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Original poster

Buyers Sellers Roll Call - 13

999 replies

lachy · 28/11/2020 13:37

Staring a new thread!

Come and say hi 👋

OP posts:
ethelredonagoodday · 03/02/2021 13:45

I think she's absolutely taking the piss @MotherofHeathens.

I don't think that is usual at all. But I could be wrong.

ethelredonagoodday · 03/02/2021 13:47

Anyone got any ideas for chivvying solicitors along? Ours is fine, but our sellers' solicitor is interminably slow. Doesn't respond to phone calls or emails from our solicitor, and now we are inching towards exchange I want to be sure that the sellers have everything in place to proceed when we get the green light from up the chain.

catfeets · 03/02/2021 14:02

@ethelredonagoodday we are having the same with our buyer's solicitor. They just don't respond at all. They are the only ones in the chain who haven't confirmed the exchange date and it's driving me mad.

We keep asking the estate agent to chase them up - that's what you're paying them for so ask them to keep trying. They seem to have more luck than our solicitor at getting some sort of reply eventually, but it's usually that the solicitor is in a meeting or will ring back (but never does).

PowerslidePanda · 03/02/2021 14:03

She sounds like a nightmare, @MotherofHeathens! From what you've said, I think her threat to pull out is an empty one - but she might still call your bluff about putting it back on the market tomorrow. Think about what you're going to do if she does say she wants to continue, but not til say 10 am!

As for the checking the fence (and any other such requests) - I'd point out that viewings are an inconvenience and say that you'll accommodate one viewing, at the point that you're ready to exchange. That way she still gets to confirm everything she wants to before fully committing, but you're not being messed around endlessly in the mean time.

Fleurchamp · 03/02/2021 14:12

I am not sure if I posted on an earlier thread....
Waiting to exchange. We went under offer on our house last August and found the house we are buying in November (we were at the point of having to decide whether to rent or lose our buyer but it all seemed to be working out) our sellers are buying an empty property (probate sale).

My buyer has been ready to exchange for ages and they are being extremely patient, our sellers have been cagey, as has their agent, about completion dates - only committing to "before the end of March".

I am a solicitor (not conveyancing now but I have worked in a conveyancing department before) and my friend at my firm is dealing with my sale and purchase so I am well in the loop.

My buyer asked for an indication of when we might exchange and was told by all the agents, this week. We are ready on our purchase.
The problem seems to be our sellers. They want to exchange now but with a completion date at the end of March because they have an agreement with their seller to enter the property between exchange and completion to decorate and put in a new kitchen and bathroom (they are serial renovator/ developers). My buyer refuses. They want a maximum of 2 weeks, which I understand and with Covid I don't want a huge gap either. My buyer's mortgage offer expires on 26th March.
So now it looks like we won't exchange until we can compromise - my sellers' agent has gone awol - I fear he has over promised.

Our sellers asked if we would go into an Airbnb for a few weeks and we said no, couldn't they? (Which is surely what you would do if you were going to gut somewhere?)
So we are now at stalemate with 5th March being touted for completion - tbh I would prefer a few days later if it means the DC will be back in school, not sure how we will move with them around and we don't have anyone who can help with childcare. Plus two removal companies have already said they are fully booked for the 5th March.

I knew it was all going too smoothly.

PowerslidePanda · 03/02/2021 16:06

I should already know this (having bought a house before) but can't remember... At what stage do you receive the fixtures and fittings form? Would be useful to know which rooms we need to choose curtains for, etc! I assumed it would be once our solicitor had received the initial contracts pack, but that was a couple of weeks ago now.

PowerslidePanda · 03/02/2021 16:11

Wow, @Fleurchamp - I don't know what the solution to that is, but surely that's a risky strategy on your sellers' part? I know it's rare for things to fall through between exchange and completion, but if it did, they'd lose not just the deposit amount but everything they'd put into the kitchen and bathroom! And what about their own sellers - they could be left with a house without a kitchen and bathroom if it all goes wrong! Sounds mad to me!

Silkiechickscat · 03/02/2021 17:15

No exchange today, now saying tomorrow.

