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Original poster

Is it usual for the vendor to have calls with the buyer and estate agent to ‘assess progress’ and ‘move things along’?

31 replies

MovingDrama · 08/12/2020 21:03

The sale is not proceeding as quickly as the vendor would like, we are all a bit fed up with the delays in with the survey.

The agent asked me to attend a call with the vendor on Monday which which i attended however the vendor was very frustrated and direct with me. They have asked for another call on Friday to discuss my solictor who they also beleive is too slow.

Im unable to make Fridays call however the estate agent has asked me to reconsider. I feel quite backed into a corner on a call myself with 2 vendors and the agent
Hmm are these calls usual?

OP posts:
madcatladyforever · 08/12/2020 21:04

Yes very common.

GOODCAT · 08/12/2020 21:24

Not normal when I did this. Just say to the agent that you cannot make the call with the seller, but you are eager to move. Suggest the agent asks your solicitor for an update and relay that to their seller, whenever the seller wants information.
However, blunt the seller is they are not going to want to lose you as a buyer.

ethelredonagoodday · 08/12/2020 22:17

How long has it taken to get to this stage?

mymadworld · 08/12/2020 22:22

Sounds utterly pointless to me - other than berate you, what exactly is the vendor hoping to achieve? It's only Wednesday tomorrow which gives the estate agent 3 days this week to pester your solicitor for a status report leaving you to chase the survey/mortgage broker etc. Once you have some updates then ask the estate agent to relay them to the vendor by Friday.

BitOfFun · 08/12/2020 22:28

Covid has created an awful lot of work for people (not least all the pointless zoom meetings!), and it can seem like they are dragging their feet. It's going to be hard for solicitors to get local authorities to release search documents etc in a timely fashion. Your vendors need to chill, they really do.

Original poster
MovingDrama · 08/12/2020 23:34

Thanks everyone.

Its taken 7.5 weeks so far and i feel quite berated by the vendor during our last call - we need to exchange ‘or else’, ‘you’ are holding us back and their firm instruction for an exchange date this Friday.

I appreciate their frustration however I can hardly do the conveyancing myself 😬

I asked the agent to chase my solicitor if she would like more than my usual daily updates however the agent has told me, (and the vendor) that shes concerned about my lawyer and I need to follow up even more than daily! Am fed up with it all!

OP posts:
NewHouseNewMe · 09/12/2020 00:16

I am aghast reading this! Why pay for an EA if you need to do this stuff yourself? I wouldn't get on a call with my vendor at all though we have the number. It's just weird.. There is a process and due diligence. Everyone needs to wait!

silkiecat · 09/12/2020 01:15

Not normal at all afaik. I suspect the vendor is worried you will pull out /considering pulling out themselves. I would ask EA directly what is going on. If vendor is rude I wouldn't be going on any calls.

Pipandmum · 09/12/2020 01:32

No this is not at all common. I have bought and sold at least 15 properties in my adult life and I have never spoken to the buyer or seller. The agent may liaise between parties, but you should not have to put up with an irate vendor and it achieves nothing. Decline.

IHeartNiles · 09/12/2020 06:14

7.5 weeks is nothing!!! They need to chill. The EA should be liaising and you shouldn’t need to have any direct contact with the seller. I can’t believe they’re asking you to give daily updates. During this process I’ve touched base with the EA and solicitor every 2 weeks or so. A little more at the moment as we’re discussing exchange. My EA normally calls all the solicitors in the chain directly to check progress, help with any issues. This is what you pay them to do.

NotBabiesForLong · 09/12/2020 06:24

Without more info, your vendor may have a point about your solicitor.

I have sold several properties each year and am currently selling 4. Due to pandemic and furlough, I am not using my regular solicitor of 20+ years and am using a local one instead..in the hope that as I cam nip down at the drop of a hat to handover or sign anything necessary.

