Sellers/Buyers Roll Call No 5...,

[sandybayley]

Starting new thread. Calling all the regulars...
@TiddleTaddleTat
@WBWIFE
@Allhallowseve
@BeauticianNotMagician81
@crispysausagerolls
@dimmu
@Fleabag123
@Farontothemaddingcrowd
@Frogqueen13
@Glitteryfrog
@MrsPatmore
@Smart123

I am really fed up. The buyers solicitor say they are 'awaiting instruction' What the hell is that all about? The buyer was a cash buyer (bank statements seen by EA) He then had a survey done for a BTL mortgage early May. Enquiries and searches were done in April. Surely if his mortgage has been refused he can just pay cash and stop p**sing about? Anyone any idea what may be happening?

@seaorrell did they say why the vendor is now wanting to mortgage the property?

Presumably they are waiting for the vendor to advise whether he wants to proceed with the cash purchase, or with a mortgage. Although tbh they could be awaiting instruction on anything - basically they're saying the ball is in the vendors court?!

violetroselily, our solicitor didn't know they were getting a mortgage till we told her the surveyor had turned up! The EA said he was just getting ready to mortgage the property AFTER the sale. I am wondering if the mortgage has been refused and he is trying to find another one. I just wish someone would tell us what is happening. When our last buyers went quiet it was because he had lost his job and had his mortgage in principle revoked

Are we just at the mercy of the buyer? Is there no time limit that he can mess us about? We have a purchase hanging on the sale

@seaorrell hopefully it is just him deciding between cash or mortgaging. Did your solicitor ask his why he is no longer a cash buyer?

I feel for you - I'm in the opposite position, complete radio silence from my vendor and no one telling me anything

It really is a shit process

Violetroselily, If my solicitor asked, she has not told me the answer. I am just so fed up. It is ridiculous that people can just delay and there is nothing you can do about it. It is annoying that people won't say what the delay is. We have a lovely flat waiting for us, but I am reaching the stage where I think I should just stay here.

A little update on ours. Just over 3 weeks in at the moment but feels a lot longer as I am very impatient! I know it is really early on as it can take months but really hoping the vendors want to and can move as fast as we do...

Had the valuation done yesterday so we shall wait and see what the bank says next week. Our survey is happening next week as well.

Planning to call for an update on our solicitors and where they are with searches towards the end of next week too if we haven't got any updates by then. Do you think it is too early to chase? It will have been 2 weeks by then since they started searches so not sure if that is still early or not...

Solina, when moving house every day seems like a week and every week a month, and don't get me started on Bank Holidays!! I think searches depend on how quick the council is - you could ask, but I think it can be 3-4 weeks. We just asked our solicitor for updates once a week.

Cant get through to the EA on the phone so terse email sent saying I will be looking for other properties if I dont get any assurance that the vendor is serious about this sale

Violetroselily, our EA is closed weekend, so weekends are a drag to us! Hope you can get some answers. When our last buyers lost their mortgage I had 4 weeks of no communication till eventually I went to their house and found out the story for myself. It may just be that they want to delay the sale, but I don't know why people can't just be honest about these things. Are they in a chain? Could they be waiting for a new build?

@seaorrell nope, there is no chain here - vendor is a landlord, the tenants moved out before it went on the market so the property is already vacant. I'm a FTB so on paper this should be a very straightforward purchase and yet here I am 2 months down the line with almost no progress

Violetroselily, that is ridiculous.
I would definitely tell them to hit the road, if you have time to wait and find another property.
You will lose the fees for searches/survey, but is better than losing your sanity!
As a lot of people say, you will probably find a better property. Our first vendor pulled out, and this flat is better in a lot of ways than the first one

I feel for everyone else who is in this stupid process. We accepted offer from a buyer who had sold to FTBs on 1 April, then had our offer accepted on 20 April on a house where vendors are divorcing and neither are buying so relatively short chain.

Early May, buyer lost her buyers. Resold her house 3 days later, all ok. But everything since then has been so slow. I suggested completion date of 21 June, agreed by all parties. Email last Wednesday from buyers solicitor saying their buyers don't get their searches back until 20 June so 21st is no good!!

