So - we waited and waited and nothing has happened - deadline passed !!!

[scatterbrain]

Bit of a long story - basically we received and made offers on houses back in March (very early March). the house we are buying is empty, and the vendor made it a condition of sale that we completed in 8 weeks. This was fine with us and a positive point for our buyers who are staying with family.

So - here we are in mid June and the contracts have not even been excahnged !

Our vendor is a mad git from what I can tell - he has caused every single delay ! His latest thing was that had hefty mortgage penalties that he didn't know about -and these do not run out until 30th June - so although we were not happy we said OK - we will move first week of July but we must exchange asap.

The main problem is that he will not speak to his solicitor or estste agent, he has fallen out with both of them and been very rude to them both as well !

So - we set a deadline for exchange by today. And today has come and gone with no exchange.

Dh is away and is leaving it all to me !

What do you think I should do !

In many ways I just wish we hadn't even started this whole thing now !

Good luck. It's such a horrible, out-of-control time. But agree, give him a deadline to stop pissing you about.

go round and press your angry face to the window

then leave

repeat

Tinker we did - it was close of play today !!

The house is empty - he lives elsewhere now - so have never even met him !

Hmm. I'd pull out I think. Or threaten if no word by 5pm tomorrow (tell him that of course)

Yes - it's the only thing to do really isn't it ?

The trouble is - with him having rowed with both his sol and est agent I do wonder whether the real message is actually getting through to him !

What are the chances that he'll just say "sod off" though ??? We were in a good position with our short chain and a large deposit - he must be mad - he'll have lost 3 months now !

Bugger bugger - so what do we do - stay put and pull out of both sale and purchase - OR shall I look for a rented place ???

Groooooaaaaaaaannnnn !!

stay put,,,i have moved 6 times in 13 yrs....onylway to play the house game is to pepat like a mantra ,,,"what will be will be,,its for the best....." and it usually is.
you will get something nicer.

oh and stop making excuses for him.... if they want to sell thet will, if they want to buy they will, it is all down to how much vendor ect want something imhe.... wed moved the earth to get the house we wanted as have buyer ont he other side of the fence
the prperty game in england is pants, wish we were more like scotland

Right then - update !!

Solicitors hassled, now on the case, he has offered completion date of 31st July to allow him time to sort out his penalties issue. I have gone back and said no - we wnat to be in by 12th July or the sale is off - I have conceded a week y'see !

This is too stressful !!!

My opinion is that he should bite the bullet and pay the penalties ! His mistake - his probelm !!

Why 31st July ? It doesn't take any time ot sort out the penalties if they have elapsed !There's more to it than he is letting on imho.

I think they haven't elapsed yet though - we were told 30th June - hence proposed completion of 2nd July - now it has become 30th july.

He refused to tell the esttae agents anything yesterday - told them to deal with his solicitors and not bother him again !

I do smell a big fat rat I'm afraid !

It's such a nightmare, Scatter.

We are having to rent as our purchase fell through. We should have exchange on our sale on Monday/Tuesday of this week. At the last minute our buyers solicitors discovered there was no completion certificate for the small kitchen extension on the back of our property. It was built in 1998 and somehow when we bought the property in 2001 it was never picked up.

I am now sitting here chewing my nails waiting for building control to turn up this afternoon to say all is ok. I have also had to put a rocket up the bottoms of the letting agents as we have been waiting for them to give us a date of entry.

I just want to bury my head in the sand and for it all to go away.

Sorry for the war and peace!

Hope you get good news soon.

Could you agree his completion date but insist he MUST exchange by 12 noon Monday, otherwise pull out.

BUT I would still sell your house....keep your buyers, and then be, effectively, first time buyers when you look again. This gives you excellent bargaining power, and could save you money.

It just feels so out of my control - there are three lots of solicitors variously talking or not to each other - and who knows whether we are getting the full story or not ?

It is definitely the lack of control that I hate ! Our last three houses have been new builds so we haven't had this palaver before !

If I didn't love the house I would be pulling out now - but we just love it ! He's got us over a barrel and he knows it !

Aghhhh !

The thing is, if you lose your buyers, you may lose the house you are trying to buy, anyway.

I have been in chains where things went on for months and deadlines were broken, and it all worked out in the end. But I don't see what your vendors reasons are...he must know the datew he can redeem his mortgage!

Oh blimey - multiple phone calls later - seems we are exchanging now and moving 31st July - so he got his way but we didn't lose the chain !

TY for all the advice !

It is ONLY another 6 weeks I suppose !!!

Phew. Securing the deal is more important in the long run than an extra few weeks.
It's sucha relief when the exchange happens, isn't it?
And at least you now have a good window to pack, change all you utilities, shop around for a good removals peice, and you never know, he might let you in to measure so you can start planning any changes you want to make!