As it turns out this has not been a good move. I have been shocked by the slow pace this new solicitor works, lack if attention to detail (asking for documents that were handed over previously.....asking again....) ultimately this has lead me to losing a sale and teetering on losing another.

As 2 of the sales are not progressing I have transferred them to a different solicitor.

So, the short version of that is, is their worry about your solicitor valid? If so, keep on it. Otherwise, don't liaise directly with the vendor, but do provide regular, proactive updates to the EA. So they know where you are at and, essentially, so they know you are motivated and not time wasting.

It is a stressful time

NotBabiesForLong · 09/12/2020 06:26

(The irony of me complaining about lack of attention to detail - given all my typos)

BigRedBoat · 09/12/2020 06:57

Our estate agent has a dedicated progress chaser who makes these kind of calls to solicitors and surveyors etc as well as the people in the chain. I wouldn't be happy to have lots of calls with someone who just wants to moan about my solicitor!

MyGazeboisLeaking · 09/12/2020 08:32

Gosh, OP. I have never, ever come across this. That is what the vendor pays commission to the EA for - to make sure the sale progresses (appreciate that only the rare few are good at this). Your vendor sounds bonkers.

The skill of closing a sale in this situation is in the EA keeping both parties happy in a time where often, each party has limited control over the speed of process. In my experience, it is rarely a good thing to being both parties together and allow a them & us, blame, demand conversation to occur.

I would refuse to attend any further meetings and provide all your updates to the agent yourself and via your solicitor.

legalseagull · 09/12/2020 08:34

What exact are you paying an agent for?! Tell them to deal with agro venders

Burnthurst187 · 09/12/2020 08:37

The EA and solicitor are being paid by YOU. Why are you getting dragged into this?

They need to work for their money and I also wouldn't want anything to do with the buyer/seller, sounds like a cock

Mildura · 09/12/2020 09:09

What exact are you paying an agent for

The EA and solicitor are being paid by YOU

It reads to me like the EA being referred to by the OP is acting for the vendor, therefore not being paid by the OP.

Sunnysideup999 · 09/12/2020 09:20

Let the lawyers handle it . Don’t bother with the call

Mildura · 09/12/2020 09:27

I would politely be reminding the EA that it really is their job to effectively manage their client's expectations.

At present 7.5 weeks is no time at all. Most sales are taking around 10 - 12 weeks.

GreyishDays · 09/12/2020 09:32

Normal to only deal with your EA and your solicitor.

We have rarely spoken to our vendor’s EA, and a vendor or buyer when we have both agreed to and when trying to deal with a tricky third party. Eg we spoke to our lovely vendor about our PITA buyer. It was all very amicable though!
I wouldn’t have any sort of difficult conversation directly with a buyer or vendor.

Baxdream · 09/12/2020 10:08

What type of conveyancer do you have? If it's an online one I can understand why they're frustrated.

However, if you have a decent one, 7.5 weeks is nothing! Ours just took 18 weeks to complete. My last move took 6 (7 years ago)

Mumbum2011 · 09/12/2020 15:02

Mine has taken 15 weeks in a single chain transaction. Exchanged today completing Friday. Your EA and solicitor should be liaising with other side, not you.

ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 09/12/2020 15:05

@legalseagull

What exact are you paying an agent for?! Tell them to deal with agro venders
Why do people keep saying this? The buyer doesn't pay the vendors EA!
Mildura · 09/12/2020 15:09

Why do people keep saying this? The buyer doesn't pay the vendors EA

A not insignificant number of people who offer advice through their comments on here have very little idea of what they are talking about!!

Mildura · 09/12/2020 15:19

Your EA and solicitor should be liaising with other side, not you

It is perfectly normal for the buyer to speak regularly with the EA acting for the vendor of the property.

It is very unusual to have the vendor demanding the buyer joins conference calls to discuss progress. It suggests to me the vendor rather high maintenance and their expectations are not being effectively managed by the EA.