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...

Oh no serial. That sounds like a nightmare!

Good news OneMore and Ecureuil

It's nice to know that it does work out

Serial what a nightmare. I hope this time it's going to run through smoothly for you

Oh Muss I have a little taste now of how you feel, although our EA and vendor's EA have both been great. Your vendor's EA sounds horrid. I wonder how she's managed to stay in a business which needs excellent customer facing skills?

Nessalina - we're in Berkshire so if you fancy a change of scene? I'm sure your DH will be happy with your choice once you've had the second viewing. Good luck!

We had a development yesterday afternoon but I can't decide if it's a good one or a bad one! Our vendor [hopefully] spoke to his EA and said that if we go ahead with our structural survey but then he pulls out of the chain he will cover the cost of the survey. Bearing in mind it's a G2 listed building with a specialist surveyor and costing £1100 this is a big commitment to us on his part.

DP and DS are totally in love with the house and we have no other we want to buy, so we have agreed. It means that when (saying when rather than if ) we get a new buyer we are further into the process and could potentially - depending on new purchasers situation - complete more quickly.

DP is going to speak to our solicitors today and they are going to draw up the agreement with the vendors solicitors.

I guess my one reservation is that if we have to drop our price even further we won't have funds to continue with the purchase at the agreed price which would leave us with the survey bill. We have a little flexibility in the mortgage and could probably borrow a little from parents but this is still my concern.

DP thinks it's a good thing. He thinks it shows that the vendor is committed to us and can't see any drawbacks for us.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

Our EA is booking viewings in pairs an is leaving the "Sold" board up. His reasoning is that he wants prospective purchasers to see the interest in the house. Lots of mind games!

I'm hoping we get a few more viewings booked in for this weekend too.

Sounds like your agent has his head screwed on Yoga And yes, it sounds like your vendor is keen for you to stay interested and hopes it will work out. So you can be moving onwards with your purchase at the same time as waiting for new buyers, and if new buyers don't turn up in time, you're not out of pocket on the survey. Sounds like a a win win to me!

You sound like DP Nessalina thanks. It's helpful to hear an independent opinion. I guess I'm an old cynic and I think - what's in it for the vendor? Apart from selling to lovely people like us of course

Well, I've said to the solcs. to start the searches and set up the survey again, so it'll be interesting to see what they come back with.

Still only 2 viewings for tomorrow though. I've scoured Rightmove this lunchtime and can confirm there are no properties like ours, as much space and in a non-estate location cheaper in the whole town. So, once again, it's fingers crossed!

I'm tempted to leave a note for the EA (as we won't be in for the viewings) with info like - still 10 years on the double glazing warranty, local primary school is Ofsted Outstanding (that's not on RM yet), kitchen was put in 3 years ago, boiler serviced etc... But I wonder if that's going a bit over the top and showing my neurosis!

Ofsted outstanding primary school is a definite plus and worth pointing out to any families viewing!

So not sure if DH is correct or not.. heating has just gone wrong and he reckons we do nothing. I think our vendors could sue us if we exchange as is having said it is working! I don't need this extra stress . Tbf it still works you just get heat when all you want is hot water

Yoga why not ring the EA first thing and ask to speak to the guy doing the viewings and fill him in on the extra bits? If you can't speak in advance, then a note is totally reasonable, especially as it's stuff they can't know from the RM notes. I made a point of waiting in when there was a new guy showing people round and asking him to turn up 10 mins early to give him the tour before scarpering. It made a big difference because I don't think he'd have shown them the loft if I hadn't shown him how to open it, and the storage space really swung it for our buyer apparently. Great news about the Outstanding Ofsted!!!

Gizlot Ugh, that's the last thing you need!! It does sound like the kind of thing you could conceivably not have noticed, but if you have a service contract on the boiler you'll probably be better just to report it and see if it can be fixed. It might be an easy fix and I know I'd lose sleep over that kind of thing!!

Morning all

I took a break from thinking about moving because it was stressing me the hell out!

Things finally have started to move our end, my buyer is ready to exchange on my current property.

Halifax finally managed to get a valuation booked in on our purchase property next week- almost 5 weeks after we paid the fee. I only hope things go smoothly with that's the last piece of info I need to provide.

