How long would you give a vendor to find a house themselves?

[littlemonster]

We are under offer. Our buyers waited a couple of weeks while our offer was accepted on a property, we knew the property we wanted, the vendors were just stringing the process out I think. We are now 7 weeks down the line so our buyers have been waiting 9 weeks for the chain to sort itself out. No-one has committed anything yet in terms of surveys etc.

When you start putting pressure on the vendors in terms of giving them an ultimatum? Their DC have now all left home and they're looking for a perfect house whilst we are driven by practicalities and need to move, as do our buyers. Having said that this house is perfect for us.

if no-one has even done surveys then none of you look very serious. Are the searches started? They can take a month or more.

If you want committment, you need to show some. Make some phone calls.

Have you met the vendors? If not perhaps that would be a good idea so that you can get an idea of how likely they are to actually move.

Has your solicitor received the draft contract from their solicitor? If not, then perhaps they are not committed? Maybe ask them to get moving on this and if they won't then start viewing other properties.

We've been advised by both estate agents and solicitors not to commit to anything until the chain is ready to avoid wasting costs of survey.

Surely this is the right thing to do. Our buyers could have their survey done, start searches etc, as could we, and these vendors just hang around and both they and us would have lost £2,000 (both our house and the one we're buying are old detached, extended properties for which full structural surveys will be undertaken). Everyone's in touch, the houses are off the market, our buyers phone our EA regularly and we phone theirs.

We are just waiting for the go ahead to start spending money and I'm wondering how long we give them.

Sorry was letting the Waitrose man in before pressing send. That's a good point re the contract. They haven't actually asked for solicitors details yet. I think we're being the run around by them. I think they want to move but are being very fussy about property and have decided they're in the driving seat.

If you've had enough of waiting, say so. Tell them you are going to start looking at other properties come (for example) October 1st, if no news of shift has arrived.

Just keep communication open and honest.

ok, you can wait until the chain is ready but in that case you are looking at another 8 weeks to complete legals, surveys, searches.

but if no-one has even asked for solicitors details - then you are being pissed about as the 'little people'. The top of the chain can go into rental - but I don't think this lot will do it.

the odds are that they will fart about until someone's mortgage offer lapses and it will all disintegrate. So discuss this with the estate agent.

Yeah I think you're right, we are being pissed about. Time to get tough or at least get another house lined up. Shame was a lovely house and I'd mentally moved in...

Is the house you want to buy one which will sell easily? If so, the owners of it are in a position of power, which they'd be unlikely not to use.

Hmmm it is and it isn't. The market for houses of that size is not that fast but they have lost a buyer before. We are paying more than they have been offered in the past though. I think the issue is that they are very comfortable where they are and absolutely adamant about not renting so are accepting offers until they find one where the timing happens to work for them. I think the bloke is after a deal, they've put in several offers and still not got a house.

I'm going to start looking at other properties and if we find one we'd be happy to take, give them an ultimatum.

I really can understand them not wanting to rent. And I can also understand them wanting a deal!

If you need to move faster than they can offer, then definitely they won't be a good match for you as vendors.

That's the conclusion I'm coming to, they need a cash buyer or someone in rented, unfortunately for the size of house and area its more likely to be a stretched family who want to get settled. I understand their thought process, I am also not willing to rent. Its just frustrating when you find houses on the market en spec rather than by people without a specific intent to move within a certain time frame! You know when you put your house on the market you need to find another, I'm just not sure what the reasonable norm is in terms of expecting someone to wait.

Agree with you. Definitely time to have an ask. The agent should be able to give them a friendly call and ask if any things moving on their end, and explain you want to keep things moving at a decent pace.

We had this, had an offer accepted but were then told that the vendors would absolutely not be rushed into finding another house.

We withdrew the offer as DH wasn't happy with how open ended it was and I wasn't that sold on it anyway.

Bought another house, and then after we had been there 12months had a call from the EA's, vendors had now found somewhere were we still interested!!! Err no.

That would have been about 18 months later.

I'd give them a ultimatum for a date and then withdraw unless you are prepared to rent for a period of time.