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Original poster

Seller wanting to delay to use cheaper movers

65 replies

TroublesomeTownHouse · 04/02/2021 18:13

We are a v short chain. We have cash buyers and our sellers are storing some stuff and renting in a new area. We have all been working for end Jan completion at request of our cash buyers. We all agreed at the start that we would all move asap. Sellers didn't want to move until later in the year but agreed to on the basis we up our offer.

Sellers have been asking for a date for ages and our buyers have consistently said they are not ready so can't give a date. They are now ready and want to exchange for a completion week of 15th Feb.

Our sellers are saying their preferred mover is not available until March 11th. THey have found others but those will cost more (apparently £2k more) so they want us or our buyers to move into temp accommodation until March.

They have not moved for 30 years and cannot accept that we have not been able to give them a date until now.

We are not inclined to move into rented (family of 5 plus dog no thanks) and think they should just get on with it.

If it makes a difference we are paying ££££ so £2k is not likely to be a huge deal to them.

Would you push them to get on with it??

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 05/02/2021 18:21

In fact, I think what I’d do is go back to them and say

In light of the fact we upped our offer for a quick move, and our buyers cannot delay past 15th February, we are now in the position of incurring significant costs if we cannot move on 15th February. Therefore we absolutely will not be paying extra for you to move out, and in fact will need to reduce our original offer to cover these unexpected costs. It’s likely to be in the region of £x. If that’s unacceptable then we can pull out completely, or we can revert to the original terms of the offer if the move goes ahead on 15 Feb.”

I get it’s properly frustrating for them - I reckon I’d have been a bit pissed off with you with only 10 days notice to book movers if your buyers were supposedly cash and now they’re the ones dictating a short deadline. But it’s not acceptable for them to try to torpedo things at this late date over a removals firm.

Aiaiaicorona · 05/02/2021 18:22

Goodness this sounds hard and stressful. Think about it over the weekend but I’d also be tempted to pull out and move into rented, I’m not sure I’d trust them not to try more tricks. What idiots, every time I’ve moved it’s been a long wait then a sudden completion date 2 weeks away, it’s how it goes!

senua · 05/02/2021 18:39

Our sellers are saying their preferred mover is not available until March 11th. They have found others but those will cost more (apparently £2k more)
Is this actually true? Have you investigated?

buyers have consistently said they are not ready so can't give a date. They are now ready and want to exchange for a completion week of 15th Feb.
They seem to think that they call all the shots. They are the ones causing the problems so I'd try to pass all/some of the costs on to them.

ShowOfHands · 05/02/2021 19:05

You are buying a 1 million pound house from them, have already paid extra to move quickly and now they want 800 quid from you?

Tell them to get in the fucking sea.

ireallyamthewalrus · 05/02/2021 19:20

Why can’t your buyers wait?

Or could you and your buyers stick in £k each to get it over and done with?

If you do agree to wait until 11March I would insist on exchange now. Otherwise you may find they pull the plug and you are without somewhere to move to

TheRebelle · 05/02/2021 20:23

We had four days notice to move and we managed it! Then our buyer got COVID so she couldn’t move in anyway, I could’ve cried!

In your position (bearing in mind I’m as stubborn as a mule!) I’d be tempted to pull out and move into a rental, on a £1m property the amount you’re saving on stamp duty must be a drop in the ocean anyway.

mumsy27 · 06/02/2021 03:38

you are paying over 1m to a cheeky seller, I can assure you over 1m buyers are not many around.
the seller is at loss if they loose the sale.
you upped your offer, your husband is right.

you will find another property if you decide to pull out and call your bluff.

Taikoo · 06/02/2021 04:30

I would pull out.

LemonViolet · 06/02/2021 04:59

I support @NoSquirrels position.

Tell your sellers that your sale is completing 15th Feb. They have 3 options

  • they complete their sale to you on 15th Feb at the agreed price
  • they exchange with delayed completion on their preferred date but with your purchase price reduced by £X (which would be the increase you agreed for quick move plus associated costs of your air b&b and storage and hassle - I expect this would be way more than £2k!!)
  • otherwise you are prepared to break the chain and will not be buying their property.

As long as you are actually willing to do that!

