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Original poster

Seller hasn't instructed solicitor but wants me to pay for mortgage valuation

45 replies

Eastie77Returns · 21/10/2021 17:20

Long story short: have had a couple of house purchases fall through due to vendors changing their mind or not finding an onward purchase so I'm proceeding warily this time.

My offer was accepted 2 weeks ago but my solicitor hasn't been able to get contract documentation from the seller's solicitor.

Today the seller's solicitor advised that he hasn't actually been instructed yet by the seller to start work on the sale.

I contacted the EA who said the seller wants to see my mortgage offer, which I have provided, and the mortgage valuation. The issue is I have to pay almost £400 for my lender to carry out a valuation (they only do one for free and this is my third one) and I'm a bit reluctant to pay out when my seller seems less than committed. Does anyone else think it's a red flag that she still hasn't instructed her solicitor after 2 weeks?? According to the EA she is preparing to instruct the solicitor but is "working through some paperwork". She previously accepted an offer at the end of August which fell through so I'm not clear on what else she needs to do other than tell the solicitor to proceed with a new buyer (me).

So far I've spent £££ on failed purchases with nothing to show for it and I'm worried about being given the run around again. Vendor is an elderly lady looking to downsize but she hasn't found anywhere yet despite apparently looking for two months.

I'm so exhausted with it all I can't work out if I'm being unreasonable or not.

OP posts:
Couldhavebeenme3 · 21/10/2021 17:24

Nope, it's yours, you keep it.

Why do they need it? Do they think you're ripping them off?

I'd be looking for another property, these vendors sound flakey as fuck

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 21/10/2021 17:26

I wouldn't, not if they haven't even bothered getting started on their end

TedsFederationRep · 21/10/2021 17:27

She isn't entitled to see the mortgage valuation. In fact, I'm not convinced you can disclose it anyway without your mortgage lender's consent but I'm not a lawyer so would be happy to be corrected on this.

It strikes me that she is expecting a tangible difference between her asking price and your mortgage valuation and that's why she is asking. That could be why the previous sale fell through. That suggests there is something wrong with the property.

I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't even consider it.

ColitisSucks · 21/10/2021 17:30

I'd be worried her previous sale fell through because the mortgage valuation showed the house was overpriced. That's the only reason she'd want to see it, surely? She must think there's going to be a problem?!

Viviennemary · 21/10/2021 17:32

I would withdraw the offer from this time waster. Its nothing to do with her what surveys or valuations you choose to have.

JosephineDeBeauharnais · 21/10/2021 17:32

We bought from an elderly lady who was moving in with her daughter and we were cash buyers so no chain, no mortgage. Boy did she give us the runaround. Turned out she didn’t want to move, she’d been stringing the DD along for a year by turning down any offers that came in (including ours). Only when the DD put her foot down because she was selling her own house to move to a bigger place with accommodation for mum did the sale get going. It still took four months to complete.
She tried all sorts of tricks, including saying on the pre-contract enquiries that the property had no mains water or sewage.
She came round after she moved to give me a piece of her mind for “forcing her onto the street”. There’s more, but you get my drift.

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 21/10/2021 18:39

Thanks all. Looks like I’ve found yet another flakey seller. Sigh. When the house came back on the market I asked the EA to please be transparent (ha) and tell me why the sale fell through. He said previous buyer was a cash buyer who flips properties and he pulled out because he and his business partner realised they couldn’t make enough profit on it. They apparently didn’t even get as far as a survey (no requirement for a valuation) and EA is not aware of any issues with the property.

No idea if any of the above is true of course.

OP posts:
Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 22/10/2021 10:54

Just spoken to the EA who had some "bad news" to share. So the vendor's neighbour's house has gone on the market with another Estate Agent (EA 2) and is priced £100k more than hers. My vendor has thrown a hissy fit and is demanding more money based on this and has told her EA that if I'm not willing to pay more she is going to pull out and relist with EA 2.

The neighbour's house is significantly bigger, has 2 bathrooms, parking and is completely renovated although in the EA's opinion it is still over-priced (EA 2 are notorious for doing this) and they fully expect it to be reduced in the coming weeks. By way of comparison, my vendor's house has one bathroom, no parking, is very dated and in need of a fair bit of work/extending.

Despite the EA explaining all of this to the vendor, she is stamping her feet and saying she wants more money although at this point hasn't said how much. The EA has told me my current offer is what they think it is worth and to sit tight.

I'm pretty sure she's going to relist with EA 2 which is so exasperating as there is no way she is going to get another 20k much less 100k for her property! In any case, I think this is why she was pushing for my valuation? There is zero chance my lender will value the property at the amount she wants, maybe it will be helpful for her to see that in black and white.

Despite all the work that needs doing to it I love this house and I feel like crying!

