Getting really frustrated with our vendors

[laternights]

We had an offer accepted on a property on 3rd Jan and moved out of our house into an airbnb at the end of Jan. The property we're buying is lived in by one half of a divorcing couple, who is moving into a family-owned house, so there's no chain on either side.

We have a baby due in May so have been super quick in getting things organized; we had our formal mortgage offer (including an in-person mortgage survey) sorted by 20th Jan, proof of funds to the solicitors, searches, etc etc all complete. We've been essentially twiddling our thumbs for the last two weeks waiting for some movement from our vendors, only to find out mid-last week that they haven't even completed the paperwork required for their contract pack (according to the estate agent this is usually done in the first 2 weeks).

We're getting beyond frustrated now; while we're really sympathetic to what must be an emotionally difficult time, we just need them to get a wriggle on now. We've explained to the agent how frustrating and concerning this is for us, but are loathed to pile on the pressure given the market is bananas right now and the fact we haven't seen any other properties since that we like as much as much as this one.

With the vendor obviously only moving because of circumstances, and not wanting to move on this quickly (or even move out at all!), we don't want to give them an excuse to drop out of the sale.

What would you do? I just want to be in my new house a few weeks before baby comes!!

We offered in November, our vendor had a house lined up that fell through then found another dragged their heels we are now looking at an end of march completion.

I've tried to do the maths over the last few days and honestly if we start again (we've found one more house that we would accept) we still wouldn't be in before this sale completes. I would ask your solicitor to submit your searches without the vender pack (we bought a copy of the land registry title for £3) so once they sort themselves it all good to go

This is the thing @vickyc90 - I appreciate by not being in an upward chain we're in a lucky position, so I don't want to throw my toys out of the pram and risk this sale for one that could take 6+ months to complete. It's so frustrating!

The searches have been done and I believe are in, so I've just emailed the solicitor to ask him to push on with the report without the contract pack so we're 100% ready.

Just keep on top of where everyone is up to in the process. But I find it intriguing that you moved out into an Airbnb a few weeks after having your offer accepted - I guess you had to move out? This is going to make it all feel a lot more urgent for you, but the people you’re buying from have no reason at all to hurry and unless they agreed a much quicker timeline, it would be unfair to get cross with them because you are needing a quicker process.

We needed to move areas for work @Talipesmum, and the only family rental properties we could find were for at least 12 months, which we didn't want to commit to. We also thought being chain-free would put us in a stronger position.
I agree we can't get cross with them, but I think it's a bare minimum to expect them to have completed the initial paperwork for the contract pack, which is usually done in the first couple of weeks. We mutually agreed with the vendor to go as quickly as we could so it's disappointing they haven't done this yet

I would get the EA to talk to them. The EA will be wanting the sale to go through to get their commission. They usually like to get things moving, while solicitors are more ‘patient’.

Also the EA can follow up the vendors solicitor for an ‘update’.

You can do all this in the spirit of ‘all good progress here, searches back, can the vendors let us know when the contract pack will be returned”.

Also I would ask the EA questions about the state of the divorce. You say ‘no chain’ because one partner is moving out, but it is about who has authority to sign the contract pack, which could be dependent on whether they have agreed the split if they proceeds in the divorce settlement. If one partner is being awkward or disputing, it could take months!

At this point I feel like I speak to the EA more than my mum @HomeHomeInTheRange . She maintains the divorce is friendly and has already happened (and to be fair they conferred on our offer really quickly). I'll keep pushing him!

@laternights

We had an offer accepted on a property on 3rd Jan and moved out of our house into an airbnb at the end of Jan. The property we're buying is lived in by one half of a divorcing couple, who is moving into a family-owned house, so there's no chain on either side.

We have a baby due in May so have been super quick in getting things organized; we had our formal mortgage offer (including an in-person mortgage survey) sorted by 20th Jan, proof of funds to the solicitors, searches, etc etc all complete. We've been essentially twiddling our thumbs for the last two weeks waiting for some movement from our vendors, only to find out mid-last week that they haven't even completed the paperwork required for their contract pack (according to the estate agent this is usually done in the first 2 weeks).

We're getting beyond frustrated now; while we're really sympathetic to what must be an emotionally difficult time, we just need them to get a wriggle on now. We've explained to the agent how frustrating and concerning this is for us, but are loathed to pile on the pressure given the market is bananas right now and the fact we haven't seen any other properties since that we like as much as much as this one.

With the vendor obviously only moving because of circumstances, and not wanting to move on this quickly (or even move out at all!), we don't want to give them an excuse to drop out of the sale.

What would you do? I just want to be in my new house a few weeks before baby comes!!

Are you absolutely sure that the person living in the property does actually want to sell?

House sales with divorcing couples are often fraught with issues, i.e. one wants to sell, the other doesn't. You mention that they haven't even filled in the initial forms to get the ball rolling. This doesn't bode well as those forms need to be signed by both parties (assuming they both are the owners on the title. Not completing the forms indicates that at least one of them is not keen on selling.

I think you should ask the EA to chat to the vendor and find out why they haven't yet submitted the paperwork and perhaps give them a deadline to do it, otherwise you will be looking at other properties listed with that Agent. Might concentrate their minds.

You've only got the EA's word that the divorce is friendly and that both parties are completely on board with the sale. Also, there may be an additional solicitor involved (one to represent each half of the divorced couple). Our purchase was dragged out for ages because our vendors' solicitor (representing the half still in the house) didn't contact the solicitor of the half that had already moved out.

I feel your pain!! We've been waiting since last August! Vendors are siblings selling their deseased relatives home and they just don't care at all about getting through the process in a reasonable time frame. Have thought about pulling out but like you the market has run away from us a bit. We've already extended our mortgage offer once, not sure we will do it again. I think the only thing you can do is become a nuisance to the EA/solicitor if you really still want to buy it.