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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Help sellers taking the piss wwyd?

22 replies

Gowlane8 · 27/05/2015 20:15

Our sellers told us they were off to Spain.

When the agent took photo's, and when we viewed, there were no pictures, ornaments, no signs the sellers even lived there. No washing line, no lawn mower, no hoover, nothing.
( Even sneaked a look in the fridge and freezer, empty - not even milk! )

Agent said they were off asap.

So two months ago they accepted our offer, and now we're down 2k in solicitor and survey fee's. A week ago they went to Spain, came back and said it was too corrupt ( I thought they'd fit in well ;-) )

And now they're ''thinking'' about ''looking'' in Ireland.

This is just going to drag on and on, being strung along. But there's nothing else on the market.

Our solicitor keeps on finding questions to ask, and charging us an extra £90 for this and £75 for that. And she won't stop. I've gone to the complaints department and they're doing sod all.

It's all gone to sodding hell in a hand cart.

Should we just tell them to go fuck themselves?

OP posts:

NewTwenty · 27/05/2015 20:18

I think - hang on in there, but keep looking around.

Give a deadline then threaten to pull out.

Tell solicitor no further costs.

HoneyDragon · 27/05/2015 20:19

If you tell the to fuck off what do you plan to do? Rent till the right thing comes along?

I'm sorry about all this shit

Sunnyshores · 27/05/2015 20:24

You can certainly tell your solicitor to stop doing any work until x date. Would be hard to tell them not to ask questions ful stop as Im sure they'd argue such questions were due diligence on their part and you should be grateful!

Original poster

Gowlane8 · 27/05/2015 20:26

We've got cash buyers - no chain......

How many weeks / months do you realistically give sellers?

OP posts:

Fingeronthebutton · 27/05/2015 20:30

Yes, tell them to do one. I had a seller go to Thailand two days before exchange of contracts. I told my Solicitor to contact his and cancel the sale.
He (the seller) swung into action and we signed contracts and exchanged that day. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: always be prepared to walk away.

NewTwenty · 27/05/2015 20:30

As they are starting a new search - till end of August?
Then new properties might appear for you in Sept.

Original poster

Gowlane8 · 27/05/2015 20:35

Our buyers won't wait past the end of July.

OP posts:

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 27/05/2015 21:39

With cash buyers, I'd sell and move into rented, much more convenient anyway, and makes you more favourable buyers when something new comes along. Unless there's something very limited about the area/catchment/price bracket you're looking in?

Would love to have done this at our last house move but our mortgage deal had to be carried over directly and was too good to lose. We did the maths several times...

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 27/05/2015 21:42

We also got ourselves in a situation with a 'dream home' that had 4-5 buyers offering the asking price or more, and the sellers eventually deciding not to sell - sometimes you just have to walk away. Sigh.

Do you know if 'your' house has been on the market before? Some people make a habit of this sort of thing.

Flomple · 27/05/2015 21:50

Book some other viewings with their agent

NewTwenty · 28/05/2015 07:56

It depends how much you want the house.

Honestly, keep looking elsewhere with another agent.

NewTwenty · 28/05/2015 07:58

Oh well, tell the agent that you need to complete before the end of July. Ask if other properties are available. Then sit back and see what happens.

SoupDragon · 28/05/2015 08:00

I agree. I would put the current house on ice and look elsewhere. Also, I would ask the agents to ask the vendors if they are willing to move into rented accommodation and I would look at the possibility and the implications of moving into rented accommodation myself to avoid losing my own sale.

RoganJosh · 28/05/2015 08:01

How hard to sell is yours? Do you think you've got a really good price for it?
Depending on those answers I'd give your seller a deadline to meet and pull out of they don't.

Yeesss · 28/05/2015 08:15

I disagree with the advice that you should be prepared to rent so you don't lose your cash buyer. With the market on the upturn you risk a double whammy of having to pay more in the future when you do eventually buy without having received the benefit of any increase in the value of the house you are selling.

Spickle · 28/05/2015 09:56

Sounds to me like your sellers don't know what they want and meanwhile you are left dangling while they make up their minds.

Start looking at alternative properties so that your buyers and the EA are aware that you are committed to this sale and that you are not prepared to hang on indefinitely while your sellers dither about.

alasdairhandc · 28/05/2015 11:27

Speaking as an EA - the selling agent will definitely want this to go through to completion, their wages and commission are on the line (unless they have some nasty trick up their sleeve of course or a 'Plan B' buyer, but no buyer is going to stick around for something that's under offer or sold stc in my experience unless it's slap bang next to a very sought after school or similar)

There could be genuine reasons for the delay. Keep in the game, but keep looking - book more viewings and let the EA know your concerns. Once they know they could risk losing the deal and they know you're not bluffing they might start stiffening up their tactics with their client in order to push the exchange and subsequent completion.

The other option is to ask the EA if, subject to agreement for the EA to release their details (they won't without permission - DPA) you can speak to their client directly and just point blank ask them what the issue is. You'd be surprised what you might find out, and what strings can be pulled. Information is King, so ask as many questions in as many different ways as you can - it's like building a puzzle, eventually you can get a picture of what's happening.

However try not to be too disappointed if the deal collapses - it's never a sure thing until you've got the keys and the Sol's have transferred the funds, and the whole process is very delicate. Hopefully your solicitors and the EA's are skilled and competent and will navigate you through the choppy waters. Best of luck.

S0mmer · 28/05/2015 11:34

I'm confused, they're living there but they've no possessions. And they haven't even found a place yet, or decided what country they want to buy in?

I don't think you'd be unreasonable to tell them unless they're going to be out xx/xx then you're pulling out. Because they could rent.

specialsubject · 28/05/2015 14:29

sell, rent, issue ultimatum.

and you should have a fixed fee arrangement with your solicitor that only allows for certain extra charges. NONE of which come up in a normal sale. Read your contract with them, if piss being taken sack and change.

OhEmGeee · 28/05/2015 21:44

Your solicitor should not be charging you for extra random things. You've had a quote which should be broken down, that's what you pay. Tell her to stop else you'll change solicitors.

QuiteLikely5 · 28/05/2015 21:51

I'm shocked that your solicitor is charging you for asking questions.

I have bought and sold many houses and not once been charged for asking questions!

Very strange indeed.

Spickle · 29/05/2015 09:47

One thing guaranteed to slow things down will be to change solicitors mid way through the process. While it does seem as though solicitors take forever, it is often because they are waiting for some paperwork to proceed and they have no way of knowing how long that will take. Presumably you signed a contract with your solicitor so you should know whether you are paying a fixed fee or not. What exactly is the £90 and £75 for? Surely not just for additional enquiries. Perhaps look at the small print. However, your solicitors are not really the problem, it's your sellers and their indecision. Your decision however is whether you are prepared to put up with this or not. Personally, I would have gone looking for an alternative property by now.

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