OP posts:
fruitbrewhaha · 22/10/2021 11:04

She sounds like a proper pain in the arse.

Could you afford any more to buy the house next door? It soulnds like you are planning on spending quite a bit on this house if it need renovating. If next door is already done it may be worth an extra £50K.

Just a thought. Although you'd be living next to her.

I'd pull out and do at least 2 viewings in plain sight of the house next door.

Chloemol · 22/10/2021 11:07

Walk away now

Just tell the EA to tell her you are not going to be bullied into shelling out more money on a house that’s not worth it and start looking again

alrightfella · 22/10/2021 11:14

Walk away ... it won't be worth the hassle

viques · 22/10/2021 11:17

I love this house and I feel like crying

Then have a good cry. But let that be the end of the emotion , there will be other houses, (probably with less work needing doing and a parking space) , you need to toughen up, it’s all very well to have a rush of feeling for a house but when it come down to it you need to buy with your brain not your heart. Don’t get caught up with this sellers fantasy world, it will only hurt you. In a few months time when you are deep in proper negotiations with a better house you will look back and sigh with relief that you had the sense to walk away.

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 22/10/2021 11:20

I could potentially afford the house next door but at the moment it is really over-priced. Almost every single house EA2 lists in this area is inevitably reduced after a couple of months so I'll keep an eye on it. Viewing it in plain sight of her is a good idea though, didn't think of thatGrin.

Her EA called me again to say both he and his director have been trying to make her see sense all morning and he is tearing his hair out as she just doesn't understand. She sounds less than stable and informed the EA that her Priest told her that they were trying to rip her off Hmm.

It's infuriating but when I viewed the property she revealed a lot about herself to me and I do really feel for her (she lost a child in the most awful circumstances and she is quite unwell) so I'm trying to be understanding about this and just accept this house was sadly not meant to be.

OP posts:
MatildaIThink · 22/10/2021 11:21

Walk away now, she was after a free valuation in the first place and now wants more money because she is crazy, this will not end well if you proceed.

charityshopchangingbag · 22/10/2021 11:26

The only way I can keep myself sane through the ups and disappointments of house buying is repeatedly telling myself "everything happens for a reason".

I wouldn't take the risk of paying out any fees for this one. In your position I would cut the losses now and search out a more motivated seller because this one isn't going to go anywhere fast.

Candleabra · 22/10/2021 11:27

Agree with everyone else - walk away. This is just the start of the stress. Buying a house is difficult enough when everyone is committed. The lack of solicitor alone would be enough to make me think twice.

You’ll be sad for a bit, but ultimately relieved. This isn’t your house.

EdgeOfTheSky · 22/10/2021 11:30

And she could take months and months to find somewhere …. and then mess you about some more once she has.

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 22/10/2021 13:46

I know...I need to just let this go and move on. I've been letting my emotions get the better of me:)

I called EA2 to arrange a viewing of the neighbour's house, just out of curiosity more than anything else. They've booked me and then said that they have just taken on the house next door as well - would I like to view that as well! I made my excuses but asked if they could give me a rough idea of the price .They responded "It needs a lot of work to be honest so less than "

It will end up going up for sale for the same price I'm currently offering. This is so ridiculous.

Anyway.

Breathe and carry on. There will be other houses.

OP posts:
IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 22/10/2021 15:52

The house next door comes with her as a neighbour.
They'd have to pay me to take it!

viques · 22/10/2021 17:08

I would also be bodyswerving House 2. You know house 1 needs work doing, so the owners of House 2 will have the fun of that going on, you also know there is no parking space at House 1 so cue parking wars, parking over House 2 s dropped kerb, their builders asking to park on House 2s drive... this one could run and run.....

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 22/10/2021 18:05

@IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves

The house next door comes with her as a neighbour. They'd have to pay me to take it!
She is downsizing and moving. But since she makes decisions based on advice from her priest rather than experienced sales professionals who knows if she will ever manage to sell!
OP posts:
Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 22/10/2021 21:00

The new EA is now listing the house for £100k more on their website (and sent me another invite to viewGrin ) but the property is still listed on Rightmove as Sold with the old EA. I have already stood my solicitor down and explained the situation to my mortgage lender so have stepped away from it all. However old EA is saying she will see sense in a few days so sit tightConfused

OP posts:
Couldhavebeenme3 · 22/10/2021 22:32

Hands up anyone who wants to chuck a fiver in the pot for op to instruct a valuation? Wink

BlueMongoose · 22/10/2021 22:46

This sounds like a nightmare seller who could pull out at any moment. I might keep in touch with the HA just in case a bucket of reality gets tipped over her head at some point, but I'd be looking elsewhere.

0DAAT · 22/10/2021 23:00

Likely vendor will be in breach of contract with EA1.