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Original poster

Seller won't do a pre-exchange visit

239 replies

MidnightDexy · 22/01/2016 01:37

I don't know what to do. Sorry this is long.

First viewed house in Sept (twice). First was a cursory run through and second viewing we spent a long time - 45 minutes - taking measurements and so on. Our offer was finally accepted mid-October after a bit of negotiation and a complicated back story (she originally went with another buyer but eventually ditched them because they couldn't get their finances in order and she feared "we'd still be here in March").

We were delighted, instructed solicitor immediately, got mortgage offer and instructed valuation and booked surveyor. Did everything super fast to prove we weren't time-wasters.

Then she stalled. Took weeks (6, I think) to instruct a solicitor. She obviously hadn't paid the money on account because it then took her solicitor ages to finally get in touch with our solicitor.

The Property Information Form came back with lots of incomplete or missing answers, and lots of documentation "to follow". Our solicitor is excellent and has replied to emails same day or next, constantly kept pushing the outstanding enquiries and outstanding documents. Her solicitor has been appalling but we thought we were slowly getting there. The list of incomplete information is dwindling and we're now down to just 4/5 points.

One outstanding question is "can you confirm the property is in the same condition as when the buyers viewed it in September". The other is what arrangements her solicitors will make to deal with the shortfall in the amount needed to redeem mortgage charge on completion (sale proceeds will leave a shortfall). I didn't think there was anything odd about the first question, and the second (I am told) is essential.

We asked to have a final, pre-exchange visit (in particular to take a look at the drains at the rear, as we plan to do an extension). Estate Agent called with "bad news". Apparently the seller won't let us visit again, and won't talk on the phone. She's "offended" and "angry" at the questions we are asking.

Estate Agent told her she'd got the wrong end of the stick and that there was nothing personal behind the questions, they're just standard questions solicitors have to ask, but she's now got the hump in a serious way.

EA tells us she asked seller if she is trying to pull out, or no longer wants to sell to us, but seller (allegedly) promised that's not the case, she is just sick of us "hounding" her.

Has anyone had this? Any advice on how to handle this? I am heartbroken because if this house doesn't go through we'll be lumped with the new additional 3% SDLT and have to face the fact that the market has moved since our offer was accepted.

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 31/01/2016 19:44

I think with most house purchases, although there's a delay, it's not massive, so a 'pre-exchange visit' is never an issue.

I could potentially give the benefit of the doubt if this were a normal situation.

However, no 'normal' person resolutely refuses access, for a person paying you hundreds of thousands of pounds for your property, to have a quick look round when the alternative is remarketing and having goodness knows how many people looking round until it sells again.

Also, I absolutely could not ignore is that the vendor has lied about not being able to see a fucking great manhole cover that you've captured in a random snap whilst walking round.

I'd bet good money that all of this is about the drains and the fact the vendor knows that any extension will either be impossible or expensive.

Based on that, you need to decide if it's risk you want to take.

As I've said before, if this house offers something no other house can, then it's worth considering, but from what you've posted, it doesn't sound unique and, if it's your main residence, the stamp duty issue is irrelevant so maybe the hunt should continue.

SocksRock · 31/01/2016 19:46

(a) I have a civil engineering degree and 15 years experience in drains and I would definitly worry about a drains survey if I was planning to build an extension over said drains.

(b) I've sold three houses and never to anyone who only came once. They all came twice.

(c) I knew we were buying this house before we even stepped through the door, but we still did all the surveys, searches and a second visit
etc. because it's the sensible thing.

Bearbehind · 31/01/2016 19:50

(a) I have a geography degree : I've never ever worried about a drains survey because I check flood maps before asking for details

What the fuck has this to with anything? Hmm

The drains, in this instance, have nothing to do with flooding, it's about who they belong to and how that could impact the potential to dig them up/ move them.

wickedwaterwitch · 31/01/2016 20:00

I'd pull up just to say 'fuck you' but also because I don't think your extension is looking likely tbh

wickedwaterwitch · 31/01/2016 20:00

Pull out not pull up

Thepinkcricket · 31/01/2016 20:19

A lot of people wouldn't think about doing a pre exchange visit and might think it unreasonable - but if they had nothing to hide and there was a risk they might lose the sale if they didn't do it, few people would say no just out of principle.

I feel for you on this one, I really do. We have just moved into our house, and the selling and buying process was incredibly stressful because similar to a previous poster, this house is a one off and if we had lost it there would be unlikely to be something similar for this price.

But we saw it four times before we bought it and did a pre exchange measure up visit because we wanted to be 100% sure before we spent more money than we ever have and probably ever will again. I'm sure our vendors were a bit fed up with us, but they wanted to sell their house and we were polite and reasonable so they allowed it.

