The all new buyers/sellers waiting room (continued x3) thread!

[fromtheshires]

As @movingtoplan has finally flown the nest, I have taken the torch and started a new thread as there are less than 80 replies remaining on the current thread before its full!

We've had lots of completions, exchanges, offers accepted, maddening conveyancing teams, strange requests, and worries to last a lifetime. Welcome welcome.

Catch up here: Previous Thread

Good luck to you, whatever stage you're at in the process.

My update is our onward purchase was completed months ago but due to buyers pulling out we had to start again with a buyer and they are just in the final stages of conveyancing and we are talking dates! I really hope I am not on the next thread.

Blinking heck! My first buyer pulled out after four hours..because of a 🌳 but we got a new buyer with more money three days later.

@AliceinSlumberland OMG you couldn’t make it up, could you! Your nerves must be shot to pieces. Thank god for buyer number 4 and their matched offer. Hopefully they’ll be keen to proceed asap given their own sale is completing next week and they’ll be camped out with friends/relatives presumably? You are due some good news!

@CharlieBalf We had a similar issue with our seller. Took 5 weeks for their solicitor to issue the contract pack (during which time we lost one buyer and acquired another). I would hound the estate agent, tbh. And if our experience is anything to go by, expect your solicitor to have to query every response to an enquiry they receive, because it’s not been answered fully/correctly.

After starting the week feeling sick with the stress of it all, we’ve had some good news, and we are cautiously thinking about exchange. Though a read through of the horror stories here and I’m not counting my chickens it’ll happen any time soon!

@AliceinSlumberland what a whirlwind of a day! Sounds like your new buyer are going to be much more motivated to move though so that's great news.

I wish there was some kind of financial penalty for people like that - who clearly offer on a house while still having other viewings on the go just in case they are better. Wait until you're sure ffs!

Yes, also feeling a bit stressed as I wonder if other people have offered higher already, but we just don’t know because the seller isn’t bothering to answer any offers?
I’m not sure at what point they would stop offering viewings on the house if an offer had been made?

Must be excruciating having to wait for an answer @TheresNoFudgeHere. With any luck you'll hear tomorrow morning since it will be China's weekend and maybe the vendor will have more time to respond to messages than the working week?! lets hope...

Thank you, I really hope so! However the estate agents is closed over the weekend so even if the seller does reply, does this mean it’s likely to be a Monday job? 🤯

Just to add, even though the estate agents is closed at the weekend I’m not sure if they would have someone in just for offers etc?

Thanks all, honestly the estate agent was like, I can’t believe how unlucky you’ve been. Interesting re non-committal FTB, I can understand it as it’s such a big decision especially the first time round but god it’s a nightmare. New lady isn’t a FTB and had problems with her own sale (which is now due to complete thankfully) so apparently she sympathises.

Yes @TheresNoFudgeHere unfortunately I’d imagine you won’t hear anymore until Monday. On the plus side, there won’t be anyone to show the house to more people over the weekend either.

It seems like the last 12 months has been an absolute clusterfuck. It would be interesting to see stats on how many houses have gone from sstc but not completed in 2024.

They recon its normally around 19% but looking at how much trouble we have all had id say its pushing 40% at the moment.

Id say hugs to all but im a standoffish prickly motherufcker 🌵

No change here - still waiting for survey report. DS discharged from hospital today and we have driven home from our 'holiday'. Absolutely fucking knackered tbh. Bit of a perspective giver, just happy all 4 of us back under one roof, safe and well (or at least on the mend) DH has been amazing and I don't know what I'd do without him. Obviously I'd love for the house move to come off but we don't have to move and I guess just realising I'm pretty happy with my lott. See what happens next week 🤷‍♀️

Hello All - joining this thread and looking to rant really - here's our current position/story so far (apologies in advance for the lengthy post):

• been umming and aahing about moving house for the past year. We've been in our current house (our first) for 5 years and starting to outgrow it. Had a few viewings in properties recently but been blocked from viewing quite a few due to house not being on the market so that gave us the push we needed

- house went on the market last Tuesday. Immediate viewings and had 2 offers by the end of^ the week, accepted one at asking price to a FTB by the weekend - result!^

- in the meantime our literal dream house came on the market the same day ours did and we booked a viewing in for this past Monday. Obviously it was love at first sight.

- made an offer Tuesday morning for under asking price but not far under (about 3%). Rejected pretty much straight away due to loads of interest and not been on the market long (the usual). They said at this point they would only entertain an offer at asking^ price. We thought about it and said ok what's a few grand when it's the dream house right? So offered full asking price on the condition no more viewings, off the market etc. This was Tuesday afternoon.

• Here's the rub - the sellers have STILL not accepted our offer. They have indicated that they will do... but are waiting for the sellers of the house they want to buy to accept their offer on that house first.. The house they want to buy is a new build (not a big developer, only a couple of houses) so they are negotiating on price and extras (I assume). In the meantime the house we want to buy is still on the market and could have viewings booked in at any point (the EA has however told me none are booked (yet) this week). The EA has told me the reason they are hesitant to accept my offer before they are sorted on the other side is that if they don't get this house for whatever reason, they won't be selling at all, so don't want to get into contract with the EA If they have to pull out.

