Hi everyone,
I've been trawling MN for weeks now closely reading into a number of threads regarding this topic and I'm at my wits end, very emotional and at a loss of what to do as this is slowly eating me up.
It's the classic tale of falling pregnant (I'm 32 weeks), selling our London flat and moving out to the countryside, back to where we grew up. I was blissfully dismissive of the fact that other people have issues with selling and buying but it couldn't POSSIBLY happen to my husband and I! No, we're far too organised and motivated, as was our buyer and vendors. Ah, my sweet, delusional, poor past self...
First of all, we had sold our flat and purchased a new property in mid-Feb 21. Our FTB is very motivated and eager move in and we were aiming for a completion at the beginning of June to get settled in time for the baby's arrival. The stamp duty holiday extension was a very welcome bonus. Our vendors had said (the old chestnut) that they would move into rented accommodation so as not to hold up the chain which was obviously very appealing to us and they also wanted to beat the stamp duty holiday when that had been announced.
Where to begin. After a very fast start with documents and emails being sent thick and fast and things being solved very quickly, there was a lull which my husband and I didn't think much of because we assumed the conveyancers were beavering away in the background and had given us ETA's on search results etc.
Rewind 6 weeks ago and we came to the realisation that our vendors solicitor and ours had been in an ongoing chain about not receiving some of our documents... these documents had been sent to an unmonitored email box. Absolutely appalling. Then, our vendors were being chased for a Leasehold form, despite it being a Freehold property. They refused to fill this form out as they didn't see the need to. This form issue took 4 weeks and they still haven't filled this form out, so our solicitor has gone onto raise enquires anyway. I mean, just have a go at filling the form out. It looked insanely easy.
We found out on Friday that our vendors onward purchase has fallen through as their vendor did not want to move into rented accommodation. We in turn asked them to honour their (albeit verbal) suggestion of moving into rented and they have said they would find it difficult with three teenage children. It seems a bit rich to force their own vendor to move into rented and not want to do it yourself. We offered them more money to see if that sways them in anyway to move out and complete before the 30th June and we're just waiting on our slow EA to get back to us. Apparently their first reaction to this was a bit shaky, but they are continuing to mull it over.
Oh and our Local Authority Searches are still not back after TEN WEEKS.
My stress levels are through the roof and the constant chasing and worrying has turned into a full time job in itself, on top of my actual full time job which is non-stop, being 32 weeks pregnant and trying (really trying) to stay zen and prepare for my baby's arrival. I just have no idea what is going to happen and that frightens me. It's not how I wanted my maternity journey to go. This is also a dreadful thing to say, but I am sick of family and friends calling and texting everyday asking me what's going on and how am I doing etc... I just want to wallow in my worry alone! I feel selfish and sick for saying that as they are so well meaning and concerned, but I don't want to talk to anyone until I have some sort of good-ish news! I'm desperate to meet my baby and already feel guilty for not having any idea what is going to happen to our living arrangements.
We would move into rental ourselves, but with the uncertainty of our vendors movement and with a lack of properties we like in the area (we really like the house we've purchased) plus the baby arriving, it's just too much for my brain to consider at the moment. We also don't want to lose our buyer as we found our flat hard to sell. I thought this would make us attractive buyers and they wouldn't want to lose us. It's not super ideal to live with family. I want to be in a baby-moon as a family of three for a few months.
The search results taking this long to come back takes the biscuit and there is 0 urgency from our conveyancer to actually do anything, but this won't be news to anyone who has bought a house. The stamp duty is also an enormous saving if we can complete by 30th June.
So, I guess what I'm asking is:
- AIBU to offer our vendors more money for them to move out? That money would help with rent and the stamp duty they will now have to pay. Plus, does it make them attractive buyers for when they find somewhere else? Any similar stories would be welcome.
- Soothing words of advice for a HIGHLY stressed pregnant lady!
- How to stick a rocket up our solicitors backside to keep going and going. I feel like we're so close to getting far enough ahead that our vendors won't want to lose us... I know the search results aren't her fault, but HONESTLY. TEN WEEKS?! Any one else had that?
- If it all falls through... what to do?! Keep trucking on I suppose. I really, really don't want to lose this house :(
- We can't lose our lovely buyer and he's already been so patient.
This will look like a complete mess when I create this conversation, so huge apologies and I hope someone will be able to get through this without snoring. The process of buying a house in this country is absolutely beyond incomprehensibly broken.