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Original poster

Vendors asking to change completion date

152 replies

crimsonlake · 13/04/2018 17:46

Half expecting this.
Made an offer on a house, raised it a little on the agreement that the vendor would move out on an agreed completion date.The vendor said she would move in until the purchase of her property completed with family so no problem.
Three weeks before we complete and prior to exchange just had a message saying they cannot complete until a couple of weeks due to their vendor.
What the heck! Really cross as they are trying to go back on their agreement as my purchase was never supposed to be dependent on their own, as in no chain as such. This is the reason I increased my offer? I have just reminded their estate agent of this.
I am in temporary accommodation as I completed on my own sale a few months ago and my belongings are in storage. It needs to be on the date we agreed as I have to vacate where I am staying and have nowhere to go unless I go in to a hotel or sofa surf. Hoping they come back and say that the will now accept the first offer I made since they cannot honour our agreement before I need to state the obvious.

OP posts:
Troels · 23/04/2018 20:33

I like the first one you linked the best wowfudge Really dislike the third one. Last one is pretty good too.

wowfudge · 23/04/2018 20:36

I know what chain free means - you just can't always tell from the listing!

Original poster
crimsonlake · 23/04/2018 20:37

Missed the one on Wilderspool Causeway sorry. Know the area well and although internally it looks great it does not say 'no chain ' so the sellers wont be looking to move out quickly.
It is on a main road and one of the busiest through Warrington to the M62, M6 and M56.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 23/04/2018 20:46

Right - I'm confused now: did you miss the first one I listed OP?

Original poster
crimsonlake · 23/04/2018 20:55

No I did not notice it.
So the one in Warrington is on a busy main road and I know is almost next to traffic lights. However I may ring the EA tomorrow and see what the sellers situation is and possibly may make a viewing. My friend literally lives around the corner and I am working in Warrington tomorrow. Will let you know what they say...

OP posts:
Original poster
crimsonlake · 24/04/2018 18:55

Yet another update....
Went for a second viewing then increased my offer by 5k and stressed my strong position, nothing to sell and cash buyer.
Bearing in mind this house has been on the market and had no offers, feedback has been it needs updating. The seller has after being pushed by myself into saying he wants the asking price. Strange when you consider it is advertised as offers near? Most people would want a new kitchen as it is dated, new bathroom as it is pink and new downstairs bathroom as it is the same shade of pink.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 24/04/2018 19:05

Well, it looks like the seller is in a position to sit tight and not sell it. If you're not going to offer the asking price, it's probably best to move on..

NoSquirrels · 24/04/2018 19:49

They’re sensing you’re keen and wondering how far they can push you. Reiterate to the agent that you’re wiling to pay the price you’ve offered, you’re a cash buyer so no mortgage, no chain and want to get it all done in 4 weeks (or whatever). And that you’re happy to leave that offer on the table but that you’re looking elsewhere too now. Then see what happens but move on in your mind.

Original poster
crimsonlake · 24/04/2018 20:54

Thanks, already left my offer on the table, they want the asking price although they say in the advert offers in the region of? Good luck to them I say, several viewings and mine is the only offer.

OP posts:
Strawberry2017 · 24/04/2018 21:57

Is there any update on the original house? I can't believe how cheeky the vendors are behaving!

Original poster
crimsonlake · 24/04/2018 22:29

No word at all. Mulling things over, but will tell my solicitor tomorrow not to chase it up as I am viewing other properties with a view to pulling out.
The one I viewed today is close to the other one but a more desirable area, smaller south facing garden with open views on the back which cannot be built on. However they are asking 10k more and if I went up to the asking price it would be 14k more. Thinking with my head looking forward I suspect it would sell easier and for a higher price as it is in a good catchment. It may be an idea to spend more to see a greater return in a few years but there again who knows how the housing market will go.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 24/04/2018 22:44

What is your budget OP?

MachineBee · 24/04/2018 23:05

I really feel for you OP. We had a difficult situation when we moved the last time. We had a buyer literally disappear on us after we’d had surveys done on a house we were keen on. Then when we finally found another buyer and had an offer accepted on another house with no chain allegedly, the vendors suddenly changed solicitors and added another property that was dependent on the sale I.e. they created a chain. We were so keen not to lose our sale we moved out, put our stuff in storage and moved into my MILs. We ended up there for a month but on the day of completion (a Friday) they still hadn’t moved out. We were outside with all our stuff in a removal van. Took them to the Sunday until they finally vacated. Not before they had taken us around the property and pointed out every single fault. Nice of them.

Fortunately our removal firm could accommodate the move on the Monday as the van our stuff was in was due to go in for an MOT otherwise it would have been several weeks before they had a free slot.

They were totally CFs and refused to pass on a forwarding address so we couldn’t sue them for costs.

