who else is in the process of selling/moving house?

[lucykate]

tell me your stories of nightmare chains, crap solicitors, nightmare chains, rubbish estate agents, nightmare chains..........

(bit of a theme going on there, can you tell we are in a nightmare chain? )

me.. not saying anything

Not in a nightmare chain, we are still in a nightmare hunt! I've seen over 60 places and very few have (almost) met our requirements. However, we saw one yesterday and DH was supposed to put an offer in this afternoon but forgot!! FFS I am p**d off to say the least!

We've had 4 purchases and 1 sale fall through so far. Latest purchase has to go OK or we're basically homeless from the middle of June. I'm never moving again.

We havent moved for 20 years, but are now in the middle of one. Its scary. I don't remember it being like this last time... its much too easy to borrow excessive amounts of money these days... building society seem to be pushing us to borrow way more than we need!

We are doing it the easy way - part exchange with a builder for a new house. Biggest hassle seem to be solicitors asking really stupid questions about the house we are selling. 'Have you complied with the deeds and covenants?' What does that mean [worried]

"deeds and covenants" relates to legal boundaries and restrictions, I think . For example we, and our neighbours in the close, are not allowed to enclose our front gardens. Another of a house I've seen recently states that no caravans, trailers or boats can be parked on the front drive. Think these may have been preconditions of the original planning application. Perhaps maintaining access or rights of way across your land comes into it too ?

We're on the market atm.

Ah yes. Our deeds say we must not make bricks or keep pigs! I can guarantee we haven't done that, but does DS's lego count? LOL

Our chain hasn't been too stressful so far, apart from buyers suddenly deciding that they wanted a lengthy delay til completion as they were going on a two week holiday. Most stressful thing has been the home buyers report. The survery said there was damp readings on all of the groundfloor and in the loft, also that we needed to get a roof, damp and timber treatment, electrician, plumber and drainage specialist to check out all the services/condition. Got the first two to do quotes and it seems nothing is wrong (no damp, and minor roof work - ventilation air bricks). Nearly broke the deal

Me. I've been 'selling and moving' for 2 years now so I think I'll pass on typing out the whole debarcle!

the second from last house we sold came back as major damo probs all over rear of ground floor!!..damp proof course was already in place????....we where then told that everything i was using at time ie:kettle, cooker, washer, dryer and radiators on full with wet clothes on each one..was the actual cause of damp in reading..not the walls them selves..just condensation upon them..we almost ripped paper off to have it checked out by damp proof company

We're moving in 3 weeks..fingers crosses as we havent got survey yet!!!!done over a week ago now

We are buying a new house straight from the builder, but the building society still insisted on a survey. My DH was furious and accused them loudly of 'racketeering'. £410 just to look around the outside and say 'yes, that is worth the money'.

I think they are all guilty of racketeering. Surveyors can do as little as they like (or put the fear of god in you)and have a get out clause (but charge half a grand). Property sales/purchase is a major business.

I think they are all guilty of racketeering. Surveyors can do as little as they like (or put the fear of god in you)and have a get out clause (but charge half a grand). Property sales/purchase is a major business.

oops aorry

sorry even

And as for solicitors!! The buyers' solicitors wanted to ask us loads of stupid questions, so instead of putting a list together, they keep sending us letters with odd questions a few days apart. I suppose this is so they can charge our buyers £50 per letter.

EA, solicitors and surveyors - they are all a total rip off. With the nightmares we've had, I feel I should be getting paid. I (and parents, whose house we are buying) have basically 'project managed' the whole thing ourselves - calling, pushing, asking relevant questions. If we hadn't, we'd still be here going nowhere.

They steal a f*cking living.

EA, solicitors and surveyors - they are all a total rip off. With the nightmares we've had, I feel I should be getting paid. I (and parents, whose house we are buying) have basically 'project managed' the whole thing ourselves - calling, pushing, asking relevant questions. If we hadn't, we'd still be here going nowhere.

They steal a f*cking living.

surely agents are the worst - just what exactly do they really do for their hefty commission? It hardly takes brains to place ads/cold call/accompany viewings etc, does it?
I so begrudge paying the buggers thousands to sell my house ...
solicitors/surveyors etc at least have to have half a brain to get their prof. qualification..(and they're cheaper than estate agents too..)

At least we haven't had to employ an estate agent, so that's one less person ripping us off. I remember last time we were selling, the estate agent used to send round viewers who were just out on a jaunt and had no intention of buying. When we asked them 'have you sold yet'? they would say 'oh no, we are just having a look around at the moment'. I felt like saying 'well thanx, its ok that ive spend my saturday sweating like a pig getting this house in showroom condition, just so you can swan in and be nosy'!! Grrrrr. Surely estate agents should filter out these time wasters.

we had a viewer this morning who "hates sash windows" - we have, from memory, at least 10, as detailed on the property profile! Funny that, in a victorian house! Why exaclty did he waste my time on a lovely day clearing up after 2 kids to come and see it in the mad hour just after breakfast?!!

MissChief - exactly. The estate wasn't doing his job... the job he is gonna expect YOU to pay him thousends for!! Why did he send round a totally unsuitable buyer?? I'd get on the phone and get him told.

We have the nightmare soicitors.
As in they do not know the meaning of communication.
They're more than happy to take £3000 of our money but to pick the phone up is too hard.

Our house is ready to move into, all we're waiting for is them to pull their fingers out!

Me. We're on the market, but we're trying not to look at anywhere to buy till we've sold as it's too stressful. Will rent for a while if necessary in order to avoid nightmare chain. We have a good offer, but from people who have yet to sell their house (so pretty much worthless). Spent yesterday morning tidying up for a stupid cow who didn't show up. Grrrrr....

oh ellbell, I feel for you! Been there several times recently - hate timewasters! It's hard enough moving w/o having to tidy up unnecessarily all the bloody time!

we waited to sell our old house before finding a house here, and thought we did have a proper offer on our old house, which we accepted 3 weeks before putting an offer on here. but somehow, our buyers are just moving at the speed of sea-snails. and there's nothing we can do to speed them up.