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Original poster

FUMING with buyer. WWYD?

83 replies

shoopashoop · 02/01/2022 16:50

I can’t believe this.
We sold our house in May, found somewhere in August due to crazy market. since then it hasn’t been plain sailing due to countless enquiries from our buyer and our solicitors had a data breach which meant it was down for 4 weeks.

Throughout the past 2 months we have stressed over and over again that we need to move before the 15th due to school deadlines in a completely new area. We have looked at the school twice, mentally moved into the house and have been in direct contact with our vendor who is lovely. She has been packing, organising cleaning of the ovens etc as the rest of the chain have agreed to completion date of 13th. Our sale is ready to go and all that was left was to hear back from our buyer about this date. Didn’t envisage any issues as after countless to-ing and fro-ing everything was ‘done’ as far as we aware.

Anyway, still not heard back so although we haven’t been in contact with our PITA buyer, I decided to message them directly and ask if they are happy to confirm the date so we can book removals and get school application done.
To which they respond....

Buyer had no idea about this date and has booked to go ABROAD next week until the end of the month (providing they don’t get stuck there that is). Why would they do this??!!

I will say again that we have proposed this date to our solicitors and estate agent SO many times so either buyer is lying or something has gone very wrong.

I am dreading telling our vendor (although it is not our fault).
But more importantly, what the hell do we do?
We can’t wait that long, plus with the added stress of wondering if the buyer will even make it home or not.

Do we relist? We are in a sought after area and will sell very quickly.
I can’t even respond to the buyer as I am so angry.

OP posts:
Original poster
shoopashoop · 02/01/2022 16:52

Sorry that was long so we’ll done if you made it through!
Grateful for any wisdom as this is my first time moving.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 02/01/2022 16:54

The 15th of what? January?

You're not going to find someone else to complete by then anyway...

rubyslippers · 02/01/2022 16:57

You will not find anyone else to complete etc by 15 January
You’re best off asking them to delay their hols
Why don’t they know the date? When was exchange meant to be?

GrowBabyGrow · 02/01/2022 16:58

Aargh I really feel for you that sounds infuriating! I don't think it's worh relisting, it won't help you hit your move in deadline for schools and could risk going back even further. It's likely that the solicitors/ estate agents did not pass on the date to the buyers. We found that when we bought our first place. I'd definitely push back to the solicitors/ estate agents and ask why the date hasn't been shared with the buyers until now.

Are your buyers the start of the chain? If they are then I don't see how them being abroad has to hold things up necessarily. If they can still do the transfer of funds etc the sale could happen with them out of the country and they can pick up the keys when they are back.

rubyslippers · 02/01/2022 16:58

Why can you exchange and complete as planned
They can pick the keys up whenever they’re back from hols
The money stuff is done electronically
Not a solicitor so don’t know if possible and also how big the chain is etc

LIZS · 02/01/2022 16:59

It is up to solicitors to negotiate the dates. Check whether your LA allows later address changes or can amend on proof of exchange.

User65412 · 02/01/2022 17:00

Do you mean this month?
Has everyone in the chain exchanged already? If not, when is the proposed exchange date?
Relisting would put you significantly back though and presumably you've already paid all fees? You'd never move this month.
It's possible they didn't know. Some solicitors can be pretty shit.
You could ask your buyer what their proposed date is.
Tell them the whole chain is dependant on this date and the chain will collapse otherwise. I'm sure they'd make it work or they too would be hugely out of pocket and presumably want to buy your home as much as you want to move.

Redwinestillfine · 02/01/2022 17:03

I think you need to tell them the date is non negotiable and in the mthrough look for a rental within the school area as back up in case the sale falls through.

KittenCatcher · 02/01/2022 17:03

They are just mucking you about, if they are away till at least the end of Jan then they will not complete by the 15th. Is your buyer claiming no one has told them you wanted a completion date, you sold it to them in May. It should have all gone through months ago I wouldn't respond, you need to go through your solicitors now and if this has caused the entire chain to break down then you pull out, relist, can you afford to rent somewhere if all the others in the chain are happy to continue until you find a new buyer.

JohnSmithDrive · 02/01/2022 17:03

If the processs started in May, you can hardly blame them for having a holiday at some point in that time.

It sounds like either your or their solicitors didn't pass on the message regarding the date.

Can it complete while they are away? You might need to offer an incentive, as it's you the date is so important for .

Redwinestillfine · 02/01/2022 17:03

Meantime

moochies · 02/01/2022 17:04

Tell them that this date is non-negotiable and as this has dragged on so long you'll have no option but to put it back on the market.

Seafog · 02/01/2022 17:06

Even relisted, it will take time for a sale with all it's steps.
I'd ask the buyers to hold off the holiday, or do it when they get back

SchoolFraud · 02/01/2022 17:06

Our LA allows you to submit changes until 15th Feb I think so if you moved after Jan deadline but before feb, you'd still get your place as if you'd lived there all along.

AliceMcK · 02/01/2022 17:07

I’d still apply for schools you want as they arnt asdigned until April. Do you have time to prove your new address. Also if your moving out of county you can change your selection. We moved mid process but because were were still within the county lines we couldn’t change our selection so I went straight on the waiting lists the day the school selections came out. We got offered a place within a week at one of our selected schools.

I’d be pissed with the buyers and probably tell them your delisting as your sick of being messed around. It might give them a kick up the arse, but I understand it is a risky move.

Summersdreaming · 02/01/2022 17:08

Push to exchange and complete anyway, is there anything that can't be done online?

AliceMcK · 02/01/2022 17:08

Assigned*

So* you have time to prove your new address.

DixieSun · 02/01/2022 17:09

15th January? Not even a cash buyer could complete in that timescale if you relist

Redwinestillfine · 02/01/2022 17:10

It's not your problem if their solicitor didn't pass on a message. Let them sort that out. Jut reiterate your red lines. No completion no sale. Don't underestimate their

sallywinter · 02/01/2022 17:19

Your solicitors had a 4 week stop of work. They’re massively backlogged. It’s probably their mistake.

Our vendor has the same one and they have eventually agreed to change as it was causing such huge problems. We’re annoyed that they didn’t agree to do so earlier as it was obvious that nothing was going to move with that solicitor for ages.

TheHoptimist · 02/01/2022 17:20

They don’t need to be in the country to exchange or complete
If contracts have been issued (and too late probably if not) then they sign them before they leave

TheHoptimist · 02/01/2022 17:21

Ps you are blaming the wrong people
That the buyer has hung on from may is exceptional

chillied · 02/01/2022 17:24

Or, arrange a bridging loan? Expensive but would mean you can move?

catperskn · 02/01/2022 17:24

Agree with @TheHoptimist . Waiting May until August for a vendor to find somewhere usually has people pulling out.

Sounds like your solicitor is to blame for a big hold up and I'd be questioning their correspondence with your buyers solicitor.

sallywinter · 02/01/2022 17:27

Another thing is, if you have a hard deadline the the estate agent should have been reviewing this chain weekly and giving everyone in it updates.

We are you in this situation, waiting since July and booking a holiday sounds like a great idea.

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