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Original poster

Sellers roll call part 2. Who is still on this treadmill?

980 replies

MovingThisYearHopefully · 08/08/2018 14:50

I thought it was about time to start a new thread as this one is close to 1000 messages.

Who is still here & what is your story?

Heres me: I have been trying to move since April last year. Had a buyer, buyers lost their buyer in October & still haven't got a new one. We remarketed at a low price in November in order to continue buying the house we were at point of exchange with, but were unable to get enough to move on & lost the house in February.

Prices are definitely falling here in Surrey. Realistically we're looking to get 10% less than our original asking price, if we're lucky. Getting viewers has never been an issue, regardless of price. This process has been stressful beyond belief & almost split me & DH up. Surely our luck must change soon?

One thing that seems to be helping us get more interest than other properties is that we have now agreed to go chain free. Is this a possibility for any of you struggling? If offered significantly less than asking price then as far as I see it you are within your rights to say chain free was based on near to asking price & not affordable at a significant amount under! Worth considering perhaps?

OP posts:
flamingofridays · 01/10/2018 14:59

FTB guy cant get hold of buyer so still don't know what to do re mortgage lender.....

TiddleTaddleTat · 01/10/2018 15:33

Well the viewer at the weekend has offered the same as the previous one. It's about 5% under the price we have decided is the lowest we can accept. Have declined it (EA suggested we do so as well) and crossing fingers it will go up.

harriethoyle · 02/10/2018 08:21

Fingers crossed @tiddle.

No feedback from weekend viewers, which is vexing...not least because they both seemed super keen and said things like "oooh it's priced to sell isn't it" and "I'm gutted it's so nice because it will be snapped up before I'm proceedable". How long are people finding is left between first viewings and feedback/second viewing requests/ offers? I'm hugely impulsive so if I liked somewhere would offer on the same day but I'm aware that's not the norm...

TiddleTaddleTat · 02/10/2018 09:34

@harriethoyle Good luck.
I'm so damned impatient I am frankly willing to give away my flat (haven't quite said this to the EA). It's only been on the market 4 weeks but I have heard this is the prime time for good offers to happen.

twinkydink · 02/10/2018 11:16

@harriet I hate it when people don't give feedback! but then I also take anything they say on a viewing with a pinch of salt.

@tiddle did the Ea say what the buyers reaction was when you rejected? is there any likelihood they will come up to what you want?

Mortgage application is in, fingers crossed!

harriethoyle · 02/10/2018 11:45

First viewer has come back saying it was too nice for him to offer on!! Hmm TBF, bf (who did viewings whilst I was out with the dogs) thought that's what he would say... we'll see what the next couple come back with. Have another viewing tonight which I will do.

Isn't this EXHAUSTING?!

harriethoyle · 02/10/2018 11:46

Good luck with the mortgage @twinky

flamingofridays · 02/10/2018 12:38

good luck twinky

hope you get some good news harriet it definitely is exhausting - it has not got any less so since selling for us unfortunately!

FTB never rang me back yesterday so I think he's still not spoke to the buyer who I think in turn have not heard from (or bothered to chase) their mortgage company. I will try and ring him soon I think.

Spoke to purchase solicitor who was in a big flap and said he'd check everything was on track and give me a call back Hmm - I have a degree of sympathy for him because it sounds like hes been dropped in the deep end. Hopefully he will let me know whats happening later on today.

Tried to speak to selling solicitor who was not in the office, receptionist said he would call me back. He has emailed me once so far, and hasn't replied to me since. I have no faith in him what so ever.

Both solicitors were recommended to me by FTB guy and I had to use the selling one he chose as he's paying for it.

This is becoming a nightmare and I am wondering if it will ever happen! I feel like its all some big elaborate joke where I spend a fortune and then someone says ha we had you going there... nobody is buying your house really!

TokyoSushi · 02/10/2018 12:52

Oh Flamingo your last paragraph is so true, I feel EXACTLY the same Sad

twinkydink · 02/10/2018 13:00

@flamingo sounds extremely frustrating but I dont think that unusual! I've heard horror stories from family and friends over lack of communication between solicitors. The first one I used over 8 years ago only did everything by fax and would literally never answer the phone would only call back when it suited them.

Last 3 purchases used the same solicitor and she is brilliant, no nonsense just gets stuff done! When you find a good one, keep them!

@harriet at least you have some feedback! Does your agent not do any viewings? It still baffles me people doing their own viewings.

@tokyo what's happening with you?

flamingofridays · 02/10/2018 13:04

yes twinky I think you're right. I am yet to find a good one!!

oh no Tokyo whats happened?

