pls help WWYD???

[buggyRunner]

Hi,

Basically we sold our house in 48 hrs on the market back in December. Our 'cash buyer' then decides he needs a mortgage- which drags things out.

In this time we get gazumped as our chain took too long and our vendor got higher offers.

So we get gazumped 2 weeks ago and have secured a rental (fron 20th April) for short term (my mums rental property- hence the time and cheap rent)

Our buyer now wants to exchange this friday and complete next friday.

So I have asked our solicitor to plead with him to let us delay until 20th April and say the earliest we can be out is the 6th- giving us 2 weeks to pack- put things in storage etc.

So where can we go for 2 weeks if he wont wait?

Is a holiday cottage a good idea?

I am fraking out

I'd imagine your removal firm will want to charge a fair bit extra to hold on to your stuff for the extra time.

We had a similar situation a couple of years ago, and ended up with 5 days to kill. We went to a hotel, and had the loveliest of times.

Don't incur any extra costs unless you feel you can though.

Say "No".
He has mucked you around since December, its unreasonable of him to demand an exchange now on such short notice.

Say you will exchange on 20 April. If he tries to call your bluff, let him. If you're moving into rental anyway, maybe it is not end of world losing your buyer?

agree - say what suits you

spring is here and everything looks better so if he messes you around put yours back on the market - much better time to sell now than in december so that is probably why he is trying to get it through asap

so he's messed you around since December?

Waiting 2 weeks doesn't seem unreasonable, really - never mind "plead" - I would get the solicitor to say that you cannot complete before 20/4 - but by all means go ahead and exchange on Friday.

I agree with the others about making him wait.

If you do end up needing to be out before then ask around with the removal companies as some will store your stuff for free at the moment. They are really struggling as well in this market. (I was talking to one just at the weekend who is packing up, storing the stuff for 3 months then delivering it to the other end of the country all for £1800!! - times are hard).

Then I would stay in a holiday cottage or even a travel lodge/premier inn if they have any of those cheap room deals on at the moment.

Call his bluff - sounds like you're in an area where house prices are doing well - maybe you'd get more for your house too if you put it back on the market.
Your buyer thinks he has you over a barrel - let him know that you've been gazumped on your purchase and you had also wondered if your house was now worth more (but had decided to stick with your buyer - because it's the honourable thing to do).
But if he can't wait a few weeks more then you may just have to go back on the market.
He's just trying it on and if you agree, he'll try and gazunder you at exchange.

Update, it's happening on the 5th and were exchanging Friday. Have accommodation sorted so just decided to get it over with. Never moving again!