We've had all bar the drainage search back so my sol will raise enquiries soon.

Apparently we are on course for mid-October but I can't actually begin to believe it.

Can anybody advise on insuring for exchange? Do you tend to call insurers as opposed to arranging online and do you have to do it on the day of exchange or can you do it in advance of exchange?

Insurance dragon? Not heard of that... I'm on pins. Our buyers survey was Thursday so expecting queries/ concerns/ requests for drop in price this week .. I tried to ask about completing moctober half term and got told it was too early as our buyers solicitor hadn't raised initial queries. Slightly concerned as have heard they are slow but it may be our buyers haven't instructed searches until after the survey...

In slightly better news the heating/ hot water problem seems to have been resolved ( crossing fingers and touching wood) by deliberately turning the heating on without the hot water.

Gizlot - I thought we had to insure the property we are buying from exchange, which makes sense but I'm not sure how we go about this and at what time in the process?

Survey results are always a worry - what do you think it will come back saying? My buyer didn't have a survey, just a valuation but I didn't know that until the guy turned up but I haven't highlighted it as that's his lookout I suppose? It's a solid 1970s semi so no massive issues.

Oh you mean buildings insurance... our current insurers said to wait until we get an idea of exchange date and they will then issue a 60 day policy. I think the survey will show that the flat roof needs replacing and possibly the windows ( were installed by previous owner). Slightly concerned there may be damp too... but I am naturally pessimistic.

Morning.

Huge congrats to those approaching exchange/completion. How wonderful it must be to see an end in sight.

Yoga, lots of luck for your viewings today 🤞🏻

DragonMamma, that's how I understand it too. Our mortgage advisor sent us an insurance quote when we got our mortgage offer. It was very high, though, so we've decided to shop around. You will need your valuation survey first, I think, which gives you the rebuild cost.

So our buyer's sol pushed back and insisted on these documents that our solicitor said would be impossible to obtain. It took me precisely 20 hours to get hold of them from various sources and email them to him I'm quite annoyed that taking his advice cost us a week and could have lost us our buyer. Hopefully we're back on track now.

I'm going to start discussing dates next week. The biggest delaying factor is our buyer's new buyer. They're a few weeks behind the rest of the chain. Also our vendor's vendor has been slack responding to queries. I'm not going to let them hold us up, though. We'll proceed with our sale and move into rented rather than hang around waiting for them.

Oh Ann sometimes you have to wonder what they are being paid for!

I had that problem with the heating once Glizlotsmum- it was just a faulty switch. I'm glad you were able to resolve it and I hope that the survey results don't show anything too horrendous. Fingers crossed!

Previously DP has been here for viewings (he works at home) Nessalina but today he's away and I have to take DS to a new club he's starting so I can't be around. I've left the EA a sheet with some bullet points and dropped him an email to say it's there and any questions please ring me. Hopefully that'll be enough.

AnnPerkins that doesn't sound very competent on the part of your solicitors. I'm glad you were able to resolve the issue and get your completion back on course. What is the last date for secondary admissions? Will having exchanged be enough to allow you to apply at the new address?

Good luck DragonMama - so nice to hear of those with the end in sight!

I hope your viewing goes well today Nessalina.

I should start on cleaning the kitchen!

I had been impressed with his efficiency up to now. I suspect he was trying to avoid extra work or delays and thought giving the buyer an ultimatum would persuade them to agree to a shortcut.

Yoga, it's a middle school application. Admissions has already opened and closes on 15th January. Apparently the LEA will accept a solicitor's letter confirming we have exchanged, so we don't have to complete or move by then.

I really don't want it to go down to the wire though, my nerves wouldn't take it

So our second viewing went pretty well. Got lots of measuring done and they are busy clearing the place out. However they have been given a proposed completion date of 29th September!! They are happy to aim for half term so just need to get our buyers on board!

Woohoo we have moved.

For anyone interested it was 13weeks 1 day to exchange 13 weeks 4 days to completion, it was a house swap so very short chain.

Now to sort the broken dishwasher, fridge and shower!!

Hey folks!

That's exciting Emma! Actually moving house still feels like a crazy impossible dream somehow!!

How did your viewings go at the weekend Yoga? Any interest today?

Well at least they're aiming for before Oct half term Gizlot! Hopefully you can get everyone on board for then!

