Is this normal practice for buyer

[tottielottie]

I have had an offer from FTB who has managed to negotiate me down and had multiple viewings about 5 so far to show every one of her family members. I am not practised in buying and selling and feel a bit alone with what is best to do. This delay or multiple visits means my flat has been in for a while.

She also said to the estate agent that me putting the money down means my place isn't worth that much!

A man put a smart meter in put a sign up saying the consumer unit could be changed not urgent and it would cost about £150.

Her level 3 surveyor (who upsells his services) came round and said that the whole place needs rewiring because he didn't notice the pre payment meter had run out of money and saw the sign the smart meter man left.
He also put in the report he tried to rip up my flooring. He also left all my blinds up and cupboard doors open and ripped my wallpaper.

My solicitor has said that her solicitor is being a naughty asking me to pay for things like gas safety tests and more etc and that I should refuse.

Now the estate agent said that she wants another visit this week and getting in a builder, plumber and electrician for quotes. He said this is a good sign.

Is this normal to do before exchange? Also should I be there to supervise this time.

Please help!

Her solicitor is either busy or stalling for buyer. Definitely give an imminent deadline like 4pm tomorrow failing which flat goes back on the market. I'd also be minded to ask your conveyancer re whether you can claim for the damage buyers agents have caused.

So the EA called buyer and the solicitor she has chosen has only works 3 days a week.

Buyer assured EA she wants to exchange asap.

We had similar - seller's solicitor only worked mornings! It was a nightmare trying to get anything done.

Absolute BS OP. I'm a solicitor, granted not in property law, but there will be someone that can pick work up in his/her absence if there is a deadline. The fact she has chosen someone that works part time isn't your problem so don't let them fob you off with pathetic excuses.

🙄 that's crazy, we managed to exchange contracts and our solicitor was on holiday the day we exchanged.

I do however think it will go through, I've found first time buyers a nightmare to deal. (Obviously this is just my experience not everyone's)

God the buyer and your agent both sound like a PITA. I think I would reject her offer and get it back on the market properly with a new agent.

We exchanged while our solicitor was on leave - she got a colleague to do it for her

Hi everyone,

Update!

My solicitor has lost his rag now too with EA (he said the EA is getting my solicitor to do the EA's job for him); the buyer and their solicitor. He said they are being difficult, trite and splitting hairs.

He has agreed that I should give an ultimatum and tell them we are going to put it back on the market or sell to someone else. So I have finally got the balls to do it namely because the latest is:

the buyer asked to see the water bill and is now complaining that she thought it was in the service charge. NOBODY said that the water bill was included, the heating is in the service charge. EA said it's a miscommunication. Solicitor said to say either accept it or I'm selling it to someone else.

The other side said "what do you mean you are refusing to do an EICR" EA told me that! Um because your upselling surveyor somehow knew from looking at my property that it needed a rewire SO I GAVE HER THOUSANDS OFF, when I don't even know whether it does need a rewire. It all work fine for me!

The only reason I have not insisted on an exchange is because I need to repair a window and my glazier has been on bloody holiday and because I don't think most buyers would exchange before it's done I have help back in issuing ultimatums but now the quibbling about water bills is somewhat worrying. Smells like cold feet.

Do I issue the ultimatum to my EA who tells buyer or does my solicitor issue her solicitor with it.

Also my EA was completely different with me today no way as friendly and enthusiastic kind of despondent. Do you think he knows something I don't?

@tottielottie

This seems like cold feet or a stalling tactic?

I think you've been more lenient and forgiving than I would expect a seller to be.

I think it's common sense that the water bill isn't included unless stated otherwise. I honestly think you should re list the property. If you need the window doing you can agree to have it done but maybe make her exchange first? Then you have security that she will complete. Or if she doesn't you keep some of the deposit.

Yes cold feet that's what I thought.

Buyer was all keen last time the Sales Progressor spoke to her saying she was ready to release money from her account etc. She was saying she wanted to complete the second week of September and now she's moaning about a water bill!

The enquiries are nothing short of petty and unimportant like my solicitor said she's being difficult and splitting hairs.

Do enquiries usually come in dribs and drabs like this? Seems to be really inefficient.

@tottielottie I've just bought a house as a FTB we have all the documents and we asked questions more relating to wording etc, I know our solicitors asked the sellers solicitors questions, it was back and forth but that was due to the sellers solicitors not responding or not actually relaying what the sellers actually said.

