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Original poster

In a chain support thread Sept 2017

999 replies

Gizlotsmum · 04/09/2017 17:55

Hope it's ok to start another one! So we have a week of waiting for surveys etc...

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LazyDailyMailJournos · 03/10/2017 17:59

Ness huge congratulations!!! Our first in-chain-support baby!! Lovely news, although I am sure we all agree that we don't want to still be here for the next one... Grin

Yoga don't give up hope just yet. Things are very twitchy at the moment, and if rates do go up then it's hugely unlikely to be by much - the economy can't sustain it with Brexit round the corner and the Govt will be desperately trying to avoid another recession. Keep the pressure on your agent - FX Flowers

Finally managed to get hold of the solicitor. Queries were sent but have not been received - TBH I neither know nor care what's going on; I just want it bloody sorting. Hoping to be in to sign contracts either at the end of this week or beginning of next, at which point we should exchange mid-week next week.

LazyDailyMailJournos · 03/10/2017 18:01

Sorry Giz forgot to say, sounds complicated! I don't know anything at all about that side of things but is it worth putting pressure on your EA to find out what's going on? They really should have found this out at the due diligence stage when weighing up the offer.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 03/10/2017 18:10

We are trying to pressure our EA but because of how they work we can’t pressure the bloke who recommended our buyers. Have asked our vendors EA to chase and will chase daily.. but it just feels like they can’t prove the source of the money....

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DragonMamma · 03/10/2017 18:34

Congratulations Ness! Hope you're both doing well x

WhatwouldOliviaPopedo · 03/10/2017 19:33

So we have had an update... Our buyer is now saying two more weeks but that will be the absolute last delay. They're even offering us a cash sum that they'll pay if it doesn't go through on that day - it's not an inconsiderable amount so I guess that means they're serious. I'm annoyed because it means we'll move at the end of half term and not at the beginning like I wanted, but I don't think there's anything we can do to chivvy it along and if we pull out we're back to square one. The bottom line is they just don't have the funds ready yet. Sad

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 03/10/2017 20:49

What would.. I really hope it works our

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MajorClanger123 · 03/10/2017 21:46

Oh that sounds stressful whatwould but also sounds like you're very nearly there....hang on in there, the offer of money must mean they're serious about completing by the end of half term. Fingers crossed all goes through by the end of October.

AnnPerkins · 03/10/2017 21:55

Fingers crossed for you Olivia.

perhapstomorrow · 03/10/2017 23:03

Congratulations Nessa on your new arrival. We'll done science for exchaning and hope the move goes well on Friday. Major* we are also looking to exchange this week. We thought it may have happened last week but it didn't. Sad. Everyone is ready but not sure what is going on at the bottom of the chain as nobody seems to know. I'm worried they are about to pull out. Didn't want to chase again today as I've had enough of thinking it's about to happen. Will chase up again tomorrow. Hopefully, we can exchange this week with a view to complete end of October due to holiday commitments in the chain.

perhapstomorrow · 03/10/2017 23:04

Ooops. Bold failure!!

fialor · 03/10/2017 23:45

Congratulations Nessa! Enjoy the lovely cuddles. xx

Science, how exciting to have exchanged with a moving date! Are you all packed now? Or are you getting a packing service?

WhatWould, it can be quite annoying isn’t it when things seem to be the slowest they can possibly be. Keeping my fx for you.
I think you might exchange around the same time as us.

Our buyers did their survey today, so they still do not have their mortgage offer yet. Hopefully it all goes well and we are all sorted and can exchange by end of next week.
We had hoped that exchange would be this week - this is what we communicated when we accepted the offer but nothing has come of it - all we get is that it is possible and doable but no commitment!
It’s a little frustrating really. We want to move as quickly as we can, hopefully before the end of October but certainly before the end of November.

I think I am getting a few cold feet thoughts, maybe. I am not sure we will like our new house - it is a different configuration all together. Same number of bedrooms but different layout downstairs and outside.

I also have a dilemma - the survey of the property we are buying threw up a few red light issues. But I am not sure if these are only a cya type thing for the surveyor or whether I should get specialists to come in and have a look at the items highlighted as red.

What were your experiences of your surveys?
We did an HBR.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 04/10/2017 06:57

Right going to be proactive today. Seeing as our agent are not returning calls or giving us any new information I will be popping into branch ( as am in town anyway) and enquiringly about how long it would take to get the house back on the market should our buyers mortgage offer not materialise. I shall not be telling them that I will not be reinstructing them after our contract expires but will hopefully be enough to get them pushing if they want their commission

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LazyDailyMailJournos · 04/10/2017 07:08

Fialor we had a HBR as well, with two red light issues on. We knew about one of them and were fine with it. The problem will need sorting but we're happy that it can wait for a bit. The second we didn't know about and so we got it checked out by another professional...who came back and said that the surveyor was talking nonsense and that there was absolutely nothing wrong!!

Surveys can be useful but they aren't infallible. I think you need to expect a certain amount of maintenance that needs doing unless you are buying a brand new build. If you are worried then perhaps talk to a local trade about it and have them go round for a look and to quote for putting it right? The worst case scenario for fixing ours was about £5k, but the actual investigation cost less than £150 and it was well worth it for the peace of mind!

Olivia how frustrating. But if they are offering money then at least they are recognising the inconvenience - so I'd take the cash and try and grin and bear it! Hope all is resolved ASAP.

Perhaps can you get your EA to get on the phone? They should be able to work their way down the chain going to each agent, until they get to the bottom and find out what's going on. This is where a good EA can be worth their weight in gold - so it's definitely worth pushing them.

Giz sounds like a plan. If you're going back on then it's definitely worth making sure it's live again in time for half term.

