Helping vendor pack?

[pelagra]

Our vendor is in her 80s and appears overwhelmed by the amount of sorting and packing she needs to do. This is a significant downsize, so she has lots of decisions to make about her very full house. Mentally I think she is all there, but she is a bit wobbly physically.

We want to complete in January, and I think she will only be ready if she gets help. She has told us her family aren't local, but that her neighbours are very good. I'm no longer working, so I have time to help, but I'm worried about safeguarding type issues when we are in the midst of a purchase. Would you offer to help? I wondered about knocking at the neighbours she says invite her round regularly and asking if they want to check on me.

No way

Sounds like a bad idea to me.

Definitely no. That's what removal services are there for. By all means share numbers of local removal firms who can pack for her, but your involvement should end there.

Removal services do exactly that.

She needs to hire professional movers, and a skip and instruct them very carefully. Under no circumstances should you even consider getting involved.

And if it's a question of getting rid of stuff before she packs, then she has time to enlist the help of friends/neighbours/family - January is some weeks away, so a family member has time to arrange to come and help if that's what's needed. I imagine this would come under 'caring responsibilities' in the covid restrictions.

What are the reasons behind the unanimous No? I'm not being altruistic, I just want to achieve the target move date., and avoid going into storage. I can imagine her delaying completion to get more time.

You don’t know her! House buying is a business transaction. You’re blurring the lines by offering to sort through her personal items. It’s odd you’re even considering it. If she’s capable of selling her house then she’s capable of sorting and packing her belongings. She can ask neighbours or pay for professionals. If she delays the sale you have your solicitor deal with it.

She can't delay completion if you've exchanged. Ask your solicitor or the estate agent to confirm she has made arrangements for her stuff to go into storage if she isn't able to decide what to keep/Chuck.

If you help you could be accused of theft, coercion, invalidate your purchase contract. You could break something worth millions. Removals people are insured. You're not.

Absolutely not. There are safeguarding issues for both of you (you could be accused of theft) and also Covid. You don't want to be spending time indoors with someone in their 80s who isn't part of your household. It's not legal anyway if you're tier 2 or above.

Exactly what @titchy and @cautiouscovidity said. How is this not obvious to you?

You have a huge conflict of interest. You want her out on your time line. This may not be in her best interests, if you got involved you could push it through regardless. Stay well out if it.

Where do you live? I run a decluttering business and helping people get ready to move is one of the things we do. Older people often find it very difficult/overwhelming. Does she have family to help?

Oh and we're allowed to work in other peoples homes by the way, as are removal companies.

If you google there might be similar companies to mine near you...

She can't delay completion if you've exchanged

Well, she could in theory - but it would cost her a lot of money, and then there'd doubtless be accusations of "trying to victimise a poor old lady"

I agree with everyone else that "helping out" would be madness, but suggest calling the solicitors so she can be reminded that this has to be done in good time (with details of removal firms if appropriate)

Of course, whether she'll listen is something else again ...

No. What if she then says you stole/broke something? Or that you pressured her into selling you her house and moving out?

I bought a house from an old lady who had gone into care. The place was a mess. I only saw it once before I completed and was accused by the family of stealing silver candlesticks. Don't agree to help, you could be accused of stealing. It was very upsetting.

It's a kind thought but don't. If anything gets broken or lost it would be a problem. Don't even think about it. Not to mention Covid.

I can’t believe you’re considering this, it’s a terrible idea. You’ll probably be accused of theft or damage to her stuff and for what? Because you’re desperate to move in? She needs to use a removals company, like other people do. You could drop a note through her door or something with some names and numbers but I’d leave it at that. Perhaps forewarn the solicitors?
Is she even in your bubble? If not then no. Absolutely not.

She has told us her family aren't local, but that her neighbours are very good

There's also a difference between being "very good" at keeping an eye on her and helping with a huge job. Has she actually approached them about this or is it just a "Ooooo they're nice"?

And it's not just the vendor who might accuse you of something; the family may not be local/available to help, but you can bet they'll take an interest if something's "lost"

No way, massive conflict of interest, safe guarding risk, risk of you throwing something away of value and then being accused of all sorts.....
Communicate via your solicitor or estate agent only. This is a hugely expensive contract arrangement that you must leave to the professionals

What if something got broken or damaged? There's a reason moving companies have insurance.

Don’t do it!!!

It’ll be a huge job.
She will be upset.
You’re not unbiased.
Things will get broken, lost or damaged and it’ll somehow be seen as your fault.
Saleable things won’t be worth as much as she thinks and you’ll get the blame.
You’ll end up with her leaving stuff there - stuff you don’t want but she thinks “belongs in the house”. Then you’ll end up paying for that stuff.