It can be drip fed if the solicitors are difficult also, our agent even said the sellers agreed to the date of completion but the solicitors wouldn't budge it caused us to nearly withdraw!

We were determined buyers, most are, your buyer doesn't seem keen enough, if the water bill is an issue I can only imagine her wanting you to lower the purchase price.

RUN A MILE.

I f*cking hate FTB, timid lambs who want everything to be perfect and paranoid you are ripping them off because they've sat and watched a million property programmes on TV.

Your place will find a decent buyer,

no 1: Tell your buyer its going back on the market, if they choose to exchange before another offer comes in , you'll happy sell to them.
no 2: Sack your Estate Agent
no 3: Sign up with a rival of your Estate agent.

That's exactly what I did and the umming and ahhhing FTB pulled their finger out and the sale was done. The prospect of going through all this for a new flat will either put their arse into gear or they'll go running to the hills scared as they never would have exchanged unless you practically rebuilt the property for them, win win either way.

It is difficult to see who is responding and who is not, as I am not cc'd in by both solicitors.

My solicitor always answers me very quickly and the other solicitor is part-time. My solicitor seems frustrated with them.

If the water bill is an issue it is tough. We all have a water bill. Like another poster said I think this is a fantasy buyer now. I've given her thousands off already when I probably shouldn't have, I have already told EA do not even tell me if she wants more off, just re-market.

I think her mortgage offer will run out and she will be stuck with higher interest rates, whilst she has mucked me about for months. I literally went with her as she's a FTB who had a mortgage offer in place.

Yes Babalugats she must think I'm ripping her off. She did say something about why did I accept her offer it must be too expensive lol!

For my solicitor to say accept the water bill or we will find someone else!

I am just mad that everything has changed since June when I accepted her offer. Interest rates up etc. Not sure if my Property has gone down in value. So annoying. I should have come to Mumsnet for advice ages ago!

It’s such a shame. As this is the kind of thing that gives ftb a bad name. Mainly as they have no idea really how it works.

I sold my last house to a ftb and it was so lovely. We talked through out. I sent her photos of her first post , measured up when she needed. Her excitement was so lovely and made the experience of this move so different. they didn’t ask stupid questions or expect the world.
I have a feeling u may have to put it back on the market or the threat of doing so will make them shift.
I always assume that ftb get their answers and help from either parents of friends. Whoever she is getting this advice from must be a peach when they are selling and buying to. Asking for a new roof on a shed just isn’t done. When we moved I can’t even remember looking at the shed. Or asking for a bill.

You have been beyond patient OP. You need to draw a line now, exchange by x or the sales off. It sounds to me like your buyer is trying to find a reason to back out of the purchase. Good luck I hope it works out for you.

I'd approach another estate agent now and get everything primed to re market with someone else as it does sound as if your agent is not working for you but for your buyer

We did this with my MILa house and it sold again v quickly with someone else.

You can appoint another agent even with this buyer still in progress. At the very least it will show her you mean business Again what we did with my MIL. I think you need to be as ruthless as your FTB.

I do remember when I was a FTB my main advisor was my Mum, who had never bought or sold a house in her life and whose ideas seemed to be based on her perceptions of value for money and snippets gleaned from house buying programmes.

With hindsight she was no help whatsoever!

Oh gawd, dump the buyer and EA and find another! Seriously this is not usual!!

Prices have gone up too, so start afresh!

Off to work. Will update later
It's so nice having you all to get advice from - it doesn't feel so lonely!

Have they gone up for flats in London?

Jez is this saga still going on.... defo time to move on.... have a rethink about price point and current market and put it back on today 🙃

Give the ultimatum to your EA to pass on to the buyers.
The water bill thing is ridiculous. The cost isn’t that much in the grand scheme of things and is rarely if ever included in the service charge. No one would pull out over something so petty so why are they making a fuss about it now? Awful buyers.

Hi Everyone,

I have finally issued an ultimatum that my solicitor suggested. The 15th or it will go back on the market. Emailed EA to pass message on to the buyer about 20 mins ago.

Just going to get window sorted now.

But like pp said I will put it back on now if there is further nonsense and shenanigans.

Not heard back from EA and I sent it to the whole office.

Give me strength lol xx

Lol wish I had your patience, hopefully this should sort it one way or the other! Good luck xx

Make sure you definitely remarket on 16th if you haven't exchanged. Don't leave it until after the weekend - she'll see that as an indicator she can continue to mess you about because it's less stress for you than to start again.