Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

Original poster

Vendors have changed completion date

20 replies

Ezs23 · 17/01/2018 12:41

Bit of background: dream house, we're 100% cash buyers from rented so no chain. Our offer was accepted (full asking price) at the start of Sept. we said we would like to be in start of Dec but they said that wasn't possible. We accepted this and they stated on the property information form they wanted to move end of Jan. This was ok with us and we have geared everything up for their suggested date.

Due to exchange today. They have signed (but not dated) contracts (we did this a couple of weeks ago) but have now said they want to complete end of Feb.

They originally told us they were buying off people who have agreed to go into rented. I'm guessing this has changed although they haven't given an actual reason for the six week delay.

I know things change and there are delays but it just seems really shi**y to leave it until exchange date to tell us this. One week before we were due to move. I just want to be kept informed!! They (or their solicitor) have been rubbish at answering Q's and keeping us updated.

If it wasn't our dream house we'd pull out.

Not really sure what I can do but plea to them to stick to their original date but I'm guessing they have now got us into a chain.

It's mainly a rant about how thoroughly frustrating house buying in the uk is but has anyone got any advice?

OP posts:

wowfudge · 17/01/2018 12:45

Completion dates are negotiated between all parties in a chain. If you want to complete sooner, say so!

specialsubject · 17/01/2018 12:47

No one ever actually goes into rented except me. Even sweet old ladies lie through their teeth about this one.

All you can do is argue. If you want the place, exchange.then at least you know it will happen.

wowfudge · 17/01/2018 12:56

special when I bought my first house, the vendors moved into rented. So that's two that have .

JT05 · 17/01/2018 12:58

Me as well! In all but one occasion when we only moved half a mile down the road.

Notreallyarsed · 17/01/2018 13:00

This happened to us in December. They had come up with the original date of completion which was 4th December. We were cash buyers, no chain.

10 days before they tried to shift the goalposts and make it 4th December or whenever they completed on their new one whichever was the later date. At which point we said, no it’s the 4th or we pull out. Because they’d dicked us about all along and I was getting pissed off. They also dicked us about on the day of completion and we didn’t get in until past 6pm!!!

Having said all that, we were prepared to follow through on walking away if we had to.

specialsubject · 17/01/2018 13:24

wowfudge .

Yes, I was on the receiving end of the little old lady thing.

Original poster

Ezs23 · 17/01/2018 14:20

It's so frustrating. The thing is we really want the house so I daren't make empty threats.
I've asked EA to urge them to stick to their original requested completion date as we've geared everything up based around that date which they bloody suggested
Waiting to hear back

OP posts:

Original poster

Ezs23 · 17/01/2018 18:02

Apparently it's the people above them still looking for somewhere to rent. I'm really at a loss as to what to do. They've had since September to find somewhere. How much longer is reasonable to wait for someone to find rented accommodation?!

There's nothing I can do about the top of the chain but I'm wondering if they won't complete as originally agreed next week, maybe we should insist on exchanging this week with a delayed completion date in Feb? At least that way we would all have a date to work with?

OP posts:

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 17/01/2018 18:05

Yes I'd exchange now with an end of Feb completion date. It'll tie them down legally.

Original poster

Ezs23 · 18/01/2018 17:03

Well they don't want to exchange with a delayed completion. Presumably they're worried in case their vendor backs out or similar.
I am thoroughly fed up with it all.

OP posts:

Spickle · 18/01/2018 17:13

Are you sure it's your vendors who are stalling?

You haven't mentioned whether the solicitors are ready. Much as you might want a particular date, the due diligence with the conveyancing must be satisfied by all solicitors before they will consider exchanging.

You mention how long the enquiries have taken and how rubbish the answers have been. If your solicitor is not satisfied with the answers, then the questions will be asked again and your vendors or other third parties will have to respond with more detail.

Original poster

Ezs23 · 18/01/2018 23:04

Thanks Spickle. There's one document they've yet to pass over before exchange. They promised to get it to us by the end of the this week but it's unlikely.

It could well be the solicitors as much as the vendors holding things up I guess.

It's just very disheartening.

OP posts:

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 18/01/2018 23:07

Seriously in this market, being held to a full asking from offer from six months ago is crazy. Do some research on house prices in your area before you exchange.

CotswoldStrife · 18/01/2018 23:10

Have you given notice on your own rental property yet, or are you waiting until exchange? We sold a property and our buyer's buyer was in rented property and wanted a month between exchange and completion so they could give notice properly.

It sounds more like your vendors than the solicitors tbh. Are they worried that the vendors of the property they are buying will drop out? If you are not prepared to walk away, all you can do is push them a bit more.

It is really frustrating

Original poster

Ezs23 · 20/01/2018 10:37

We only need to give a short period of notice so that's fine.
Our vendors just seem to have zero consideration for anyone else. Our solicitor has told us they're adamant that they'll dictate timescales.
They've already messed us about at the beginning. I'm just trying to be rational and not take it personally.
When we went for the first viewing I don't think they took us seriously as we turned up in a car that doesn't match up to the size of house we're buying (I also think my husband being foreign had something to do with it). They were dead off with us, not showing us around properly, making us take shoes off etc until I mentioned we were cash buyers. Things warmed up a bit then. Bit of a pretty woman moment.
I would have dropped out if it wasn't the dream house. Just fed up with it all now!!

OP posts:

CotswoldStrife · 20/01/2018 17:18

Have you considered viewing other properties? Especially with your vendor's agent? It would serve a dual purpose of keeping your options open (you might see something else you love) and letting them know you are now slightly south of the patience line!

Awful as it would be to start again at this stage, I do think it would be worth starting to view again.

Original poster

Ezs23 · 22/01/2018 08:16

I've kept my eye on Rightmove during the whole process. I think if something comes up we won't discount it. Haven't seen anything else I particularly like yet though. Plus we could end up in a similar situation/bigger chain.

OP posts:

KittyKK · 22/01/2018 10:10

Such a crazy situation in this market. You’d think they would be jumping to get the sale through!!

Somerville · 22/01/2018 10:15

I'd go see some other properties, because these vendors are flaky. They're mad to mess around a cash buyer who is prepared to pay full asking price - they may well not be committed to selling.

Thatsnotmybody · 22/01/2018 10:23

Keep your eyes on the prize! Eventually you'll get your house and you will never see these people again. In five years time you won't care whether you moved in January, February or March, you'll just love your home.

Flip