In a chain support thread Sept 2017

[Gizlotsmum]

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

Thank you everyone for helping me stay sane...fx it goes smoothly now. Have a removals quote booked for tonight

I guess there's not much you can do about that ThomasRichard, as Giz says do you know how much they would accept? Have they had other offers? How long has it been on the market? Also, is there any other way you could get to a more attractive figure for them that doesn't involve a price increase? Offering cash for carpets or curtains perhaps? Anything that keeps the stamp duty fee as low as possible and gives you more cash to offer. Fingers crossed for the number crunching!

I understand that the developers offer was unacceptable to you but this does mean that you are good and decent person as I'm sure many people in your position would have been tempted particularly as you need the money for your own purchase

Oh thats great news Giz - hopefully the underwriters will turn it around speedily and the mortgage can be issued earlier than anticipated. This time last week I genuinely thought our whole chain was going to fall apart due to drain delays. I'm now sat here waiting for news of exchange - amazing how quickly situations can turn back round for the better.

Nice to read a thread where so many sellers / buyers have morals and standards to uphold - all this talk of last minute gazundering / gazumping reminds me of the 1980's when that sort of practice was rife. I like to think we're a nice, honest bunch of house movers .

So we're now waiting on tenterhooks for news of exchange. Apparently there are completion date disputes at the bottom of the chain which, if I think too much about it, stresses me massively - what if bottom pulls out due to not getting date they want? But latest date is set at 3 weeks today, so surely all can wait until then, can't they?!!

Keeping my FX for all waiting on news from agents / vendors / solicitors / mortgage co's.

So it seems out top person is willing to go into rental so we could be starting the whole process... if only DH doesn't get cold feet about the whole thing. After 7 months waiting he is now saying perhaps we should buy somewhere cheaper/different etc. Am sure he'll come good

Though I was awake at 5.30 this morning trying to decide whether to fix the mortgage for 5 years or 10 years. Hmm what to do? Anyone got any gems about mortgages?

Raar We've gone for a 2 year fix but our rate isn't brilliant so I'm intending to re-mortgage and then fix for 5 years if we can. If you've got a good rate offer then I'd fix for 10 years as interest rates will only go up. If you can afford to overpay within the limits of your agreement - normally capped to 10% of the total balance per annum - then do so as it will save you £1000 in interest over the whole term.

Giz when we applied for our mortgage the Underwriters turned it round in 2 days, so FX they get a decision soon!

Thomas lovely to hear about some integrity!! TBH I was always wary of accepting cash offers - especially from developers - as they have a nasty habit of pulling the rug from under you the day before exchange and dropping their offer. I am quite pleased that we have FTB taking our place. I know you shouldn't be sentimental about it but I like the fact that they are going to be living in it rather than renting it out.

Hope everyone else is managing OK. At the moment I am waiting for the phone to ring to find out about our queries. Had two removals firms look at our stuff and am waiting for their quotes to land.

We did 5 yr fixed. I figured interest rates were only going to go up and it’s meant we knew our payments for the next 5 yrs

I AM FURIOUS

CANT EVEN SPEAK right now

utter, utter cunts

either that or they have NO BRAINS AT ALL

I will take a deep breath and make a cup of tea and then see if any of you can talk me down (please)

Yikes, what's happened Lubey????

Here to listen

So... my two chains are progressing.

EA came over this morning to take pictures for the auction on our current place. They've also started the searches and pre contract enquiries so that they have a sellers pack to hand over to anyone who is enquiring about it. With any luck we'll be done and dusted and at the least exchanged by Christmas.

Second chain, damp survey is being done on the 9th October. We've sent back all the solicitor's enquiries and associated paperwork so that's all progressing nicely. No nasty surprises from the enquiries or structural survey which was... surprising! That's the one everything else hinges on (DSis' onwards purchase, our house, the IHT bill...) so it would be nice to get it off our plates.

Mortgage wise, we've gone with a 5yr fix with Barclays. I think it'll cost us something like £80 more per month but with me not working at the moment it's worth it to know what our payments will be for the foreseeable.

Sounds like everyone else's chains are progressing nicely, except Lubey's - and I'm dying to know what the twatwaffles have done (I'm sure it's someone else's fault).

Their agent forwarded me an email from them basically refusing our offer and saying about this place they have viewed twice and need to wait til a builder has looked at it next week to tell them if an extension is possible.

HAVE THEY EVEN CONSIDERED IF THE EXTENSION WON'T BE POSSIBLE?

WHAT THEN? DO WE JUST WAIT TIL THE YEAR 2076 FOR THEM TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE?

Maybe tap dance for them too? Bring them some cake?

I am just so furious with the tone of the email. They don't give a toss that they may lose us... they are bumbling along

I believe that is because since their other sale fell through, they don't really actually want to move at all.