TokyoSushi · 02/10/2018 14:45

OK better news since my last post. I am 100% ready with our purchase, all done, sorted, money secured, the lot, because I am a super efficient superstar! (joke)

Our buyer is massively slow, loads of faffing around with their survey on their sale, their mortgage taking forever etc etc. The only bonus is they do keep up with decent communication.

However, after days of silence have just received word that that quite a lot of the issues are now resolved so we've surged forward a little bit again. All the while the solicitor keeps asking for 'just another £300' for this & that to do with the lease on our current house - there's only so many lots of £300 that I have!!

Anyway, in a better position than we were at lunchtime and still hoping to be in for half term! I just want it to be over!!

twinkydink · 02/10/2018 16:18

How long did you guys wait to hear back from mortgage offers? I hate waiting!

Fingers crossed things start moving quicker for you @tokyo!

flamingofridays · 02/10/2018 16:25

glad to hear things are moving now Tokyo I am still waiting for a call back from FTB guy, he clearly knows fuck all about whats going on with the buyer and their bloody damp bloody survey!!!!!!!! Angry

was supposed to ring me at 3pm. I rang him at 3.45, no answer. No call back as of yet either. If they fucking well want this work doing they need to tell me now.

I am worried though, if I fork out a grand and they pull out? ive spent a grand on something I wouldn't have done if I wasn't selling.

Do you think I could insist on exchange and then do the work before completion? or would that not work in terms of their mortgage? its a bloody minefield.

twinky ours came back within a couple of days I think, they arranged the survey within a couple of days too and approved it that afternoon. (we are with Santander)

harriethoyle · 02/10/2018 16:27

@twinky we decided to do our own on Saturday so crazy neighbour wouldn't spot the estate agents branded car!! I wish I was joking...and tonight's pair are travelling from outside the area and couldn't make it in working hours so I am picking that one up. But usually it will be the EA doing it... re mortgage, I heard within 2 hours of my appointment but if the application had needed to go to the underwriters it could have taken 5 days apparently.

@flamingo that sounds so stressful. You poor thing. Flowers and fingers crossed @tokyo!

TokyoSushi · 02/10/2018 16:28

Just had Purplebricks on now really putting the pressure on for a moving date.

Has anybody else bought from Purplebricks? I honestly can't bear them, they are so pushy and frankly quite intimidating, I would never, ever sell with them!

3in4years · 02/10/2018 16:36

Our buyers, who saw our property 4 times before offering, came again a couple of weeks ago. They now say they noticed some cracks in the lounge which weren't picked up on the Homebuyers Report and they want us to pay for a structural survey! They also want us to pay for electrical and gas safety checks. The electrical one will probably fail.
We are paying for an electrical safety check on our new property.
They said if any insurmountable problems arise they will refund the costs.
I am thinking of saying that as a gesture of goodwill we will do the gas and electrics but if they want a structural survey they can pay. What do you think?

flamingofridays · 02/10/2018 16:37

Tokyo a friend of mine used them not so long back, she sold with them. She said they were awful, she used their solicitors also (or they make you pay loads of hidden fees if you use your own!) and they were crap. Not on top of anything, she had to chase them loads.

TokyoSushi · 02/10/2018 16:56

That sounds about right Flamingo, we're in the unfortunate position of buying from them - absolutely awful!

twinkydink · 02/10/2018 17:17

@3in4years if they want a structural survey they can pay for it! Have you had your boiler serviced recently? if so that should be sufficient. To be honest I wouldn't pay for any of it!

3in4years · 02/10/2018 17:19

Thanks twinkydink!
My thoughts too. We could do with a boiler service so will do that. Will think about the rest!

TiddleTaddleTat · 02/10/2018 20:01

@3in4years sounds like they are asking for quite a bit. Is it a fair or cheeky offer you have accepted from them? I think that makes a difference as far as goodwill on your part can be expected..

We had news back today and our buyer has marginally increased his offer. Still not close to what we had hoped but I think it might be enough for us to buy the property we are interested in. I called the EA for that one earlier to try and scope out whether a low offer would be worthwhile...suggested we couldn't afford much more than 10% under asking and she said it wouldn't be a complete waste of time. We shall see...

jgm · 02/10/2018 20:09

Well we seem to be in a bidding war Confused. Four interested parties including us. We've put in our max offer today, not heard anything back yet but what will be will be. I am not enjoying this house hunting process one bit.

twinkydink · 02/10/2018 20:13

fingers crossed @jgm. you've done all you can!

@tiddle sounds potentially promising!

harriethoyle · 02/10/2018 20:54

ARGH @jgm... everything crossed! 🤞