Offer accepted - everyone ignoring us..

[EleMar]

Good evening everyone.

Our offer was accepted on Tuesday last week. We engaged the solicitors and mortgage broker recommended by the EA. Since our offer has been accepted, we received a call the morning after (Wednesday) from the EA to briefly explain the process, and since then everyone (solicitors, mortgage brokers and EA) have been ignoring us.

By way of example last week we asked the EA for availability to book a survey - no response. We called a couple of times (last week and today) but couldn't get hold of the person. Said they would call us - have not been called back. No reply to the emails either (not even an acknowledgement - i.e., I'll get back to you).

Now I don't want to be annoying and I appreciate people are busy (however EA told the seller wants to move as quickly as possible and we agreed given we don't are not in a chain...). And I am always perfectly polite.

However, I have this feeling someone might have turned up, saw the house on the weekend and they are now waiting to see if they put an offer in?!

Also the reason I say everybody has been ignoring us - as soon as we said to the EA that we were interested in making an offer - literally within 5 minutes of saying so, solicitors and mortgage brokers had already called me. Same after we had put the offer in - so clearly there is quite a bit of communication between EA / solicitors / mortgage broker....

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

We* have been

Really sorry about that. I hate that it is so easy for that to happen. I guess your gut feeling was right

thank you, I appreciate your message!

It makes no difference if the solicitor already knows the property. You will still need to pay for all the searches etc. If the EA regularly deals with those solicitors it makes not one jot of difference to the speed of the sale. May be they have been conversing with each other and not you.

We have had the nightmare of two sets of buyers pull out before exchange. If I was in your shoes I would be turning up at the offices of the EA and asking them to explain themselves. I would immediately engage another solicitor as you owe the other ones nothing. As for the mortgage broker, again, disengage. There are so many good ones out there, I can pm you the details of mine. He is outstanding.

Seriously, pay I'll EA a visit,the system is shit and needs a huge overhaul.

Oh no OP, that's rubbish. Cash buyers seem to be controlling the market at the moment- when we were having problems with our purchase our EA told us to sell so that we weren't in any chain as it was the only way to compete with the cash buyers in the market

Sorry OP, just read your message. Your instincts were correct.

There will be something better put there for you, you may not think that rn but there will be.

What's the betting they come back AGAIN to you in 3 months time when the cash buyer has messed them around. What goes around comes around!

Oh no.

So sorry to hear that, I was thinking your gut feeling was right as in this climate they would want to get an offer locked down. Once people have spent on survey and solicitors fees they are less likely to back out.

thank you all for the kind messages, it's much appreciated!

Oh, that's rubbish OP!

Sorry that's happened to you.

It would definitely put me off using that estate agent - if the absolute perfect property came up with them my first question would be how can they confirm that you won’t be gazumped Again. It seems like they have form for doing this and I hate that!

Christ, I despise estate agents.

...... estates agents advertise property - introduce a buyer and negotiate a deal
.... solicitors do the legal - mortgage brokers the finance
... estate agents get paid at the end of the transaction from the seller - they introduce 3rd parties not only for commissions but because they have a communication set up to keep track of process - most solicitors will not communicate with estate agents - only their clients ( buyer/ seller)
As a buyer you need to chase the people who get paid by you - the solicitor and mortgage broker. A good estate agent will check in with both side's solicitor and update both parties - can chase the other side is something is missing e.g. buyer hasn't paid for searches or seller is dragging their feet with paperwork but that's as far as they can help.

... estate agent are legally obliged to put forward all offers to a seller - either a seller or buyer can pull out of the transaction until exchange of contracts

Yes but after an offer a house can be removed from the market OR at the very least communication from estate agents mean that current buyer is aware there might be another offer and to allow them the option to respond. To not communicate post offer being accepted makes the whole process harder. Why not set a date for best and final offers that everyone agrees to and is fair?

If the estate agents have everything from the buyer required- proof of funding Aml checks etc - the property is marked as SSTC - doesn't stop other parties coming forward who have viewed - previously offered - neighbours relatives who have always had the eye on the house or seen the board outside a property - sorry but the seller has a choice - (most sellers will stick with the original party but money talks as dose the terms " chain or mortgage free") - - it's usually the buyer letting a seller down over useless homebuyers surveys that are a load of batshit or trying to shave money off at the end of a transaction- it's the conveyancing system in England that's the problem - 16 week for an average transaction- and leasehold is a whole other monster-
Traditional auction is the only way to ensure it's yours - hammer down - exchange - 28day completion. Buyer and seller committed - no renegotiation

Sorry to hear that. You don't have to use the EA solicitor/broker, in fact it's probably best to find your own (EA will get a referral fee from them). Solicitors vary in how good they are and you want a responsive one who will get back to you the same day not a few days later. I'd also wait until the fixtures and fittings form gets returned from the sellers before instructing a surveyor - but e.g. if you go direct with a bank like Halifax they have their own surveyors too. It's stressful, mine took 7 months despite no chain, and that was mainly on the seller's side (their solicitors were appalling - probably too busy/cheap).

Really sorry about that. FYI for the future, you don’t need to ask the EA for availability for a survey. The survey company will do that themselves.

How annoying for you. Your instincts were obviously spot on.
I'm sure you will find something better.