Hoping to hear from our solicitor today about when we can go and sign the contracts. I'd like to do it this week so that we can - hopefully - exchange early next week. We'll see. Am trying to keep my eyes on the prize at the moment!!

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 04/10/2017 07:19

Fialor. Worth getting quotes for red light stuff, can often be very cheap or free.

lazy fx for that phone call!

Perhaps def push EA

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WhatwouldOliviaPopedo · 04/10/2017 08:08

Thanks for all the words of support everyone! After the stress of the last few days/weeks/months it's been so lovely to come on this thread and receive a virtual hug. Grin So today we're having to sort out a mortgage offer extension to accommodate the latest delay but have told our solicitor that we don't want her updating the buyer's solicitor or EA with anything until next week, and we're also going to avoid all contact ourselves with our EA, who has been so crap in all of this. It's petty I know, but we want the buyer and EA to sweat for a few days like we've had to do and because we need a break from worrying obsessing about it.

fialor We had a couple of red flags with our HB survey, including damp. We got a specialist in and knocked 3k off our offer, which the vendor agreed to, so it's worth having experts in to check out the issues. Going back for another visit will also quell/confirm your doubts about the place.

Gizlot Before you go and see your EA, I'd suggest popping into a couple of others with your marketing details to get a quick on-the-spot valuation. Part of the issue we have about pulling out is that the market has slowed down so much where we are (London) that other EAs are saying we'll get a lot less for our place now than our buyer is prepared to pay - if we can find another buyer at all. It might be worth seeing what the market's doing where you are before you tell your current EA you won't stay with them. Good luck!

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 04/10/2017 08:47

Good point whatwould.. although we still seem to be at the cheaper end of the market currently

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ThomasRichard · 04/10/2017 09:30

Gizlot that sounds like a good plan! Things often get sorted out much faster in person, don’t they?

My offer has more-or-less been turned down so I need to talk to my mortgage broker today and see if I can up my offer.

I also had a chap call at my house yesterday and offer to buy it for £25k more than my buyers are offering, in cash. I politely said no because a) I don’t want to sell to an investor, and b) my buyers are lovely and related to my current NDN and I don’t want to let them down.

lubeybooby · 04/10/2017 10:04

Congrats Nessa!

ThomasRichard - that is brilliant of you Flowers

Gizlot - good plan!

Whatwould - everything crossed

I should hear this morning what the vendors are going to do about my ultimatum. Their EA emailed me yesterday saying they would be talking about it that evening and he'd let me know this morning. He included a quite desperate line about how they DO have a house they are interested in and have viewed twice but that means nothing to me - they haven't even offered on it, and we have had enough of variables and pissing about now after waiting 3 months for their first one to go belly up.

anyway... really hope they give us one favour in return for the three we've done them

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 04/10/2017 10:08

So... their mortgage offer has gone to the underwriters and should be issued by the end of the week. Means completion for 20th is unlikely but should be in by end of Half Term....

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WhatwouldOliviaPopedo · 04/10/2017 10:17

That's brilliant news Gizlot! You must be relieved.

Good luck Lubey and stick to your guns. The EA may well be fibbing to keep you on side because he can see his commission slipping away.

And how lovely are you ThomasRichard! If only all vendors were as scrupulous (we got gazumped on another place before we found our one). But it'll be good to have that offer up your sleeve if your buyer starts mucking you around.

Frescoed · 04/10/2017 10:21

Just un-lurking on this thread to send congratulations and Flowers to Ness - lovely news, hope you are all warm and snuggly with the new one at home.

Perhaps once our buyer's survey is through I'll take the leap across to this thread properly. Sorry to hear about various stresses Giz and Lazy hope things become smoother soon!

YogaDrone · 04/10/2017 10:23

That's positive news Giz

Wow RichardThomas, I wish someone would come round to ours and do that - I would think all my Christmases had come early! Are there any other properties you would consider offering on? Why is the vendor refusing your offer, do you know?

Well done Lubey, fingers crossed they come back today with some definite answers for you, then at least you will know where you stand.

The offer of a decent sum of money must show their commitment OliviaPope but goodness, what a time you've had to get this far. Sending positive vibes your way.

Thank you Lazy I am feeling a little more positive this morning. The EA is calling later so we'll see what he has to say. I have reviewed the houses where the price has dropped recently and all need work - new kitchens, bathrooms etc. so I'm now wondering if they were just overpriced in the first place. Ours still seems (on the face of it) to be fairly priced and a good prospect IF there is anyone out there [screams into the ether Wink ]

Have you heard anything back from your mysterious disappearing queries?

Fialor we have 3 red lights on the full buildings survey we had done. One will need further examination by an expert (rising damp) and the other two were ridiculously minor in comparison involving window painting! However as we're in broken chain limbo at the moment we aren't moving on any issue and our solcs. haven't sent any queries. We have shared the survey with our vendor-to-be.

ThomasRichard · 04/10/2017 10:27

Gosh, I didn’t think I was being lovely, it was just out of the question! I’m dreading telling my other NDNs that I’m leaving and saying that I’m selling it to someone who will rent it out and I have no idea who will be living there would make it so much worse. I love both sets of neighbours and want to leave them with someone nice. I also got not-gazumped but I made an offer on the house I really wanted, which the vendor said they would take if I got a buyer. I found a buyer really quickly, told them that and then they kept me hanging for a week before they rejected it because someone else had offered less money but were further ahead with selling their house. I was - and am - absolutely gutted and would hate to do that to someone else.

ThomasRichard · 04/10/2017 10:30

Yoga they think the offer is too low. I offered the maximum I could do on my mortgage in principle so I couldn’t make a higher offer, unfortunately. I’ve spoken with my broker and he’s going to crunch some numbers.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 04/10/2017 10:33

Fx Thomas. Do you know how much they would accept?

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