To pull out from purchase because of vendor's wastage agent?

[reliahag]

We've found our dream house. We're well into the conveyancing process. Our bank is yet to offer us a firm mortgage decision because of them taking on too many applications and my husband being a contractor. We've jumped through all the hoops and our waiting for a mortgage offer. Vendors estate agent has been chasing us relentlessly- two emails a week chasing updates and recently threading to withdraw the property from sale to us and offering it onto the next buyer. I know he can't do this but I'm wondering what he's feeding back to the vendors re: what's happening. Our mortgage advisor and solicitor are fed up of him but give him regular updates too and last week I sent out a strongly worded email saying they weren't to reply to him and leave everything for the solicitors to deal with.

I am fed up of the constant harassment and the threatening tone in the estate agents emails. So much so that we're thinking fuck it, we're done. We've posted a letter to the seller too to contact us directly for updates instead of their estate agent. Are we being dickheads? Should we shut up and put up or go elsewhere?

I meant Estate agent, not wastage agent although that's what he feels like right now.

Are waiting*

(sorry, very annoyed atm having read the most recent email and can't type from the rage I'm feeling)

Threatening to withdraw

Yes I think you are being slight dick heads about it. If I were the vendor I would want my agent chasing things up regularly. You need to be putting a rocket up the arse of the mortgage provider or looking elsewhere.
you say two emails a week just how many weeks have you been waiting on the mortgage decision?

I wouldn't lose a house that you're describing as a dream house, especially in this competitive market. Your email was a good idea, I'd just stick to communication between the solicitors and your solicitor will have to deal with the agent as that's what they're paid for. Speak only to your solicitor, reply to any emails/calls from their agent with 'as requested, please speak with our solicitor for progress updates, this is the fastest way to complete the sale'.

Oh and your vendor might not appreciate that letter, I wouldn't, that's what solicitors are for!

2 emails a week is not relentless chasing, it's sensible.

Yes you're being a dickhead - don't contact the seller directly thats really cheeky and intrusive. Get your solicitor to communicate on your behalf thats what you pay them for.

I think it’d be daft to pull out if it’s your dream house, and although the estate agent is being annoying, it’s you that doesn’t have a firm mortgage application, and that’s not the sellers fault so I’m sure they are annoyed too. You are lucky they are waiting for you really, it must be stressful for them.

To be honest if I was the Vendor I would be quite happy that they were doing such a good job following up and to be honest I would be paying little attention to the letter you sent. As a vendor I am paying the estate agent to work on my behalf, I am not going to do their work for them.

Are you sure the Vendor cannot offer the sale to the next bidder. Surely they can just refund you deposit and go with the next person. It is not the vendor nor the Estate Agent who is holding up the sale but you (through to your bank delay).

We offered on the house in March.

Our buyer offered to us in the last week of January and has only last week had their mortgage approved and they're putting down a hefty deposit (£200k)

We're going through a specialist broker and we aren't the only ones waiting to hear back from a bank we've been told. With the constantly increase in the BOE's base rate of interest, lots of previously advertised products by lenders are being or have been pulled we've been told hence the long wait for a decision. That's what we've been told by our broker. He's put this in writing for the vendors EA but the emails to us don't stop. I'm getting fed up of them. Every time i see the eastate agents name in my inbox, my heart skips a beat and NOT in a good way.

OP, you're the one at fault here. I think they've been good to wait since March.

Ask the estate agent to deal with the solicitor directly if it's stressing you out.

March 😱 is definitely you, sorry

Are you in England? If so they absolutely can put it back on the market. 2x a week is totally normal and your email will have put them off you. You need to make reassuring noises and you need to relentlessly chase that broker!

March? Jeez it’s you not them! We put our mortgage application in via a broker last week and it is agreed subject to valuation of the property which we should know by the end of this week. My husband is also a contractor. You’re lucky they’ve not put it back on the market yet

Are we being dickheads?

Yup.

I’d imagine the vendor is putting big pressure on the EA to determine if you’re proceedable at this stage, and, as it stands, you’re not.

Contacting the vendor to say you won’t deal with their EA is arrogant.

If I were the vendor in this situation, I’d be seriously considering relisting at this stage.

I appreciate that the mortgage offer is not your fault, but it is your problem, not theirs. Twice a week is generous, and hopefully will ensure that you are chasing whoever you need to be chasing.

They could have completed potentially with another buyer by now, and you don't even know whether the bank is going to have a load more house related hoops to jump through. If I was in your shoes I'd be thanking them for their patience instead.

I had this issue with a previous buyer. They waited 4 months for a mortgage offer then realised they couldnt afford it and pulled out. 3 months is a long time to wait for an offer even if it is from a specialist broker. Have they given you an indication of how much longer you will be waiting. I think the seller is right to be getting twitchy at this stage tbh.

Don’t threaten to withdraw over it, that’s a bit histrionic. The process is always stressful it seems so try to keep calm and reply politely to their agent. They are only doing their job for their client.

I was buying a house and the seller wanted it exchanged within 4 weeks. We agreed and did our absolutely best chasing things but we had delays getting our mortgage approved. After 4 weeks the estate agent put it back on the market, had another higher offer immediately and we lost it.

Chasing 2x a week is nothing, especially after so many weeks. To get a house sale through you need to get chasing things on both sides. I wouldn't be surprised if they pull the sale and relist.

March?! I’d have pulled out if I was your vendor

Just forward all the estate agent's chasing emails on to your mortgage broker and cc the estate agent in so they know you've done it.

March, wow, yes that’s your fault. Your sellers have been very patient.
Presumably no mortgage offer yet means you haven’t instructed a survey or searches? You’re at least two months away from completing, and that’s with a fair wind. No wonder your vendors are chasing.

If I were the vendor I would be praising my estate agent. March is ridiculous. You should be looking for another bank.

There is defo issues with mortgage approvals. we waited about 4 wks, the valuation was done in 2 wks. We are completely straightforward buyers but people are panicking at the rate rises so apparently the lenders are inundated. And the rates are changing quickly. We had an aip & the next week to get the same mortgage agreed we reduced our loan amount.