touch with this issue.
Any thoughts gratefully received.

We had similar to be honest. Ridiculous questions that had already been answered on many forms or are answered through different processes (surveys etc). I think maybe because they’re first timers they’re more nervous? Saved longer for more money so being cautious?

or maybe solicitors taking longer as they can charge more if it goes over a certain duration….

hope it works out soon for you. It’s really frustrating!

Unfortunately, I think it's common

My flat wasn't even bought by a first time buyer

But some of the same questions came back several times. My solicitor reverted to saying "asked and answered" because luckily, he is like me in that direct way.

Also, we refused to answer some of the questions because they were just mad e.g they wanted a full set of papers relating to the original planning permission for the building and the demolition of the previous building.

Far too old and I suspect if they asked the council, the council wouldn't have them anyway.

My solicitor thought that it was likely to be mad questions from the mortgage company solicitor, he didn't think the buyer was to blame.

I read up a lot about this at the time and you can probably find it if you just google the quote "conveyancing is now so slow it's going backwards". The amount of things you can sue people for, the amount of things that you need indemnity insurance for... I was supposed to be moving again, but I can't face it. It's ridiculous.

The process is now so onerous it means that I don't want to make another move unless it is my last, which may be a retirement flat

Sorry that was a rant. But that's how I feel about it now.

The good news is, I don't think they're up to anything dodgy!

I wouldn’t sell to a first time buyer again. Have twice and both times the process took forever and they expected reduction on price for the simplest of things that you’d expect to have in any period property.
Also, they said first time buyer / chain free but in actual fact we were waiting on their parents selling a property in order to give them the cash to be buying. So watch out for that, anyone thinking of selling to a FTB

We had this when we sold around 7 years ago. The viewing which was just before they agreed to sign was followed by a new lower offer!!! I was livid as we were so far down the road!

My dc are buying a house and they slightly delayed things waiting to get the max money they could from their lisa. Now they could complete but they are delaying due to a night out, a work event, a wedding. They want to complete in 4 weeks time. I have pointed out the sellers could get sick of them.

My son and his partner bought 2 years ago
FTB
huge deposit
living at home so no need to deal with rental contract

the sellers said they would move out of there was any issue with their onward sale
there was and they wouldn’t move out
1 sale fell through
so they bought another house which did go through

luckily my son and his partner were not in a hurry and the house ticked every single box for them

it took 11months in total

Wow, the responses so far haven’t inspired me with confidence but also aren’t surprising either.
@MeganM3, my buyer tried to get a reduction because there was staining from a gutter leak that had already been fixed - I refused. I too would exclude first-time buyers if I sell again. (The buyer is using money from their father for the deposit so he hasn’t helped matters.)
@Orangebadger, exactly what I’m concerned about and I will say no for that read fuck off if they do.
@asdbaybeeeeI am totally sick of it and have already said if there are any more delays I’m done and mean it.
@previouslyknownas, I’ve already lost one sale (due to my buyer being made redundant) so I’m already nine months down the line.

They could be stringing you along while they're looking at other options - would you give them a deadline, and if they don't meet it, put the property back on the market?

@vipersnest1 behind many FTB's is a switched on parent giving advice, so don't assume its a FTB problem. It seems like your bigger problem is their choice of solicitor rather than them being a FTB.

My own son is a FTB. His initial offer was beaten by another buyer but, when they pulled out, he suddenly had his much lower offer accepted the day before he went off on a 3 week holiday to a -7h time zone with wifi limitations. Nobody has noticed though because yours truly has been oiling the wheels in his absence to keep things moving like an efficient personal assistant. So FTBs can be great if their mums are involved. 🙂

I’ve already made it clear that this deadline (not the original one which was put off due to the ‘holiday’) is the final one. I’ll also ring the agents in the morning to make sure that they ask:
If the viewing has satisfied them that the property is in the same condition (maybe not in those words) as when they made the offer
When they intend to get the signed contract to their solicitor

AND let them know again that I am serious about the deadline

@bluddybell, in my case there is an interfering father who has been inclined to throw imaginary spokes in the works, hence the ridiculous questions about maintenance fees.
The buyer never mentioned a holiday until two weeks ago but had ample opportunity to do that!

they are delaying due to a night out, a work event, a wedding

Ooh I think I'd be leaving prawns in the curtain poles!