Soulstirring · 06/02/2021 05:07

Exactly what @NoSquirrels says

You complete on your sale and rent until something better comes along otherwise

Soulstirring · 06/02/2021 05:08

We’ve just moved, it’s so stressful. I sympathise!

Original poster
TroublesomeTownHouse · 06/02/2021 11:07

Just looking at rentals. There is only 1 that might work.

He will now meet our date but only f we pay £1.2k. We are struggling to pay another penny so need a fall-back position in case we have to pull out.

OP posts:
Taikoo · 06/02/2021 11:14

I would definitely pull out, in that case.
Cheeky bastards.

friendlycat · 06/02/2021 11:40

This is quite extraordinary especially for the value of house you are buying and the amount of equity the sellers will be releasing, irrespective of whether they haven’t gone through the process for 30 years.
I think it’s down to the Estate Agent to get this moving. I suppose you also have to seriously analyse whether your wobbles are valid and whether you are overpaying anyway and whether it’s best to proceed with your sale and drop out of this purchase and rent. In the Spring lots more properties will come on the market. How much do you love this house? How desperate do you want to own it? If you do really really want it then some form of compromise could be negotiated with agent and solicitor etc.
But I agree I would be beyond annoyed. I think the vendors have got a flaming cheek. If this is your moment to reconsider and perhaps pull out of the sale I bet they reconsider and agree to use more expensive movers.

EuroTrashed · 06/02/2021 11:45

The estate agent is going to get their commission either way - they have found a willing buyer ready to proceed. I suspect that if the agent pointed that out to their client, they’d be a bit quicker about moving

Viviennemary · 06/02/2021 11:51

I see where they're coming from if they have kept asking for a date and you have given them such short notice. But if you think you are overpaying anyway I can see why you are reluctant to pay out for temporary accommodation. Maybe they are having cold feet and are now putting obstacles in the way. In the end it depends on how much you want the house.

Viviennemary · 06/02/2021 11:52

Just seen your other post. Dont hand them a penny on principle. I wouldn't.

NeilBuchananisBanksy · 06/02/2021 12:35

How on earth can they justify that? Urgh! Feel for you.

VinylDetective · 06/02/2021 12:35

This is quite extraordinary especially for the value of house you are buying and the amount of equity the sellers will be releasing, irrespective of whether they haven’t gone through the process for 30 years.

This. A couple of grand is peanuts to them. I do share the view that your buyers pissing about has put you in this position, though.

ginghamstarfish · 06/02/2021 12:55

Get the agents to sort it out, might be a change for them to actually do something to earn their fees.

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 06/02/2021 12:57

I would change tack and tell them that you are revoking your offer to share any of the extra £2,000 and asking them to indicate by Monday 12 noon whether they intend to procede on 15 February or not. It will focus their minds on whether they really want your £1m or not.

NoSquirrels · 06/02/2021 13:22

@TroublesomeTownHouse

Just looking at rentals. There is only 1 that might work.

He will now meet our date but only f we pay £1.2k. We are struggling to pay another penny so need a fall-back position in case we have to pull out.

I’d arrange to see that rental ASAP and I’d ask the estate agent to put the word out to other landlords they deal with to find you a rental property.

I would certainly NOT pay £1.2K to move on 15th Feb.

You could ask your buyers to pay this in order to meet the date, given that they have been the cause of the delays then short notice. I’d expect them to say no. When they did I’d ask the estate agent to convey in the strongest terms that there will be no sale and that you are looking at rentals.

Look - if you move into a rental, and you still want the £1million house, you can go back to them... with a lower offer. Or you can find a better house.

What absolute knobheads, pissing about for the sake of a tiny fraction of their profit. Either they are desperately strapped for money (in which case they can’t afford to lose the sake at this late date) or they’re just chancers who love to ‘win’ and you must not let them...

Flowers I really feel for you.

Original poster
TroublesomeTownHouse · 06/02/2021 15:20

We've said we are moving on 17th Feb and we are not paying any more. Left it with the agent.

We will pull out if we have to.

OP posts:
Bigwaves · 06/02/2021 15:43

Good for you, hopefully this will make them take notice!

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 06/02/2021 17:00

The problem is that buyers have more to lose than sellers who are going into rental.

Buyers have paid out for surveys and searches. Buyers will need to pick up the stamp duty on the first £500k on a sale after 31st March.

Fingers crossed for you OP, they are acting like knobs.