When we sold our old house, our vendors came round twice after offer accepted with various contractors and I was terrified they would find something they didn't like and pull out. But I let them because saying no would cause much more suspicion and risk of pull out.

I love our current house so much I still have moments of pure relief that we made it. But I would not have bought it without all those viewings.

Have everything crossed for you but stick to your guns

Original poster
MidnightDexy · 31/01/2016 20:34

Thanks all - you are obviously all a cautious bunch, like me.

OP posts:
Original poster
MidnightDexy · 31/01/2016 20:35

Will keep you posted...

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 01/02/2016 12:37

Not everyone will do a "pre-exchange" visit - but usually they will have been round more recently, between offer and exchange, for a bit of measuring up or to bring a contractor round or whatever, and will more or less trust the vendor and EA.

I agree it can make a vendor feel paranoid to have last-minute viewings - she probably thinks you are looking for a reason to gazunder her - but her paranoia is not a reason to refuse to let you in to satisfy yourselves before you pay her hundreds of thousands of pounds. And you need to know about the drains.

You do have the power - you may lose a little money if you pull out now, but nothing compared to how much you will have lost if you buy the wrong house now and have to move again in a short time-frame.

She needs to sell, she needs to let you in to look. Just briefly, accompanied by the EA, no drama. As I said before, I wouldn't have bothered insisting but in your circumstances her evasive behaviour has contributed to making it very important that you can see it again.

WhimsicalWinnifred · 01/02/2016 22:05

Have you exchanged op?

Original poster
MidnightDexy · 01/02/2016 22:11

Not yet... more pissing around with seller's daft solicitor today. I will speak to our solicitor again in the morning.

OP posts:
WhimsicalWinnifred · 01/02/2016 22:23

Another chance to pull out...

What's your heart saying?
What's dh saying?

BrewWineThanks for you

Original poster
MidnightDexy · 01/02/2016 22:34

He wants to go for it (and my risk adverse parents say the same) because of the money and time already invested, the fact that we would have to find a lo of extra money to get something similar (market has moved) and the fact that the bank may not lend us more than they have already agreed to lend (we are very tight on lending criteria). There is also the emotional upheaval of going through it all over again, and the fact that i HATE where we currently live and its making me miserable (noisy neighbours).

OP posts:
WhimsicalWinnifred · 01/02/2016 22:38

Ok. That's fine. How will he and you handle not being able to have the extension? Would you be happy? I'd be more willing personally if my enjoyment and use of the house wasn't based on something that may not be possible. And if you can forget how much of a twit the seller is.

Original poster
MidnightDexy · 01/02/2016 22:41

the extension is 5 years away financially so at that point our situation will be different - hopefully a baby or two and we may well want to leave london altogether by then. But the idea behind this house is also that its something to grow into... and the ability to do an extension is important. However by some people's standards it is already a decent sized family home.

OP posts:
WhimsicalWinnifred · 01/02/2016 22:46

Two babies and saving for an extension! That's a busy five years you have plannedWink

Original poster
MidnightDexy · 01/02/2016 22:54

ideally twins ;p

OP posts:
WhimsicalWinnifred · 01/02/2016 23:03

Break a leg GrinGrinGrin

I think it's best to go for it at this late stage but it's still terrifying that she's lying and being evasive.

EchoesOfLeon · 03/02/2016 17:59

I'm not overly invested in someone else's home buying at all but ... Any word op? Smile

poocatcherchampion · 03/02/2016 19:44

Thanks for bumping I've been looking for it too!!!!

Original poster
MidnightDexy · 03/02/2016 23:18

hey! I am exhausted. So it finally seems like we'll be exchanging tomorrow. My Dad reminded me: "look, if the shit really hits the fan you can sue, it's not like you don't know how". Good old Dad.

OP posts:
VacheEspanol · 04/02/2016 20:42

Good luck! Sounds like you've got a pretty awesome dad!

Belleende · 05/02/2016 14:09

Has it happened? Me, lurking? No, not moi.

evrybuddy · 06/02/2016 17:46

This has probably been said already and is not intended to wind you up but if I were the vendor, everything you're doing (while eminently sensible to you as a buyer) would be saying to me that you don't want the house or that you're going to try and gazunder at the last minute.

I'd probably be thinking - do you want the bloody house or not - if not bugger off, if you do get on with it.

On the other hand, I do think refusing the visits is pointless after you've both spent a fair amount of money getting to this point.

But when people have lived happily in a house and not had any problems, they often find it very hard to put themselves in the buyer's position.

She probably just can't work out what your problem is and why you don't just buy it or leave it.

I think I'd probably go ahead at this stage and worry about the drains when I was in a position to do the extension.

Most building stuff is surmountable somehow especially in standard houses.

good luck whatever way you go!

evrybuddy · 06/02/2016 17:48

sorry, just realised - you've probably exchanged already - well done so! Blush

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