My first time buyers were beyond ridiculous. They presented me with a long list of things that needed doing to the house. For example the garage door needs painting. They then tried to get £13,000 off the agreed price. It went on and on. The estate agent said they were being incredibly cheeky and that nothing in their list warranted a price reduction. Just before we exchanged contracts they dropped out. The guy’s brother then said he would buy the house instead. He did and it all went through. It was a bloody nightmare.

We bought our first house 18 months ago. First viewed it in May 13th 2024, moved in sept 1st 2024.

We were held up by a few weeks due to our sellers seller not returning paperwork!

Not all FTB are as ridiculous as yours - sorry you’re having such a crap experience!

Not sure mad behaviour is limited to FTB. Our sellers were 50 something absolute lunatics.

I’m feeling inclined to chop up (cheap) shrimps and put them in the filters of the dishwasher and washing machine when I leave!

Yeah it’s normal. It’s not a “now” thing either. It was like this when I was a FTB in 2006. The gov has intruded some legislation to try to improve the system because it’s such a nightmare.

OP, I’d be hacked off. I can only suggest a lesson from all this is that as well as a Buyer proving their financial viability they must also announce who is doing their legal work. It’s so important to have an old style conveyancer.

Ive recently sold and bought. It took 17 weeks but could have been so much easier if one of the solicitors hadn’t left everything to the 16th week.

One of my DC, a FTB, had an offer accepted just over a week ago. A surveyor is booked for tomorrow and the financial advisor is rushing to secure a mortgage offer before the government implodes further and rates climb again.
Wishing you a speedy conclusion.

If they were prepared to exchange immediately and commit themselves, 4 weeks would not necessarily be a problem...I know I'd prefer the certainty of an immediate exchange and a 4 week completion, than the being the hostage to fortune that exchanging and completing in the same week, or even on the same day would invilve.

When we were FTBs, 16.5 years ago, we viewed the house (no chain, vacant possession) just before Christmas, put an offer in on the 29th December, had a bit of a bidding war, offer accepted and we had the keys by the 29th January. And my husband was in the Army based 200 miles away, and I was at uni, exam month, and on my own with a 2 year old. Our poor solicitor was badgered almost daily because I didn't want to pay another month's rent.

The ridiculous questions is normal though from all levels of buyers so I really don’t think you can blame them being first time buyers for that. I think a lot of the time it’s the solicitors and not the buyers.

However, 6 months is becoming a bit of a piss take and in your case, I’d be a bit worried that the interest rate rises have affected their finances and ability to sort a mortgage. I’d also be prepared for a reduced offer to be incoming post the next viewing.

I’d also say the solicitor matters. When we bought our house our legal people were actually quite crap but cheap. The whole thing was driven through by the expensive estate agent our sellers used who effectively started project managing both legal teams. I have to admit that changed my view a bit on estate agent fees as I think the sellers did actually get quite a lot of work and value from their estate agent.

Mine were really good. And she found me on Facebook and we chatted the whole way through. I could send them sizes and photos when she forgot what it was like. I sent photos of her first letter through the door. It was really lovely to be involved with their excitement.

in fact I picked them over others as they had a rough time trying to buy a house before.

I don’t think they are all like this. But I wonder if maybe something like chat gpt has got them to answer funny questions? I know people who use this for everything now.

A friend of mine is moving away and selling her house to her DC and is having the same issues re repeated questions/one more question. But it's the solicitor/mortgage company and her FTB DC who are still living at home are just as frustrated with the process.

All of these comments show there is a massive problem with our house sale/purchase system in England and Wales. My DD offered on a property in October, all legal work done, mortgage in place, surveys done etc. All
good and then the vendor decided they didn’t want to proceed with their onward purchase. She has now offered on three or four properties and been the under bidder. I would add these are properties with a guide price and she has offered well above the guide price but not crazily so.

how anyone manages to buy and sell is a miracle with this system.

Programmes like A place in the sun don’t help, as people think it’s ok to offer 25k less because they would need to do some work to get it up to their taste. Erm that’s on you 🙄