Sounds like you're on a mission Ann, surely you can get in for deadline in January? How many in your chain all together?

Well we went to see our house again on Saturday, first time visit for DH, and he likes it thank god!! He doesn't love it, I don't think there's any one thing thats wowing him, but he's talking very positively about the way we can use the rooms, and he took about a million measurements, so I'm happy that he's on board!
Turns out our vendors are going to be less complicated than we feared, Mrs vendor is moving to an empty property that was BTL, so her vendor is keen to move quickly, and Mr vendor can move in with his folks in the interim, he's not going to hold up the chain whilst his purchase goes through. So it's actually mainly down to our buyers who have two months notice to give on their rental. I'm going to call and chase the EAs tomorrow...

That sounds fantastic Ness.

Yeah fx it will work out well... just waiting for any feed back from the survey / searches from our buyers.

Hi guys, am cautiously joining you - as you know from the offers thread DH and I have had a chequered journey getting this far, so I am terrified I am going to jinx myself! However I feel a bit bad staying on the offers thread - it feels a tad unfair to carry on hanging about and ranting about surveys and solicitors when there are people still trying to sell.

It's lovely to see some familiar faces on here though

I am trying to stay up-beat but I'm struggling. Vendor's solicitor was supposed to sell us the search pack (from the buyer who pulled out) - mortgage company and our solicitor were both happy with this and it was going to save us a couple of weeks. Except the vendor's solicitor has not bothered to respond despite numerous requests, so we are now starting from scratch and ordering our own searches - which could have been done weeks ago if we'd known

I'm terrified of our chain collapsing. I've fallen in love with our new house and we had to jump through hoops to get mortgage approval. Whole thing not helped by a neighbour - who has just returned from Oz - being astounded at how our system works because over there it's 30 days max. God I wish!!

and to all involved. FX you have smooth exchanges and trouble free completions!!

Welcome lazy! Fx for a smooth chain

Anyone with more knowledge of the process than me give me an idea what needs to be done before we exchange?
Sold in May and bought a new place, searches all back and enquiries raised the my buyer pulled out in July.
New buyer found 5 weeks ago (maybe 6 I've lost count) who is cash buyer and doesn't want searches.
Re purchased original place as it was SFS, enquiries raised x 2 again and awaiting 2nd lot of answers. My buyer side is all signed and sorted I'm told.
Still no one will discuss dates! I know we had a break with a lost buyer but our purchase is the same property all the way through so all together it's took 14 weeks.
Is there an end in sight?! Am I impatient?

Gizlotsmum the issue with the log burner will be that they haven't had it installed properly in accordance with building regulations so that is why they will remove it. It is like that fitted as it currently is it is impossible for it to comply! Usual issues are the flue of the chimney needs a new liner and/or hearth needs extending and/or not properly ventilated to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. They are mis-representing their property by showing it with the stove installed then saying they know it is an issue when the surveys come to be done! It can cost anywhere between a few hundred to a couple of thousand pounds to make it comply.

All buyers and sellers on these pages should make their Estate Agents do more work for them. They are the people who can talk directly up and down the chain and they can do things like tell a buyer or seller that the delay is with their solicitors rather than them being able to get away with saying it is the other sides delay.

I don't work in the uk system anymore but still get affected by their chains. A normal transaction here takes 6-8 weeks even with a chain! It is a case of you get what you pay for though. U.K. Solicitors do a lot of work for very little money (comparatively speaking in legal work terms) so when you go with the cheapest quote you get a poorer service.

Hey Lazy! Waves That's super frustrating, why offer the option of the search pack and then do nothing about it?! Grrrr. I'm totally feeling the fear here too, I feel like I'm going to get a call any minute to say our buyers have an issue and have to pull out. No basis for this other than paranoia!!

TheCat I'm as in the dark as you. We're with Premier Property Lawyers, who I've heard nothing but bad things about (after instructing them!) but have actually really liked so far, because I get prompted my text every time there's something that I need to do to progress things, and I pop online and do it. But I don't really have a full concept of everything that will need doing IYSWIM. 'Searches' keep popping up as a thing on this thread that holds up the game, but I'm not sure why this is the case... I've no idea how long they should take to happen ahh why they sometimes take longer!