We saw the house probably over a month ago now. We were told it was chain free and because it’s not really liveable and we are in rented following our own sale, that we could probably get the sale through in a couple of months giving us a couple of months after completion to gut the house whilst still in our rental (which is on a fixed term lease).
We do the second viewing and agree to make an offer. First offer is rejected within a day or so. We increase in line with the EAs recommendations but are then told the sellers don’t have probate yet and are in a chain. EA says he thinks he can persuade them to go into rented. No response to offer for a week so we withdraw on the basis that the EA is probably talking bollocks and we really do need to try and get this house in the summer because of the work that’s needs doing - not a great prospect in a cold winter.
Offer suddenly gets accepted and there’s an agreement to try and move into rented. We are still pretty unsure but say we will need to get mortgage valuation because most high street lenders won’t lend on it (in fact there’s only one). Our mortgage application is in, solicitor appointed. Two weeks on and there’s still no memo of sale. Zero input from the EA.
Given the background and we are now 3 weeks from making our increased offer, this is starting to feel like we were right to feel very hesitant. The memo of sale is hardly a big deal unless the seller hasn’t appointed a solicitor. And if they haven’t appointed a solicitor then it doesn’t look like it’s going to be the quick sale the EA said it could be.
I’m so annoyed with myself for even vaguely believing the estate agent!
Other than wanting some evidence that there is some motivation to sell, I would like my solicitor to speak to someone about the probate issue. She did offer to speak to the EA but I honestly don’t know if they really know what is going on. Probate has been ongoing for 18 months.
This isn’t going to be a quick sale, is it?