That's the only reason I can think of to not give half a shit about us or the rest of the chain

I very nearly sent an email that was just all in caps TELL THEM TO SHOVE THEIR STINKING HOUSE UP THEIR ARSES but I think I am beginning to calm down.

I will phone when I've finished this cuppa and say we'll wait for the builders opinion on Monday next week but if for any reason they don't put an offer in on that place (apparently being sold with no chain) then we will have to either pull out or have them go into rented.

Oh Lubey. They really don’t get it do they? Could someone else in the chain also apply pressure? Have you looked anywhere else? I think if they don’t have an offer accepted next week they either agree to move into rented or they break the chain ( as heart breaking as that is). They do seem to be ignorant and selfish.

I'm despairing for you Lubey. What is it with people thinking it's acceptable to keep the rest of the chain hanging on for weeks/months on end while they making their sodding minds up/sort themselves out?

Have you made an appointment to see that other house you mentioned a couple of days ago that ticks similar boxes? Because as much as you love this one, I suspect your instincts are right about the vendors not really wanting to move and it's time to find something else. Clearly they're not going to shift their arses in rental anytime soon.
I would go back to the EA and say your offer still stands but please make the vendors aware you are now looking at alternative houses to buy and if you find something you're pulling out of the purchase. Clearly they like this house enough to view it twice AND send a builder round, so maybe hearing that might make them antsy enough to bring his visit forward.

Really feel for you though.

Thank you.. I am calm now. Going to ring and tell the agent exactly that.

We unfortunately can't view the other property this weekend (this area we are looking at is 3 hours drive away) but after my estate agent call I'm going to arrange a viewing for the weekend after and we'll go and look at it no matter what next weeks outcome is.

Sounds like the best thing to do. Who knows, by next weekend another house might come on and you'll have a couple of options to view. FX.

I also second what Gizlot said - you should be getting your buyer to put pressure on them too via your EA. Can they get on the phone and read the vendor's EA the riot act as well? If they hear from someone other than you that the entire chain is at the point of collapse, they might pull their finger out.

Done.

Fucks sake

Thank you everyone

LBOCS2 thank you for the word twatwaffles. I shall mentally include it in all further communication with the EA

Oh we can certainly try getting our buyer to apply pressure too. Will get my DP onto that one.

Just been thinking Lubey... could you go into rental to save your sale? Then you can cut the twatwaffles out of the equation altogether.

We'd consider it if it came to it yeah - if they get any twitchier...

That’s so frustrating Lubey. I hope you end up finding something you like better because these guys don’t seem to be shifting.

lubey poor you. I sympathise completely that totally sucks. Do they not think that you might sod off? They really are very complacent aren't they? Are they baby boomers downsizing? We've found them the most tricky to deal with tbh. We were on the verge of pulling out and we are in rental already but it seems things are finally edging towards movement.

The thing that has made this all less stressful is that at least we are not trying to tie up a sale and purchase. It's not ideal in rental but at least we have money in the bank and we're not at the mercy of our mental vendors.

It's not easy. but definitely worth thinking about

Oh Lubey love, I really do feel for you I really don't know what is wrong with people. If only there were a way that we could match properties for lovely reliable MN buyers with lovely reliable MN sellers - life would be so much easier!

I second the advice to apply pressure from every possible quarter and also to go and view the other house. TBH it sounds as if this one is a no-go. The chain process is stressful enough as it is without having to drag a reluctant vendor through it by the scruff of the neck.

Update here; queries are back (yay!) a few final checks to do but I am now hopeful that we will exchange contracts next week - was hoping it would be this week but that was always optimistic.

You might be onto something there Lazy - Mumsmove! I'd sell to any of you in a heartbeat.

Lubey I'm furious for you. Are they so dense that they don't understand the implications of their actions on the rest of the chain? What total nobs. or for you - or both if you wish.

Echo everyone else - go and view the other property and look into moving into rental. At the moment though it does appear as though they simply do not want to move. I also wonder if they are elderly? I'm not being ageist I swear it's just this reminds me of my mum when she and dad downsized several years ago. She was a total pain in the rear! They moved in the end but it took my siblings and I to step in and basically force the issue in the end as she was so dithery.

Our mortgage is a 2 year fixed. I looked at 5 year fixed but these were about £100 more per month and this would be a substantial interest rate rise to cover this. At the moment though we've had to move to SVR which is costing us an extra £300 a month until this limbo situation is sorted and we either find a buyer and move or admit defeat and take a new fixed rate on our current house.

I'm glad your queries are being dealt with now Lazy and exchange is in sight. Fingers crossed for you!

Sign me up for MumsMove please

Thanks for the comments on mortgages. Dull as it is it's not the kind of thing I'd discuss irl with friends and we don't know what to do. I'm sure we'll figure it out!

@lubey if you are relocating it might be easier to rent for a bit to get a good idea of the area - silver linings and all that?