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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 · 26/10/2018 17:26

Luckily one of the guys from work is moving us so not too bad. Its not what i want tho!

Original poster
MovingThisYearHopefully · 27/10/2018 09:45

That's handy Flamingo. No worries then really except for packing up your stuff in preparation just in case.

We had an email saying there are 3 outstanding tasks on our online system yesterday afternoon. Can't think what they are as we were told only 1 thing on each transaction. Haven't had chance to look yet even as was so late when we left DD in hospital. Back to hopefully see the doctors before bringing her home now. Smile

OP posts:
22Mya · 28/10/2018 07:22

Hi, can I join in?
Put our house up for sale last week after we found somewhere we really like-bigger house.
A couple of neighbours/friends/family have commented that we've set the price a bit low.
We worked it out based on the lower end of 3 valuations and comparing with similar on the market, as we would really want to sell soon.
It's only been a few days but we have had no viewings yet. I am thinking of reducing if no offer at 4 weeks.
It will probably annoy neighbour as they plan to possibly sell next year. Similar property.
Don't want to loose money myself but would be really gutted to miss out on the other house.

TokyoSushi · 28/10/2018 11:10

Well I've been ill all weekend, I honestly think it's the stress. If we don't get this garage business sorted this week then I think the whole thing is going to collapse which knocks on to having no money for Christmas as we've spent it all on the house move (we'll get quite a few £££) in the bank if we do move. I've also cried over it about 5 times this weekend, absolutely awful.

DH has agreed that he will take over the admin & solicitors this week, I've been trying to sort this out for 12 weeks now and I honestly can't carry on. 😭😭😭😭

flamingofridays · 29/10/2018 07:24

Im sorry to hear that tokyo i hope you're feeling better.

Was supposed to be packing yesterday but we thought fuck it and went to Blackpool to see the lights instead. Feel so stressed with it all too.

twinkydink · 29/10/2018 08:55

My dp has taken over dealing with the estate agents as I am heavily pregnant and I think he realised how much this was all stressing me out!

it is truly the most stressful experience and @tokyo I'm sorry to hear how hard it had been for you. Fingers crossed you get some good news today!

@flamingo are you guys still on track to exchange this week?

@22mya. don't worry about annoying neighbours, you do what you need to do to sell! A few days is nothing especially as it was half term next week, you may find now kids are back at school some interest starts trickling through.

flamingofridays · 29/10/2018 09:07

twinky we are meant to exchange and complete Friday, however I have only just received the contract for the house we are buying which we have signed and will post back today for tomorrow. However, the mortgage deed wasn't there which the solicitor said he would send with it. I am getting right to the end of my fucking tether with them now, they are absolutely shit.

I haven't even signed anything regarding my sale, so I have just emailed that solicitor but I am v much in the dark as of yet.

Honestly, I don't think its gonna happen this week. I am really close to going to the solicitors and shouting at them all for being so disorganised and frankly, shite.

TokyoSushi · 29/10/2018 09:25

Oh Flamingo! I'm quite tempted to go round to mine as well today but I'll restrain myself!! I feel exactly the same! Perhaps it's the same people!

Feeling a bit stronger today but glad that DH is currently 'on duty' with it!

flamingofridays · 29/10/2018 10:29

im furious honestly Tokyo I have emailed them first thing this morning, and nobody has responded yet considering they are both quite pressing questions.

I will ring after lunch if I still haven't heard anything. I appreciate they have other clients to deal with but seriously!

TokyoSushi · 29/10/2018 10:37

I've sent over 4 suggestions of how they can resolve our garage this morning (so much for me letting DH take over!) if you call it just automatically goes to voicemail and then she'll only email you back - marvellous!

flamingofridays · 29/10/2018 10:53

oh wow that's crap isn't it, I find when I call they are never "in the office" which to me just means "cant be arsed to talk to you"

I hope they take your suggestions on!

flamingofridays · 29/10/2018 11:48

solicitor has just emailed me and said the mortgage deed was sent out weeks ago... right so if that's true why did he email me last week and say it would be sent out with the contract.

he's emailed me a copy to fill in Hmm

I am so close to losing my shit.

harriethoyle · 29/10/2018 19:41

Hi all,

Oh @flamingo and @tokyo so sorry to hear things are so stressful... Everything crossed that you get over the finish line!

Still no offers on mine, although averaging 2 views a week - second viewing booked in on Weds, so am trying not to get my hopes up about it because it's all soooo stressful! TBH I think even if my seller cuts up rough and puts the house back on the market I am going to push through, just to get this done and then I can move into rented or find a new place... The next place I buy will definitely NOT be a flipper!!

flamingofridays · 30/10/2018 09:05

thanks Harriet I hope you get some luck soon also! it is so stressful isn't it. I plan to stay in this house until they have to carry me out in a box if im honest! I will never do this again unless I absolutely HAVE to.

just emailed both solicitors this morning again and basically said I need to know either way whether we are completing Friday.

incidentally I met the buyers last night (coming to have a look at the fridge we offered them) and they have been messed about too.

flamingofridays · 30/10/2018 10:26

so buying solicitor reckons we are on track for Friday but they are saying the seller is residing in Australia!!!!! this is news to me, and they are waiting on some docs back from them.

just called EA and asked them to chase this up but apparently the woman who does this isn't in today - well wtf do they do when she's on holiday for a week, or two? ive text the EA who actually showed us round, he is one of the co owners so I hope I get somewhere with that.