However, we love our house and it was worth it in the end.

NoSquirrels · 25/04/2018 00:38

OP, I think you need a frank conversation with the vendor's estate agent of the house you were originally buying.

Tell them: you cannot have any uncertainty at this stage, as you will be homeless soon.

Either A) the vendors exchange on Friday 27th with an agreed completion date set in stone, and they sort themselves out with regard to rental and storage costs or B) you are pulling out and going into rental yourself. Their 'chain' is not your problem, as it did not exist when you made your offer.

Get your solicitor to chase hard for an answer on exchange on Friday.

You can't keep going with such a level of uncertainty, and in your position I would spend some money on rent just to have more time. I know it is not ideal, but sometimes it's better to bite the bullet and make the decision.

If the current property does fall through because they won't exchange, then you can decide if you want to up your offer on the probate property to avoid going into rental.

Strawberry2017 · 27/04/2018 22:24

Hows it going OP? Have you managed to get anything resolved? X

Original poster
crimsonlake · 28/04/2018 11:42

Received this message from my solicitor yesterday -
'I still await replies to my enquiries on my related purchase. I have spoken with the sellers solicitors who have confirmed they have received their replies from their client only today and will get them over to me Monday morning. I do not therefore believe I will be in a position to exchange contracts on Monday 30 April. All parties have agreed completion on the 11 May however.'

We were due to complete on the 30th April.
I have not agreed to complete on the 11th May?
Where is the exchange date in all of this??
Obviously questions I will be putting to my solicitor on Monday.
The other sellers have not come back and accepted my offer, they have had more viewings but no other offers.

OP posts:
sausagedogsmakechipolatas · 28/04/2018 20:58

Honestly, at this point of finances allow I’d be putting in an asking price offer on the other house you mentioned above. They’ve pissed about long enough.

sausagedogsmakechipolatas · 28/04/2018 20:58

*if not of

twinkletwinklechocolatebar · 28/04/2018 21:36

Would you consider the Halewood area? There seem to be a couple of chain free three bedroom house there that may be suitable?

Original poster
crimsonlake · 29/04/2018 01:31

Thanks for all to replying, I really appreciate everyone who is responding.
Yes I have looked Huntscross, but not Halewood. Everything I look at at has a 6'x6' box room and I want slightly bigger.
Bit of background - I spent 7 yrs of my life going through court self representing against my ex, 2 Final Hearings to achieve the eventual settlement I achieved. Usual story - mid life crisis He controlled me financially all our married life and it continued until I fought him to a final settlement from 20011-2017. High earner, money I never benefitted from during our marriage as he kept control of. Usual story gave up a good career...left me with 2 teenage boys who were at a critical stage in their education. his social life was more important than us. Luckily both have done well and both at Uni now, but they still need a home to come back to. We moved in the New Year and I will never forget my youngest in tears in the days before we left as he was losing the home. Not to mention the stress and heartbreak of his older sibling not making a start on packing until dawn on the day of the move. I ended up having to move his entire belongings into where I am staying because it was so heart wrenching and nowhere to store all his belongings now.
This is what makes me so cross as the sellers wont move in with family as promised temporarily after all I have endured.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 29/04/2018 07:55

I'm sorry you've been through all of that OP. You haven't found anything else you really want though and haven't issued an ultimatum your prepared to follow through with the vendors. Nor are you prepared to up your offer on the other house and go through the purchase process.

Your solicitor is telling you she thinks 11 May is doable - it is less than 2 weeks away. Providing the vendors have responded properly to the enquiries and there are no issues, you should be able to exchange this week - as soon as your solicitor is happy the enquiries are dealt with. Have you transferred your deposit monies to your solicitor? You need to be ready to do that and be extremely careful you only use a secure payment method.

I can understand you feel you have been messed around and these people haven't behaved honourably but you should probably let it go and proceed with the sale. Get settled in your new home and move on from things.

wowfudge · 29/04/2018 07:56

You are, not your fgs.

wowfudge · 29/04/2018 07:57

Oh and although it can be very stressful and emotional, buying and selling houses is business and your vendors won't be considering everything you've been through just as you probably aren't considering what their move means for them.

RandomMess · 29/04/2018 08:31

11th May is not that far away, you can actually exchange and complete same day but yes you need to push push push to exchange ASAP.

Hang on in there!

NoSquirrels · 29/04/2018 09:06

Well that’s pretty good news though?

All parties have agreed completion on the 11 May however.

If queries are OK on Monday morning, then hopefully you can exchange mid-week, and complete 11 May. That would be brilliant, wouldn’t it?

Just keep on your solicitor Monday to make sure the queries are in & they have everything they need, and confirm an exchange date. Lots of phone calls, twice a day every day if necessary - at 10 & at 3!

Don’t be downhearted- sounds as if you’re nearly there...