House move about to fall through

[Mirrorxx]

We are about 14 weeks into chain and were expecting to exchange today when the vendor of house we are buying said unless we complete on Monday he is pulling out. We can’t find a removal company that is free on Monday and it’s such short notice. The estate agents seem to be totally shocked and I can’t believe we are going to lose so much money and miss the stamp duty deadline over some arbitrary date. Has anyone got experience of vendors like this?

Is arranging removals all you need to do?

What’s his reasoning? If you have exchanged already surely he won’t lose out? I honestly believe it’s making people crazy. If he has to find a new buyer it will take much longer than waiting past Monday!

Doesn't that mean the while chain has to complete Monday?
If you had exchanged and were certain of your own sale I'd move out any day possible, but can't see the whole chain agreeing to his demands.

Yep the whole chain would have to complete on Monday and we didn’t exchange today due to his demands on completion date.

We have tried at least 15 removal companies and they are all booked until the new year

Plus I’m not even sure we could get the day off work at such short notice

Think out of the box. Contact removal firms out of your area, might cost more but gets the job done.
Contact container storage companies, then man and van type removers.
Get friends/ family to help with a hired Luton Van, COVID safe of course.

Can you not hire a van and do it yourself?

Even if the OP can sort it all for Monday, chances of the whole chain doing so seems slim surely?

Actually I've just realised tomorrow is Wednesday. Had it in my head it was Friday (probably because kids break up). Doh!

I think he is looking for a way out.

@FestiveChristmasLights I’d be surprised as the house is empty as has been for a while

Even if we could find a removal company from out of area we don’t think we can both get the day off at such short notice

The chances that your whole chain will go along with this are very slim. I wouldn’t tie yourself in knots trying to sort out removals. What does your solicitor say?
Does sound like he wants a way out, but why doesn’t seem clear.

We exchanged on a Wednesday & moved on the following Monday a couple weeks ago. It was TIGHT but our entire chain of 5 agreed & we all moved. Thankfully our employer was well aware of our imminent move & was happy to give us the time off when needed. I actually liked moving on a Monday as it gave us the weekend to pack & only need a couple days off work. Well, only one but we took two.

We rang every removal company in existence. And asked them all to let us know re-cancellations. We were halfway through booking our own vans when one called back with a cancellation. Thank god really as we have two very young children! But we’d have done it if needed to get in before Christmas!

You can't let a house sale fall through due to removals. As a pp says you need to think out of the box. We moved with a man with a van, he had a Luton van, brought his two teenage sons and moved us 20 miles away in one day doing 3 shuttles. Cost us a grand total of £200. You must have other options?

@shallbe

You can't let a house sale fall through due to removals. As a pp says you need to think out of the box. We moved with a man with a van, he had a Luton van, brought his two teenage sons and moved us 20 miles away in one day doing 3 shuttles. Cost us a grand total of £200. You must have other options?

But the whole chain needs to have other options and be happy using them.

Moving yourself is a bloody nightmare especially with kids and no other help. Shifting beds and wardrobes, don't underestimate how much hard work is involved.

Try Anyvan.com as a last minute attempt you may find they can do it.

I used them recently and whilst it wasn't without teething problems (you literally have to list ever single item you're moving otherwise they will charge you extra on the day) it got the move done at a reasonable price.

Speak to the seller’s agents again. They need to talk to the seller and talk him down. Often a party will give this kind of ultimatum to put a rocket up slow members of the chain (or their solicitors). If you’re ready to exchange, get your solicitor to try and get the chain exchanged tomorrow, with a more realistic, later completion date. Your seller may well just be frustrated and just wants the certainty of exchange.

That's totally unreasonable and your solicitor should be saying so.
Don't write it off for now, but do speak to your solicitor tomorrow.
Stick with your plans, and see how it pans out.
A seller cannot insist on a whole chain changing just for them - there are too many people involved. If they persist, despite all of yours and other peoples' planning, they are arseholes.

I've moved house 3 times in my adult life and never used a removal company, just a man and van.

We've moved 13 times over 22 years and always done it ourselves either with a hired van or a combination of ur own vehicles and the help of friends and their vehicles.
If you truly want this house you will do whatever you need.

Think of other types. House clearance companies, people who pick up furniture for charity shops, anyone else with a van who has a couple of mates. I've had my builder move stuff for me in the past.

Can any of the agents suggest anyone.

We are selling a rental property to an investor who is going to want to complete as soon as his solicitor gets their act together. Luckily my mums former carers son used to work for a removal firm. (I asked everyone!) We hire the van, he and his mates will move the furniture. Possibly in the early evening if they are working.

They won't be insured in the way that removal companies are, but hey ho.