New date is 5 July, maybe. Waiting on a couple of outstanding enquiries from our vendor, and responses to our responses to buyers enquiries. Lost it with estate agent on Wednesday, saying why do I return /respond to everything within 24h but everyone else sits on things for weeks?!?!?

@seaorrell the longer it takes, the more wobbles I have about the property itself although I'm not sure how much of that is just FTB nerves. The electrical test found that the fuse box needs replacing urgently as its unsafe - of course the vendor hasn't replied about this either - so I increasingly feel like the stress just isn't worth it.

There certainly will be other properties - I'm buying a 1 bed in SE London so there is a fair bit on the market - so I will be looking for anything worth viewing this week. I've spent about 1000 on the survey, electrical survey and solicitors fees so far which will be a kick in the teeth to lose

crazinge, I feel your pain. How anyone every gets to buy and sell property is a mystery!
It does feel like no one else is bothering with the process.
We have been on with this sale since 1st April too, and haven't even got a completion date!
Hope the 5th July comes through for you

Violetroselily, I would definitely look around, and let the EA know that you are.
The survey/solicitor fees are certainly eye watering, but just the threat of walking away might concentrate your vendor's mind.
Good luck!

@seaorrell thank you. Was very clear in my email to the EA today so hopefully they take notice. One of my friends works at EA and says it would concern them.

Fingers crossed you find out what your buyer is playing at soon

We've booked an electrical survey as there's a few bits we're concerned over and want to understand any cost. Remind me, after enquiries are all done, that's it right? Just on to exchange? We've responded to all seller enquiries but haven't had responses to ours yet which were sent across last week. I can't seem to get out of anyone though what's going on up the chain.

Balalalala, are the searches back? You need searches, surveys, enquiries and mortgage. If all in place then in theory should be exchange. We have had all that done for 2 weeks, but the buyers solicitor is 'waiting instruction'. Of course, with a chain the other people may not have all the above back. I find that no one seems to want to tell you what is going on (even your own EA and solicitor)

we are just playing the waitiing game now all paperwork sent to the solicitor hoping our local council is fast at doing search info, we are cash buyers so luckily no lortgage company dragging their heels and house empty so no chain, my spare bedroom looks like a jumble sale collection point because we bought a dining table and chairs as the one here isnt ours, the cats are not impressed that was thier hang out place, dont even know what to pack or not as we will have a month from completion to giving keys for this one back, so dont want to live in a house that looks like we are moving but itching to put stuff in boxes ready to move

isseywithcats, we have been packed up for months (our first sale should have completed the 28th February)
We started with the loft and the garden stuff (not thinking we would still be here in summer!)
Then we did the lounge and kitchen stuff we could manage without
Then the bathroom and spare bedroom
I even packed some clothes, shoes and bags So I am down to the bare minimum now.
If you have a month overlap I would leave packing until you have exchanged, but would start going to the tip/charity shop with things you definitely don't use/need

seaorell have already started decluttering drawers cupboards etc so the charity shop i work in has done well so far, and have a little pile growing on the patio for the tip run

@sandybayley eek I hope the 12th July happens for you. Same with our house it's definitely not fit for viewings now. I am slowly getting around to clearing and cleaning more though.

@DavetheCat2001 hope you are getting settled into your new home.

@Violetroselily we had all our draft contracts and title plans, transfers etc signed and sent back before we got the searches through but I'm pretty sure the searches were still in motion. I email my solicitor every day. I don't care if I piss him off. That's what I'm paying him for plus I'm never going to have to speak to him again once we are in the house 

@alwaysadouble Good luck with all your viewings. I hope your house sells quickly for you.

@Minnie881 Are you getting the removals company to pack or are you doing it. I've only had one quote so far for £450 for removal and £400 for packing service is that about right? I've no idea as we've always done it ourselves before.

I've had emails from the EA and solicitor today. Enquiries should all be sorted by the end of the week so they are pushing for the end of week or next Monday for exchange and completion end of June as we wanted to do a key undertaking. Apparently the vendor is definitely clearing out the house by the end of the week as he wants it done before he goes on holiday so he can just complete while away. Eek should I book a removals company in?

Thanks @seaorrell. All of that is back for us, but would be surprised if it is for all the chain.

BeauticianNotMagician81, I believe the removals company can pencil you in. Apparently they are used to dates changing. If you leave it too late they can get booked up