• Am I right in thinking this is really cheeky behaviour from the seller? They would have known when I made the lower offer on Tuesday morning that they wouldn't be in a position to accept any offer yet, but made out like they would accept an offer at asking price... and still haven't?? I'm also getting worried that our buyer could start to get shifty - aware it's only been a week since we accepted their offer but feels like a hold up at this stage doesn't bode well for the rest of the sale!!^ Can someone clue me in on if these kind of timelines are normal? First time selling a house and I thought this bit would be the easy part to be honest!!

Sorry about the random formatting of my post - on mobile so clearly pressed some buttons without realising!

Hi @CatLady1994 it's frustrating and maddening but they aren't under any obligation to accept your offer unfortunately. Thr reason they gave (not selling unless they have an offer accepted themselves) seems reasonable enough.

You've done all you can, offered asking, there's nothing else you can do! They did agree.to no more.viewings if you offered asking so I'd keep touch with the EA and check they aren't booking but again, it's a verbal contract and not binding.

It's a really tough game! Most people on this thread have had issues. Feel free.to.rant!

So glad to read your son is feeling better @Cheeseandcrackers40 . I know that worry as I spent hours in the hospital yesterday with my son is he's pretty poorly at the moment. He will be okay but in the moment is worrying, isn't it?

@CatLady1994 that is the complete opposite normal. A vendor won't normally accept an offer if the offerer hasn't sold. If they are worrying about fees to the agent then that's daft as there will be no fees until it is all sold! I think...However @CharlieBalf makes all very valid points.

My friend viewed the two houses for me. Agrees house 1 is lovely but is too small. House 2 needs too much work and they wouldn't accept what I'd offer. House 3 that I've not seen is too over looked. She will view another house for me. She lived two doors away so knows it is a good area for me. Space is what I'd need for storage, kids visiting and their future families. Great garden for the animals and me. Okay price that I could live with. But not in the village I'd like to be. I can't stop thinking about house 1.

@BirthdayRainbow what are the pros and cons to the house on your mind? Are there any solutions to the space problem in the long term? If you love it, could you look at it again next time you’re there maybe?

Loads of pros for House 1. Lovely location, would only need to paint some walls, bonus en suite, near to friends. Kitchen is lovely. Bathrooms are great.

The cons are small lounge, small loft, would have to get rid of a lot more stuff and some furniture. It's not big enough for kids + partners + future grandchildren. If all the kids stuff went into storage and I just take the really precious stuff, then it would be tight but maybe doable.

It is space over location I think. Lots more space for a house that's on at £4500 more.

@BirthdayRainbow , I've not read all your posts, but I don't believe you've mentioned the garden at House 1. Is there space for a garden room that could be used for storage and / or guest accommodation? I found that I didn't need to get rid of much stuff once I'd put in a summerhouse and shed. My neighbours have a large garden room and say it's perfect for visiting family.

You seem very taken with it, and it's close to your friends, which is just as important, perhaps, as being able to host family members.

House 1 has a small garden with a lawn, a small bit of decking and wooden terrace attached to the house. I'd have to take up some lawn to make a flower bed. I don't just want pots. There's not space to make something for storage. I'm completely taken with it. Feel quite emotional. But my dc want their stuff and I can't take that from them. They've lost enough this past 18 months.

So on Friday we felt so close to exchange, we were waiting for documents to be sent out to us to sign but apparently the probate and title register names have discrepancies and not identical.
Has this happened to anyone?

Sorry @BirthdayRainbow not sure how old your children are, do they live with you? If not, could you speak to them about it and see if they have storage options? The other thing I wondered about is whether you could pay for external storage space for some of it?

I agree with a previous poster re not worrying about future grandchildren etc now. My mum turfed a big portion of her garden on the basis of having grand children, it took another 8 years to get one ha. And Christmas’s moving forwards we’d be staying at home and then coming to us, they definitely couldn’t have us all at theirs really.

My dc are 19-23. The younger two are at uni and one comes home every holiday, the other less often as a more difficult journey and they have a job too. The other one rents and will probably be working abroad next year anyway. I asked ex h to sort storage for the dc stuff but I don't trust him tbh. The dc aren't in a position to get it there so need help.

I want to host Christmas and they will want to come to me as much as possible. We are very close.

However, I think the benefit of being able to have the kids come anytime as I have more space in the head house, will make up for not having the heart house. My friend said she would try and view it for me but I won't be able to until the week after next as my dc at home is quite unwell and I don't want to leave him. Plus all are coming home at the end of the week for a few days so obviously I want to be here.

We went live on Wednesday afternoon. So far one viewing booked for Monday. The agent is doing it but I'm at home. Not sure how that works? I'll feel in the way so I'll loiter outside for a bit I guess! Hopefully there'll be some more interest over the weekend.

@NormallyAwkward definitely take yourself off for a walk around the block or something. We always feel super awkward at viewings if the seller is hanging about, don't feel like you can be a brutally honest as you need to be.

@NormallyAwkward i had to go out when the agent showed people round but with having a dog I had no choice.

I am thinking this second house might be the one. I think having more space for the kids will make up for not having the house I love in an amazing area.

Anyone else hate the weekends because there’s not much chance of news?! Saying that my solicitor did once email on a Sunday.
With a completion date set for 9th but no date for exchange, I’m nervous. My removals are pencilled in but at some point I need to confirm but if my date changes then you end up paying more!

I feel like I'm the opposite - it's the only day I'm not constantly checking my emails so I actually relax!