My seller getting concerned about delay in survey from bank

[united4ever]

Agreed a sale in early July. Mortgage application has taken longer than anticipated (couldn't get an appointment for interview until 22nd July and then my wife is abroad visiting relatives so had to post forms for her to sign).
Estate agent called today to say that the seller is very concerned that the survey has not been booked in yet. I explained about the mortgage process taking longer than expected but all the signs are that it will be approved...but still waiting in the post for my wife's signed copy of direct debit mandate and signed agreement.

anyway, is there anything I can do here to show commitment besides telling the estate agent that i am fully committed? I hope to post all the signed paperwork off on Monday (i already had a 5 hour phone interview and just need to provide evidence of income to match the numbers spoke about on the phone).

We had this too. We just kept the agent updated with other things just to keep contact, like we rang to say the solicitor was getting the boundaries clarified etc (which was true but I guess they didn't really need to know). Just keep in contact with them.

Makes sense thanks, as as the signed forms are in the post I'll be asking the bank to get the survey done asap....i gather they prefer to do this at the end of their process in case they decide not to offer you the mortgage but if their is a risk the property could be lost then its in their interests too. Wonder if they could just book the survey in even if its for three weeks later.

thanks

They wouldn't even book ours in till it was all approved. Our survey took a week from booking.

The EA called today to say that she the seller will wait until Thursday to hear from the bank to get the survey booked in, if no word then she will consider putting it back on the market. I will go to my local branch of Natwest to have the documents verified Monday morning, then post the documents Monday. I can call the bank and try to make them realise the property may be lost if they don't call to book a survey.

I asked the EA what else I could do to show commitment - she suggested I ask my solicitor to let me pay for the land searches now and send a letter to the seller to inform her that I have done that. Any thoughts on this?

It sounds like a threat and I'd just ignore them. The agents won't want to be doing viewings again etc. I'd just keep in contact and just blame the bank when ever you ring up. X

What is your seller's position, and how long had they been on the market?

Where I live many family homes go quickly, often to sealed bids, so if a buyer didn't have a mortgage offer agreed in principle after 3 weeks then I would look to go back on the market, especially if the buyer hadn't forked out any money towards survey, searches etc.

If they'd been on for ages, then they should possibly wait, but I don't think that they're being unreasonable.

No chain and empty (a relative left it to them after passing away). I agreed to full asking price first weekend on market. I shall ask my solicitor to request searches on Monday and pay for them and inform seller that this is happening (as well as asking the bank to book survey asap).

Thanks

When you ask about the bank doing the survey, I assume you mean the valuation that the bank does in order to approve your mortgage offer? Wouldn't you want to get a homebuyer's survey or full structural survey which is independent of the bank's valuation? I don't think you have to wait for the mortgage offer to organise an independent survey and this might be why your vendor is getting concerned.

Yes, i can get my own survey done with just a few days notice. Its the banks valuation survey they want booking in on the premise that this means i will be offered the mortgage.