Unfortunate circumstances or something going on in the back ground?

[BlackPurse]

I'm nearly 13 weeks into buying my first house and I'm not sure if I should be worried. Maybe I'm being paranoid so please share your thoughts.

The seller has been slow throughout. It took 4 weeks just for him to fill out the TA10 form so his solicitor could send the draft contract. My solicitor had to wait before ordering the searches and according to her this is the first thing a seller does and it shouldn't have taken so long?

The estate agent has been very helpful in all fairness and done lots of chasing but couldn't really get an answer from the seller other than he'd been on holiday and busy with work. Profusely apologised and said he still wanted to sell the house and did eventually send it over.

The searches were ordered straight away, returned 4 weeks later and enquiries sent shortly after. It's now been 4 weeks and we've not had any response from the seller and his solicitor has been chasing him. The estate agent phoned him this morning and apparently he's been in hospital for 2 weeks. He said he'd try and sort this by next week but the EA didn't sound very convincing on the phone. She just reiterated that he definitely still wants to sell the house and was sorry for the delay.

I'm scratching my head here and feel a bit stuck. I do sympathise, life happens and I don't want to be pushy. But do I just sit here until the seller feels up to it? That could be weeks and we're just at a standstill now? It's already taken longer than expected. This is a standard transaction (first time buyer, no chain, vacant property) and I was told it would be a maximum of 12 weeks. It just feels like I'm constantly chasing and not getting anywhere and I'm wondering if something is going on in the background that I don't know about and EA isn't being honest.

Would you hold on?

Can you get your solicitor to formally ask sellers solicitor for a timeframe? Or better still give them a deadline, express sympathy for his situation but say you are keen to move forward & have a timescale?

12 weeks is usually best case scenario even with chainless transactions. With the vendor falling ill etc I'm not surprised it's taking a bit longer than expected. It sounds like they're just slow- are they elderly by any chance? Don't think anything sinister is going on, my own purchase a good 16 weeks in and we've only jyst started getting enquires back. We have an elderly vendor who needs more time but we're aware of it and so have adjusted our time frame accordingly.

If all the searches and enquiries are back on yours it shouldn't be too long now. 13 weeks is really still pretty quick!

You have two options:
pull out because it's taking too long but you'd lose all the money you'd spent until now and have to start all over again with another property.

Or, stick with it expecting another three or four weeks for exchange and completion.

>and I was told it would be a maximum of 12 weeks.

You were misinformed. Sales in chains are taking five months. Chain free sales are possible in 12 weeks.

It sounds like he’s really suffering with poor health and maybe he’s not sure it’s the best time to move. All you can do is be kind and patient.

TA10s and 6’s can be a PITA if you can’t remember and don’t have old paperwork immediately to hand. Add on failing health and I can see how 4 weeks would be possible.

I’m currently selling my flat and the TA forms are difficult to complete. Especially if it’s leasehold. Loads of documents to get together which have to be scanned/photocopied. Plus legal jargon you need to ask the solicitor about. I’m a keen seller and I reckon it will take me 4 weeks + to fill them in

If it's a vacant property, is it a probate sale? Some of the delay could be because the seller is having trouble getting hold of relevant information.

I'd be contacting your solicitor (not estate agent) and having a stern conversation with them, for them then to have a stern word with the seller.

I set a 2 week deadline to get everything sorted now otherwise you WILL pull out.

After that I look for somewhere else to be honest.

Why's he selling? If its a relationship breakdown he could be dragging it on purely to spite his ex which could go on for months.

4 weeks? Blimey - I've just sold a 4 bed detached and completed all the paperwork needed in a couple of hours?

What on earth do they need from you?

Warranty for roof, electrical tests, lease, permission from freeholder for changes to property, 3 years worth of management company accounts, share holder certs, 3 years worth of management company correspondence, building certs for boiler, memorandum and articles of association etcetcetcetc
its a lot when you’re selling a leasehold flat with share of freehold and an internal management company!!

Do you know anything about his situation? Is he a landlord, is it a probate property?

Our first purchase was a bit like this. Our seller even got arrested during the process! But all went through absolutely fine in the end.

My friend and the other party literally swapped houses and even that took 13 -14 weeks. No one else involved. Solicitors in the same town who knew each other well. One estate agent. No arguments. So I can imagine that normal chains take longer.

That would depend on the house abs how bad you want it. I sold my house in 12 weeks and I did everything the day I received it. If I could not, I emailed my solicitor and estate agent with an immediate reason as to why with a timescale I needed. It wasn’t for anything silly - but like I needed to pay for and request duplicate documents I’d misplaced - because I had moved before starting the selling process and despite my best efforts I lost things.

I would personally start looking at other properties and make it known if this drags on for what should be a very quick and painless transaction - that if you find something else suitable you might consider dropping out. You need to be prepared to do this if you’re going to use it.

It's approximately 6m right now as average 12w is incredibly ambitious with simple chains and longer for complex ones.
I bought my house off my self and paid my ex out so was literally the t1 form and tthe simplest chain me-me. It's took 4.5 months!
It's gotten slower post covid for some incredible reasons.
If you want the property stick it out and know this is. Just what it's like on the market right now. Expect delays.
If that's not acceptable I'd withdraw but it's your decision. Good luck!

Tbh, you can kick and scream, threaten and coerce but buying & selling houses can sometimes be a nightmare and you have already come a long way. Do you really want to pull out & start again with possibility you could end up in the same predicament. Easy to say 12 months after a nightmare move myself but I got myself into a real state trying to force things to happen and failing. Take some deep breaths and settle in for a long haul if it happens sooner, bonus!

No sales are happening within 12 weeks currently. Searches etc are taking so much longer than they ever did. Conveyancers work loads are heavy.

just keeping prodding away at your solicitor/agent and you’ll get there.