I still haven't received ANYTHING no communication, nada, from buying solicitor. Called FTB guy and basically said you need to deal with this because ive had enough. He said he's meeting with him at lunchtime and he will ensure I get the contracts emailed to me today, and I can send them back this afternoon / first thing tomorrow morning.

flamingofridays · 30/10/2018 12:08

I have received the contracts from the selling solicitor!!!

thank the lord!! and FTB guy who asked for them

signing and sending back now, also, according to EA docs have already been sent to sellers solicitor from oz, so my solicitor should have them imminently.

it might actually happen faints

jgm · 30/10/2018 13:48

Just dropping in to see how its going for all of you - aagh it sounds so stressful! Kinda makes me more glad we decided not to sell though as it sounds like it's only worth going through if you're absolutely certain you want to move (we're currently on our 'holiday of a lifetime' and I have a feeling the stress would have ruined it)...

Flamingo fingers and toes crossed here that it all comes off for you for Friday and you'll be celebrating in your new house before you know it!

Original poster
MovingThisYearHopefully · 30/10/2018 14:01

Hopefully things are progressing for you all now. I'm in hospital again with DD, who is still having issues. Despite all this we have a chain still nagging wanting to exchange & complete asap & we haven't even emailed potential dates to complete yet. Our buyers have suggested 16th November. What part of us needing 4 weeks between exchange & complete is difficult for them to understand? Hmm

Also had a bit of a blow when speaking to the solicitor. Our estimated completion on our new build is now March. How it's gone from being on track for Dec/Jan to bloody March in a few days is anyone's guess. It's a bit of a pain because our mortgage expires in January, so that will need extending. We will also now need to find a 6 month let & get a number of things removed from our house free to collector & everything else into a rented house we are yet to find within a 4 week deadline, all while having a sick child in & out of hospital! Confused

OP posts:
flamingofridays · 30/10/2018 14:55

thank you so much jgm I hope you're enjoying your holiday - you bloody deserve it!

moving I am sorry to hear about your DD. I hope its nothing serious. crap about the completion date for new house, god knows what they do!

TokyoSushi · 30/10/2018 16:47

I have an update, it's a rubbish one.

After a nightmare of a day yesterday with lots of tears, stress and drama and the owner of our new house threatening to put it back on the market we have an update. The garage & the duplicate title both have to be rectified through the proper legal channels. It seems that this will take approximately 4 weeks to complete. By some miracle, it seems, for now at least that everybody will wait.

So I will definitely be on the new thread, and if indeed everybody keeps to their word and does wait then we should be in not long before Christmas.

2 solicitor friends and our current solicitor all agree that we have massive grounds for an official complaint and compensation for professional negligence against the previous solicitor when this is all done.

I knew that it would be bad, but never for one minute did I think it would be like this!

flamingofridays · 30/10/2018 16:50

oh crikey Tokyo I am so sorry to hear that it will take that long. I am glad everyone is agreeing to wait, though. I suppose your buyers have invested a lot of time too, it would be silly of them to walk away now, when it can and will be rectified.

I definitely agree that you have grounds for complaint! it was a massive mistake that they've made and its affecting your sale and your life now!

Original poster
MovingThisYearHopefully · 30/10/2018 21:26

Thats not a rubbish update Tokyo. Its a good one because your chain are happy to wait. The average 35 working days for land registry is ridiculous given we have the internet, but there are always delays & drama with the pantomime that is buying & selling property. Lets hope they get their fingers out & move swiftly. You could still be moved by Christmas & then it will be a bad dream. You definitely have grounds to complain about the incompetent solicitor. Whether its worth the hassle of pursuing is another thing. Try not to stress about it. You're actually not that far away from average sale time tbh. It just seems to take forever when you're in it lol. Flowers

Hope you can complete Friday Flamingo. Everything crossed.

Glad you're having a nice holiday jgm. You definitely made the right decision!

If anyone thinks they're having a shit time take comfort that at least you're not me lol. Not only do we have a seriously ill child who has been in & out of hospital while our chain nags us to exchange, our fucking idiot buyer lied to the rest of the chain & told them we agreed to move 16th November. Angry This is purely a fantasy, we have on many occasions stated we will need 4 weeks between exchange & complete to find somewhere to rent. Under the circumstances, the last thing we need is to be rushing to find a property to rent & getting out of here within 4 weeks with a seriously ill child, but we accept we have to & will probably exchange tomorrow! Their buyers will not be pleased!

Because of the developers sudden delay, it also looks like we will lose our mortgage rate & it will cost us another £700, plus possibly valuation costs too. Not to mention the extra rent! Hmm

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 30/10/2018 21:59

Aw thanks for such a lovely message @MovingThisYearHopefully

I really hope your DD is ok and guy get sorted soon.

flamingofridays · 31/10/2018 10:45

eeeek looks like we will move Friday!

need to book the time off work and get packing!! wish me luck :)

UninspiringUserName · 31/10/2018 11:16

Wonderful news Flamingo, now go and get packing!

Tokyo, here's hoping that it all gets sorted smoothly for you and the wretched garage situation! Good news that people are happy to wait though, just focus on the light at the end of the tunnel.

Moving, you poor thing - how is DD now? Your buyer sounds a grade 1 moron - have you got any leeway to go back to her and insist on the four-week delay? And as for your developer - can you push them to prioritise your house earlier? Friends of ours were told Jan for theirs, but a bit of gentle encouragement and they moved in this week, so it's doable... if they're prepared to play ball, that is. Sending healing vibes to your poor DD.

All still sodding quiet here. House has now been up for sale for a month. I know it's not long, but with everyone continually telling us how quickly it would sell, it's disappointing that we're still no further forwards. Grrrrrrr. No more viewings lined up either, so we're just waiting...