Silkiechickscat · 03/02/2021 17:17

We sent our filled in fixtures and fittings form back with contract pack but think we didn't get one for here until very end.

Comps83 · 03/02/2021 17:32

Ok so I've
Instructed a solicitor
Paid for survey
Booked mortgage application appt

Is there anything else I need to do?

PowerslidePanda · 03/02/2021 17:59

Thanks @Silkiechickscat - that form was one of the first things we did for our sale too, so a bit surprised that it will be one of the last bits of the purchase! Hope you exchange tomorrow!

@Comps83 - Can't think of anything else!

catfeets · 03/02/2021 20:20

More bad news today. Turns out the mortgage we were waiting on for one of the chain was never issued (we were told it was well over a week ago).
So no way we'll be exchanging on the expected day. The longer this drags on, the more I lose faith it will ever happen.

MotherofHeathens · 03/02/2021 20:29

oh @catfeets, how frustrating! How on Earth does that get missed and (then lied about) so far into the process...?!

catfeets · 03/02/2021 20:39

@MotherofHeathens seems they just took their word for it that the mortgage was through. Our solicitor and estate agent were told all was fine and that everything was going ahead.
We've waited months for this mortgage to be sorted - and I guess we'll have to just keep waiting.

LaMariposa · 03/02/2021 20:50

No progress today. Been checking email every 5 min but the solicitors haven’t replied to any of the emails I’ve sent. God knows what our vendors are up to.

We have to exchange by 19th to complete be 26th, as our buyers mortgage is only valid until then.

I’m back on Rightmove looking at other houses.

ethelredonagoodday · 03/02/2021 21:31

It's just so bloody stressful isn't it. And needlessly so.

Reform of this shitshow is long overdue.

HouseyHouse21 · 03/02/2021 22:03

Completely agree about reform - will often watch American property shows where they view a property and have moved in 2 weeks later. Why is the process so painful over here!?

Bouledeneige · 03/02/2021 23:51

My chain is nearly ready. My buyers have just had their survey results and want a £11K reduction. I was very clear when I accepted their offer. - £10K less than my previous offer - that I could not go any lower. I am stretched to my limit.

ethelredonagoodday · 04/02/2021 10:36

@HouseyHouse21

Completely agree about reform - will often watch American property shows where they view a property and have moved in 2 weeks later. Why is the process so painful over here!?
I've no idea. They don't even have this system in Scotland from what I can gather.

I don't know. I wonder if those working within it such as EAs and conveyancer said find it as frustrating.

ethelredonagoodday · 04/02/2021 12:08

The last bit of that post was illiterate, but hopefully you catch my drift!

StrongTeaDropOfMilkNoSugar · 04/02/2021 13:00

I’m ready to join this thread now we’ve accepted an offer on our place, and our purchase offer accepted too. Despite the chain being short, I fear we are in for the long haul.

We will move into rented to break the chain as our sale needs to complete quickly (to beat the Stamp duty holiday natch) and is much further along than our purchase. I’m still super nervous though that time is tight and any delay could mean we lose our buyers if they miss the end of March and can’t afford the extra 15k.

As for our purchase, the seller can’t find a solicitor because they have backlogs, and the LA searches are taking 8 weeks. Sigh.

Hoping to read happy stories of stress free house moves, but think I might be on the wrong thread!

Silkiechickscat · 04/02/2021 15:12

Still no sign of exchange happening today, argh, just sent e-mail to chase.

Roselilly36 · 04/02/2021 16:09

@Silkiechickscat fingers crossed for you tomorrow. It will happen.

ldnirish · 04/02/2021 16:28

Hi all

I joined a while back then disappeared as it all almost fell apart.. but I'm exchanging tomorrow!

Our completion dates are different which means two weeks with the in laws, but the exchange bit is happening on both sides tomorrow so that's the main thing.

So excited! But also very nervous?! Good luck to everyone exchanging/completing tomorrow! Xx

BrieAndChilli · 04/02/2021 16:44

So after radio alone every from solicitors all week we have spoken to them and they have received the mortgage funds so we are exchanging AND completing tomorrow!!!!
We are in rented with a 3 week overlap so not as nail biting as it would if we had to be packed and out of here tomorrow!!

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